This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email On Easter Sunday, 20 April, São Brás de Alportel will once again be filled with colour, faith and tradition with the Festa das Tochas Floras, one of the most unique Easter celebrations in the country. In this festival, the main event of the local community, the streets of the village are artistically decorated with around 1 kilometre of flower carpets, prepared by the community. This is a collective work that begins days before with the harvesting and preparation of the flowers, a challenge for the entire community and takes shape in the early hours of Sunday, when hundreds of volunteers dedicate themselves, during the night, to creating the carpets along which the Alleluia Procession will pass. Easter morning begins at 9:30 am, with the opening of the streets to the public and the start of the Easter Flavors Meeting, in Largo de São Sebastião, and the Crafts Exhibition, in the Adro da Igreja Matriz. At 10 am, at the main church, the Eucharist of the Resurrection is celebrated, followed by the long-awaited Alleluia Procession, which runs through the flower-filled streets to the sound of the traditional song: “He is risen as he said! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!” Throughout the afternoon, from 3:30 pm, the party continues in the Churchyard with a cultural program that includes displays of sweets and snacks, awards for the Floral Games and the flower torch competition, and music and dance performances, with the groups Os Vizinhos, São Brás Bailando and Tanya. We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to, we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small. You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time. Send us your comments or opinion on this article. Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal, written in English, Dutch, German, French, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. PortugalChevron AlgarveChevron Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links while also ensuring blissful seclusion and the freedom to do just as you please at all times Below are our picks of the best villas to book in the Algarve right now We've vetted these listings based on Superhost or Guest Favorite status A 2021 renovation has transformed this '80s villa into a thoroughly modern oasis king-size beds in every room (three with en suites) and an airy lounge—all meticulously decorated in sandy neutral tones An outdoor dining table set right on the sand ensures you can soak up every bit of the glorious vistas Sleeps: 8Price: From around $1,336 per night The area’s pristine shorelines are just a 20-minute drive away; then you can return in the evenings for dinner under the pergola and specialty Portuguese drinks from the in-house honesty bar There’s even an additional outdoor bed for those wishing to sleep under the stars A stay here can be as hands-off or on as you like—chef services and even private concerts can all be made available on request Sleeps: 8Price: From around $283 per night including a day basking by the glittering seas at picturesque Carvoeiro or taking your pick of lovely restaurants to try at beachy Praia da Benagi Sleeps: 10Price: From around $767 per night Yoga sessions and private chef dinners are available for an additional fee Sleeps: 10Price: From around $387 per night São Bras de AlportelNo small detail here has been left unconsidered with everything from the locally sourced furniture to the beautifully minimal finishes crafted to ensure a feeling of pure peace and relaxation The roof terrace is perfect for al fresco dinners a dreamy pool ripe for watching the sunset and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to hide away with a book and nearby Santa Bárbara de Nexe is just a few minutes away Sleeps: 7Price: From around $434 per night Mexilhoeira GrandeJust a 15-minute drive from the busy streets of Lagos you’ll reach a wide valley clustered by little villages all Mediterranean style with its solid wood kitchen there’s a sunny terrace with purple blooms creeping up the walls Previous guests really rave about the location—secluded yet within 20 minutes of the south coast beaches and a 30-minute drive from those in the west A bonus was the daily visits from a friendly neighborhood cat Sleeps: 2Price: From around $104 per night This gallery was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller U.K. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Our annual Spring Plant Fair will be held at the Museu do Traje São Brás de Alportel on the 12th April from 10.00 am to 17.00 pm. No entrance fee and there will be over twenty different nurseries selling a wide and interesting variety of waterwise plants there will be an illustrated talk on starting a dry garden by Teresa Chuva and like last year there will also be some amazing indigenous bonsais to take your breath away It’s certainly a day to talk gardening as there are always gardeners aplenty at the fair so come along and enrich your garden with plants that will accept and grow in our hot summers Then leave your purchases in the plant crèche and enjoy some refreshments tasty food and a chat with fellow gardeners and friends For more information, please email Harriet Bodé at harrietbode@icloud.com We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL Magazine Free Daily E-Letter Video Our Experts Testimonials FAQsTopics Portugal’s Algarve…it brings to mind glittering hidden coves surrounding by towering limestone cliffs This southern region has long been a popular vacation spot for Europeans for decades it came under Muslim rule and stayed that way for five centuries Get away from the coast and up into the hills and you’ll still see signs of that Moorish influence I spent four days (and 240 miles in my hire car) exploring this “other” Algarve I got away from the beaches and tourists…and explored the white-washed towns and villages that sit quietly among the rolling green hills even though it feels like a world away from the party If you like the idea of living in a peaceful but still want to be close to an international airport and the lively beach towns with their restaurants then you might consider this part of Portugal Though the towns of the Algarve’s interior I checked out all have pretty cobblestone streets bright-white homes painted with accents of sunshine yellow and cornflower blue Take Sao Bras de Alportel…a 25-minute drive from Faro’s international airport that was once the center of cork production in all of Portugal It has a large main square which is home to cafes and restaurants where the locals and tourists come for their mid-morning coffee I wandered around the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town and little shops stocking local produce (like honey) and handmade jewelry and crafts I found the municipal pool…an impressive and modern complex with a large pool Walking away from the charm of the old town A long wide avenue lined with clothing stores apartment buildings—everything you’ll need for day-to-day living—is the major artery from the main square to the outskirts of town There are also two large supermarkets at the edge of town for all your essentials I found a traditional home that has been fully renovated with two bedrooms Discover why we love a slower pace of life Portugal and info on other European countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT – Explore the Old World in Laidback Portugal If you’re looking for something a bit quieter farther west (and about a half hour drive north of Vilamoura on the coast) is the small village of Alte there’s only about 2,000 people in the town itself It is a warren of cobblestone streets and white-washed homes with pops of color that give the place a cheery feel Keep an eye out for the murals on the walls around town I came across a few of them as I strolled in the morning sun Alte is a popular day trip for vacationers from the coast It was smaller groups of six or 10 people traveling in Jeeps I stopped for lunch at Restauranta Folclore a short walk from the small church in the middle of town The diners appeared to be made up of equal parts locals and visitors I ordered a hearty lunch of barbeque chicken that came with fries and a salad it offers spectacular views of the surrounding hills A lot of the homes currently for sale in Alte right now need renovation work with eight rooms and two small patio areas that needs complete refurbishment for €95,000 ($99,030) two-bathroom home that has been completely renovated and modernized This one is selling for €295,000 ($307,515) The town that charmed me the most on this trip was Silves there were times when I felt like I was Spain’s Andalucia region It’s located about a 35-minute drive (on mostly highway) northeast of Lagos A walk along the castle walls (entry to the castle is just $2.90) for a birds eye view of the town The red-tiled roofs of the old town stand beside modern apartment buildings but the contrast is not immediately evident Newer buildings are also white and low-rise Originally the ancient capital of the Algarve Silves was a major stronghold and trading center during Moorish rule history is everywhere—the city’s original gateway still stands and there’s a portion of a 14th century pavement under it a small square that’s home to the town hall The narrow streets of the old town (the narrowest I came across in all the towns I visited) are home to colorful tapas bars and little cafes where you can pick up a coffee and a pastel de nata (custard tart) for just €1.50 so everything goes up…on cobblestone streets The interior is new and it has an open-plan kitchen/living area a mezzanine level with another smaller living room Everything You Need to Know about The Algarve, Portugal Real Estate & Property in Portugal An Overview of Traditions and Culture in Portugal Luz de TaviraNo doubt this is a beautiful villa but the exquisite finishings you’ll find within the travertine walls are no match for the stunning sea views that unfold in a far-reaching 360-degree panorama just steps from your glazed back door A 2021 renovation has transformed this 80s villa into a thoroughly modern oasis king-size beds in every room (three with en suites) and an airy lounge all meticulously decorated in sandy neutral tones Sleeps: EightPrice: From around £870 per night São Brás de AlportelRural charm abounds in this former farmhouse from the original wooden beams to the whitewashed kitchen to the cooling flagstone floors underfoot that take you from pool to bar to each impeccably turned-out bedroom in the evenings for dinner under the pergola and speciality Portuguese drinks from the in-house honesty bar A stay here can be as hands-off or on as you like – chef services wine tastings and even private concerts can all be made available on request Sleeps: EightPrice: From around £217 per night LagoaEverything in this villa has been created with sustainability at the forefront Solar panels make the most of the ample sun and the majority of the furniture inside has been lovingly constructed from carefully chosen repurposed wood You’ll eat dinner off crockery made by local craftsmen and dish up bowls of olives and barbecued fish on shiny marble countertops sourced from nearby Alentejo When you’re not swimming or admiring the sun as it dips low over the infinity pool Sleeps: 10Price: From around £692 per night AlbufeiraWith bedrooms decked in jewel tones brightening exterior walls and outdoor relaxation spaces filled with authentic pieces from Marrakech this villa has all the vibrancy and flair of a Moroccan souk A few beachy accents bring in some all-important Portuguese seaside flair five spacious rooms and a kids’ playground making this a fabulous choice for family breaks Sleeps: 10Price: From around £422 per night with everything from the locally-sourced furniture to the beautifully minimal finishes crafted to ensure a feeling of pure peace and relaxation The roof terrace is perfect for al-fresco dinners but Faro is just a 20-minute drive and nearby Santa Bárbara de Nexe just a few minutes away Sleeps: SevenPrice: From around £348 per night Sleeps: TwoPrice: From around £85 per night, with a seven-night minimum and the Museu do Traje de São Brás de Alportel is holding its annual Spring Fair This charming costume museum is a delight to visit any day It feels like time travel to venture inside the 19th-century manor house with its permanent exhibition of traditional Algarve clothing and craftsmanship The old stables invite you to explore and showcase anything from cowbells to classic carriages and the history of the local cork industry Beyond the museum's fascinating past, it's still very much alive today. There's a café where you can sit outdoors and enjoy the green space. Walking around you may stumble across a lovely little shop by Algarve artist Maria João Gomes who uses traditional techniques to transform wild palm leaves into the most wondrous hats and carpets The museum also hosts various mindful movement and art classes The usually relatively peaceful grounds of the museum are set to turn into a bustling hub of activity that promises to be a festive feast for all your senses Groove to the musical entertainment while sampling delicious street food and explore the many different stalls of local artisans offering everything from homegrown produce and handicrafts to dazzling jewelry and get ready to spring into a day full of flowers Sunday 26 May, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Museu do Traje, São Brás de Alportel (Faro, Algarve). For more information, please visit: www.amigosdomuseu.com Portugal — Ornate mansions lining the broad boulevards of Sao Bras de Alportel have come to symbolize the Golden Age of Cork that transformed this southern Portuguese settlement into a boomtown in the mid-1800s The opulent estates were built by cork barons who made small fortunes hauling cork bark on mule-drawn carts from vast plantations down to the Algarve coast where it was sold to local fishermen for cork floats These muleteers became well-heeled industrialists when they later constructed cork processing factories that pumped prosperity into the largely agricultural backwater Today Sao Bras de Alportel’s architectural gems serve as landmarks along the historic cork route which traces the remarkable journey of cork from the bark to the bottle visitors traveling by car or on an organized excursion can hike through a cork plantation and shop for cork-skin fashion accessories while enjoying the rural charm and warm hospitality of the Portuguese countryside We get our first glimpse of cork oaks (Quercus suber or sobriero) as we drive south from Lisbon toward the Algarve which thrive for as long as 200 or 300 years appear like dark specters clinging stubbornly to steep Their charcoal-gray trunks have been stripped of bark and some bear white markings denoting the harvest date Alhough cork oaks lack the flamboyance of their orange and olive compatriots we are fascinated by the prominent role these hearty trees have played in shaping Portugal’s cultural heritage and fueling its economic booms and busts who greets us after we are buzzed through the security gate at the modern 17-year-old factory and one of 600 cork processing operations in the country a forklift is unloading massive pallets of rugged-looking cork oak bark from a flatbed truck and piling them inside the open-air factory One-third of the world’s cork-growing area is in Portugal where it extends over roughly 1.8 million acres of forestland south of Lisbon Nearly half of all cork comes from Portuguese factories which produce approximately 100,000 tons annually “We harvest cork bark every 9 years,” he explains “The bark from the first and second harvests is not good enough for the wine industry for the cork oak trunk to produce what we call amadia dense and smooth enough for all-natural cork stoppers.” These highest-quality stoppers are only used to bung bottles of fine aged wines and expensive champagne where Novacortica’s 70 employees are trimming hefty sections of 9-year-old cork bark are boiled for one hour at 212 degrees Fahrenheit to kill bacteria and fungi and remove tannins Then they are cut into narrow bands and sliced into three layers The middle layer is used to punch out small cork disks The other layers are ground into cork granules which are molded elsewhere into agglomerated cork stoppers bound together by special glue Novacortica’s cork disks are affixed to the two ends of the agglomerated stoppers to prevent direct contact with the wine These lower-cost bungs are inserted into bottles of cheaper wines with a shorter shelf life The story of cork does not end with stoppers Some virgin cork and back layers are shipped to manufacturers of acoustic and thermal insulation and flooring Cork also is making a splash in the fashion industry launched the Pelcor cork fashion brand in 2005 and oversees the design manufacturing and marketing of high-end cork-skin women’s purses “Our Pelcor products are on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York,” Pereyra says “We’ve made handbags for former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and a collar for President Obama’s Portuguese water dog.” we marvel at the steam-belching bark boilers and thread our way past ear-splitting punch machines that spit out 1.5 million cork disks daily women eyeball the disks and pluck defective ones off the conveyor belt “Top-quality large-size disks are used for stoppers in some French champagnes medium quality for Spanish sparkling wines and lower quality for Italian sparkling wine,” Pereyra says Smaller disks are intended for wine bottle stoppers he invites us to take souvenirs of punched-out cork bark and disks as we leave the factory Cork harvesting in Portugal’s cork oak woodlands begins in mid-May or early June and extends through August so we take a drive north from Sao Bras de Alportel on the scenic Estrada Patrimonio N2 These muscular field hands deftly wield hand axes to chop into the exterior cork bark and pry off spongy rectangular cork planks the size of small doors The winding mountain roadway takes us along a high ridge line through unbroken cork forests and mesmerizes us with dramatic views of deep ravines We turn west at Barranco do Vehlo and continue past red rocky stretches and rural taverns where old men sit on shaded patios until we reach the town of Salir After a stop for coffee at the local watering hole passing a lumbering truck loaded with recently cut cork bark a local resident directs us to the 19th-century mansion on Dr Jose Dias Sancho Street that now houses the Ethnographical Museum of Algarve Costumes and the Antonio Bentes House of Culture adorned with hand-painted Portuguese tile and decorative stonework was built by cork baron Miguel Dias de Andrade He began as a muleteer and grew rich in the cork trade when the industry blossomed in the 1870s turning Sao Bras de Alportel into a major cork-production center One of the estate’s annex buildings showcases a cork exhibition detailing the industry’s history with displays of tools and vintage photos an industrial cork-producing machine introduced in 1900 that prompted the closure of 43 factories in Sao Bras de Alportel Portugal’s nearly defunct cork industry experienced a revival when global manufacturers rediscovered the durability and versatility of cork products The final stop on our journey along the cork route is the Pelcor retail store on Padre Sena Neto Street A sales clerk tempts us with glamorous cork-skin handbags in silken shades of burnt orange and then set off to find the nearest wine shop where we can pick out some fine Portuguese corks Claudia Capos can be reached at capocomm@sbcglobal.net. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information The Algarve is currently experiencing a severe drought leading to widespread discussions about water consumption restrictions This situation prompts us to consider our water usage and the need for caution it is still possible to maintain a beautiful garden by selecting appropriate plants that require little to no watering Native and other plants from naturally dry climates regions are adapted to survive long summer droughts by becoming dormant This allows them to withstand high temperatures and water scarcity regular watering can actually harm these plants To find the answer to this challenge, visit FEIRA DAS PLANTAS on April 6th at the Costume Museum in S The event will feature a wide variety of plants for sale refreshments and seating areas for relaxation and conversation there will be a designated area for plant storage and assistance with transporting your new plants to your vehicle Car parking will be available in multiple locations and a drive-through system will be in place for convenient pick-up at the museum gate Our objective is to promote sustainable gardening and offer a wide variety of plants that thrive without using large amounts of water Our goal is to share our expertise and offer alternative methods for creating a stunning garden and healthy plants while conserving precious water resources Painter and muralist Jacqueline de Montaigne has painted an incredible 12-metre mural entitled ‘Raizes II’ (Roots) near Parque Roberto Nobre in the historic town of São Brás de Alportel. It was wonderful to catch up with Jacqueline de Montaigne all about her incredible mural in the Algarve ‘Raizes II’ which celebrates São Brás’ extensive history and heritage Jacqueline ranked in the world’s top 100 in urban art coming in at an impressive 35 and is also the first Portuguese woman to be in the list which she explained “it is exciting seeing I only painted my first mural at 37 Jacqueline works around the world painting ethereal large-scale murals and exhibits her work in fine art galleries I would have painted in 6 countries and exhibited in 4 including Guinea Bissau When asked how the project came to fruition Jacqueline told The Portugal News that “A few years ago I had been putting up some paste-ups in São Brás which are hand-painted paintings on paper that you apply to walls like publicity posters someone in the town hall saw me doing this (with my son) and said they had been trying to figure out who had been doing this during the summers as they had wanted to invite the person to do more This started meetings with the town hall whose president is a passionate street art appreciator and from these meetings came an invitation to create a project which is called raizes I have now painted two murals with another even larger one planned already for 2024.” Inês Sousa who is part of the local folklore group Rancho Típico Sambrasense “The beautiful mural shows the accordionist a pattern extensively used throughout the mural with 2 almond flowers tucked behind her ear which was also used in the lamps they used in the same streets to light the roads at night.” The mural comes following Jacqueline’s previous mural ‘Raizes’ which was unveiled in 2022 and was also inspired by another member of the folklore group “I photographed various elements of the group at the time I would like to paint another girl in the group who plays the accordion Jacqueline then shared her strong connection with the Algarve “I grew up spending my summers in São Brás de Alportel as my grandparents bought land there the year I was born and built this up over the years It was also from my summers in the Algarve that I first fell in love with swallows which are consistently present as a symbol/signature in my work as you can see on the ear of the mural in question.” Jacqueline confided that it has been great reconnecting with her roots “Painting in São Brás is something I always look forward to as it is one of my soul places where I feel completely at peace where my grandparents' land and house is full of memories where we have grown up with the constant of the neighbouring farmers down the hill as have my children who love it as much as I do Even every corner of the old town is a magical place for me as I have been escaping to São Brás for over 40 years to paint at this scale and bring my art to a place I love so much is definitely a special experience for me" What was also particularly sweet was that Jacqueline dedicated the mural to Celeste who was the lovely lady who kindly allowed her to paint her home last year “she has sent me lovely messages on Facebook ever since She is extremely proud as is her son who works for the town hall.” The São Brás Câmara expressed that “The municipality of São Brás de Alportel has been focusing on Urban Art in recent years We believe that Urban Art is an excellent way to bring the community closer to art to promote cultural development and to value heritage It is also very important to promote the attractiveness of the territory We have the blessing of being a land where art germinates.. where young talents sprout which is what we like to value most!” The Vice President of São Brás de Alportel shared “A work of art by Jacqueline de Montaigne that intends to pay homage to the ancestral lessons of nature and which contemplates a tribute to Mother Nature is to the traditions of rurality and to remember the anonymous work of generations of women who were the light of their homes Having the opportunity to host works by the artist Jacqueline de Montaigne is an immense privilege that greatly honours the municipality" For more information, please visit www.jacquelinedemontaigne.com and to keep up to date with the artist, you can follow her on @jdemontaigne on Instagram and @jdemontaignejax on Facebook Related article: Jacqueline de Montaigne’s Ethereal Urban Art Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news What a beautiful mural from this talented artist The religious ceremony takes place on the occasion of Easter Sunday and its route is decorated with carpets of flowers that cover the floor the popular festival also features floral contests gastronomy and visitors can watch performances The Municipality of São Brás de Alportel underlined the importance of the Festa das Torchas Floridas for the São Brás community by attracting “thousands of visitors” “The Festa das Torchas Floridas involves the entire community and different generations attracting thousands of national and international tourists who choose to experience Easter in a vibrant and unique way in São Brás de Alportel” The streets through which the procession passes will be open to the public to be able to see the arrangements from 9:30am The plant fair will be taking place at the Museu do Traje Celebrate the fact that spring has sprung and fill your garden with water wise plants that will survive the long hot summer Buy plants from a large number of knowledgeable gardeners Refreshments and seating will be available so leave your purchases in the plant crèche then relax and talk plants with other gardeners There will also be parking available in several locations and a drive through system for convenient plant collection The Plant Fair 24 is the birth child of a group of inspirational and enthusiastic Algarvian nurserymen and women and home gardeners who have been talking for years about having another plant fair in the spring This because they felt as it was the time of the year when the days lengthen and get warmer when most gardeners feel the urge to get planting and need to be able to buy appropriate plants that there is the caveat of how and what we should plant bearing in mind that the Algarve has water restrictions after a severe drought With those factors in mind the conveners felt the emphasis in the Plant Fair should be on plants from Mediterranean regions which have adapted to survive long summer droughts Such plants would either be native plants or those that come from other Mediterranean zones However there are also plants from other climatic regions such as exuberant pink sprawlers Podranea ricasoliana (Eastern Cape South Africa) and sweetly perfumed shrubs Elaeagnus × submacrophylla (Holland) that can also handle long dry periods and thrive by selecting and buying appropriate plants for our gardens and guided by fellow gardeners it is more than possible to grow a beautiful garden the idea of an independent spring plant fair in the east of the Algarve after a hiatus of six years was encouraged and helped along by the Museu do Traje and the São Brás de Alportel Câmara the Plant Fair has provided a rich and wonderful selection of plants for sale There will be indigenous and suitable exotic plants Your visit to the Plant Fair will be more like a social call on gardening friends with opportunities to meet nurserymen and women like Ben and Jo from Jardim Seco Miguel Cotton of Pomar dos Sabores and home gardeners like Harriet Bode and Sue Finlay who can explain how to grow all their plants successfully You may also like to join OGten Net a burgeoning plant association in which gardeners learn from each other Uli representing the Pacific Bulb Society will be there to talk bulbs with you With over twenty plant stalls there is a lot get excited about Experience Portugal’s vibrant culture through its festivals From lively street parades to historic events Most villages and towns in Portugal have their own traditional festival (festa) or pilgrimage (romaria) These traditional festivals celebrate the country’s history There are also some great contemporary events throughout the year Visiting the country during one of these top festivals is an excellent way to experience Portugal’s rich culture: You will find Carnaval parades all over Portugal, with Lisbon and the towns of the Algarve throwing particularly spectacular celebrations While it may seem to be all Rio-style feathers Carnaval festivals in Portugal date back centuries to when people held huge feasts to eat up all the meat it begins on the last Friday before Lent and ends on Shrove Tuesday those parts of the procession carry huge flower-covered crosses and destroy them at the end during a special ceremony The International Sand Sculpture Festival (Festival Internacional de Escultura em Areia – FIESA) held in Pera in the Algarve has been running since 2003 Artists use some 40,000 tonnes of sand over an area of 15,000 square meters to create sand sculptures Some sculptures even soar up to a height of 12 meters the festival organizers illuminate the magnificent sculptures Festa das Cruzes Its roots stem back to the 16th century when a cobbler saw the shape of a cross appear on the ground and interpreted it as a sign of divine presence attracting pilgrims from all over Portugal featuring parades of locals in folk costume Peregrinação de Fátima is Portugal’s most famous Christian pilgrimage three children saw a miraculous vision of the Virgin Mary in Fatima This was apparently witnessed by large numbers of visitors to the site Massive numbers of pilgrims come here throughout the year The town hosts a candlelight procession on 12 May tearful crowds wave white handkerchiefs as a congregation carries a statue of the Virgin Mary from the high altar to the Chapel of the Apparitions during the Adeus (farewell) procession A second pilgrimage also occurs in October During the Feast of Saint Anthony festival on 12 June, the Alfama district of Lisbon is decked with lights and streamers The air is filled with the smell of sardines grilling on churrascos outside houses and restaurants The tradition celebrates the story of how a fish rose out of the sea to listen to the 13th-century saint when the locals wouldn’t Saint Anthony is also known as the matchmaker saint Women fill their mouths with water until they hear a man’s name mentioned while men offer women basil plants and love poems The Arraial Pride is Portugal’s main pride event and has been held since 1996 You can expect the usual fun and frivolity of music Although it is usually held at the end of June the exact date and location of the LGBT event change every year This is one of the largest music festivals in Portugal and is based on its famous Brazilian counterpart, Rock in Rio. Held in Lisbon’s Bela Vista Park, the four-day, two-weekend music festival attracts leading international musicians and DJs as well as emerging talent to perform on the World Stage The 2020 Rock in Rio-Lisboa takes place on 20-21 and 27-28 June This festival which pays tribute to Saint John the Baptist has been held in Porto on 23 June for more than 600 years It begins with street parties and music begin in the afternoon and the party continues late into the night Party-goers release sky lanterns and balloons and enjoy a midnight firework display people bash each other over the head with plastic hammers Young men also throw garlic flowers at women who take their fancy During the first two weeks of July, girls parade around the streets of Tomar with piles of bread on their heads as part of the ancient Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays) Also known as Festa do Divino Espirito Santo (Feast of the Holy Spirit) the event is Tomar’s biggest and most spectacular procession People walk in pairs with the girls wearing tabuleiros; these are headdresses made from bread stacked in rows festooned with flowers and topped with a crown and dove or celestial sphere There are other traditional processions alongside the main parade Festa do Colete Encarnado (or Festival of the Red Waistcoat) is Portugal’s answer to Pamplona’s running of the bulls and takes its name from the traditional red waistcoats worn by local campinos the three-day festival starts with a parade celebrating the campino (cowboy) in the city square and into the streets Then the bulls run loose through the streets of Vila Franca de Xira while foolhardy men try to keep out of their way there have been casualties during the festival in the past Close to the Spanish border, the hilltop town of Viseu has one of the best-preserved fortifications in Europe. Viseu is also home to the longest festival procession in southern Portugal. The Feira de São Mateus is a series of celebrations in commemoration of Saint Matthew Saint Martin’s Day is celebrated on 11 November Saint Martin was a Roman soldier who cut his cloak in half to give it to a beggar to keep warm; after which the sun came out to warm him warm winter days at the beginning of November are called Saint Martin’s Summer This is when the chestnuts start ripening and the first wine of the season is ready to drink The Portuguese celebrate this time – called Magusto – with bonfires and parties as well as água-pé; a weak wine made from watered-down dregs The most traditional Saint Martin’s Day festivals in Portugal are in northern Trás-os-Montes Adam has lived in Belgium and Hong Kong and is currently residing in the Netherlands His interests range a wide spectrum of topics from digital nomads and modern conflict to sports and local craft beer the rally organised by Portugal Classic in conjunction with the Clube Português de Automóveis Antigos passing through the municipalities of Albufeira Silves and São Brás de Alportel Participating cars range from the 1920’s to early 90’s Cars are coming from the north and centre of Portugal and Spain to join the event.The event will start on Friday the Murganheira stage will start on the Vilamoura Casino circuit cars will depart from Vilamoura Marina at 9am with a special qualifying test at the Algarve International Autodrome starting around 11am providing “the usual moments of adrenaline” Arrival in Monchique is scheduled for 12:30pm the departure from Monchique for the Algarve Tourism stage will take place and a neutralisation at Vila Vita Parc at 4:20pm the start for the Viborel stage and the Opticalia Circuit in Armação de Pêra the historic regularity rally starts with the departure for the Mercedes-Benz / Starsul stage at around 9:30am and with a special test at Cerro de São Miguel at 11:00am On this day there will also be a refreshment break in São Brás de Alportel at 11:30am and another break in the Mercedes-Benz / Starsul dealership at 12:20pm the organisation highlights “the route in the municipality of Monchique affectionately called Jardim do Algarve” where participants will enjoy magnificent natural landscapes Despite a high number of participants being planned the entire event is being organised “following the guidelines and recommendations of the General Directorate of Health with the most advanced health security measures to provide a high quality experience for participants The Algarve Classic Cars has the support of various public and private entities which highlights the municipalities of Loulé São Brás de Alportel and Albufeira and Starsul brands The courts have decided to place four people in preventive detention, joining 17 more from the same group who are awaiting trial for drug trafficking in São Brás de Alportel “The woman and the three men now in preventive detention were added to the 14 men and three women in the gang who are already in preventive detention”, according to a press release published on the Faro Public Ministry portal According to the note, on December 15, the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) of Faro presented to the Criminal Investigation Court of the Algarve capital for the first interrogation of the detained defendants four men and a woman “belonging to a gang dedicated to the sale of cocaine heroin and hashish in São Brás de Alportel” the head of the now detained group “distributed the narcotic product to the remaining members of the gang whose function was to sell directly to consumers and other resellers” The note states that among the members of the gang “there was one who was responsible for storing the drugs and collecting the money from sales” The four detainees join 17 others arrested on July 8 on suspicion of belonging to the drug trafficking network operating in the Algarve region which is in charge of investigating this case allegedly belonged to a network of drug trafficking that operated with particular incidence in the municipalities of São Brás de Alportel the arrests resulted from an investigation that had been ongoing for around a year by the GNR's Faro Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.