gorgeous countryside and delicious seafood Tavira and its surrounding villages have plenty to offer Dusk in Tavira is a masterclass in seduction On my first evening in the Algarve’s most easterly city – just 18 miles from the border with Spain – tangerine skies smudged by pillowy clouds unfurl above the old town with its jumble of church towers and terracotta roofs the best vantage point proves to be the seven-arch Roman bridge spanning the meandering Gilão river where I join an appreciative crowd of locals and off-season travellers and a young Portuguese couple choose this moment to surreptitiously bolt a padlock bearing their initials to the metal lattice Even the living statue gets off his box to soak it all in On either bank street lamps gild the cobblestone promenades and pavement restaurants beyond a pretty bend of houses generously dubbed “Little Venice” the terrain climbs towards the Serra do Caldeirão mountains; downriver shifting through gleaming salt pans to where the lagoon system and beaches of Ria Formosa kiss the ocean The scene could almost be stolen from another century “Come back in the summer – there’s nightly music It’s a whole other place,” says Hélio Soares birding guide and captain of my sun-powered boat tour with Solar Moves the next day spoonbills and oystercatchers foraging in the rich marshlands The Roman bridge on the Gilão River Photograph: Picture That/AlamyThe weather is bright but far too brisk to dive off the boat for a swim with its battered fishing boats and wooden tackle sheds it’s the largest of the area’s barrier islands and boasts some of the Algarve’s wildest beaches Tavira’s wealth peaked during the Age of Discovery and it still bears faded hallmarks of grandeurMost sunseekers will take the passenger ferry from the city to Praia da Ilha de Tavira or drive four miles south to ride the quaint tourist train across the dunes to Praia do Barril both of which have excellent facilities and restaurants Hélio points out his favourite stretch of the island We dock and I follow a long boardwalk to greet the Atlantic at a shell-strewn expanse of sand I meet up with professional storyteller Maria Luísa Francisco from Genuine Algarve for a walk around Tavira’s monuments It would be easy to quickly tick off the medieval castle and a handful of the city’s 21 churches – Igreja Santa Maria do Castelo and Igreja da Misericórdia are among the most elaborate both built on sites of former mosques from the time of Moorish rule But Luísa shares folktales like only a local can even taking me to an archaeological dig boasting Phoenician relics from the eighth-century BC we’ve always welcomed foreigners and benefitted from cultural exchange I consider Tavira still a work in progress although perhaps that’s an unpopular opinion these days,” Luísa says referring to the growing sentiment against the number of foreign nationals settling in the Algarve The church of Santa Maria do Castelo Photograph: Mauritius Images/AlamyTavira is the closest Portuguese port to Morocco and its wealth peaked during the Age of Discovery when Portuguese kings sponsored campaigns in north Africa and beyond A series of seemingly biblical misfortunes followed – plague silted river channels and overfishing – but the city still bears faded hallmarks of grandeur including facades adorned with azulejo tiles and Juliet balconies and distinctive “hipped” roofs allegedly inspired by trade links with the east I’m staying in a building dating back to 1888 Casa Beleza do Sul is a guesthouse lovingly renovated by owner Paola Boragine at the turn of the millennium using only natural and authentic materials and twin sun terraces on which to take coffee Sitting just one road back from the riverside main square of Praça da República it couldn’t be more central; some of Tavira’s best restaurants are just a short amble away featured trips and local tips for your next break as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays It’s easy in low season to get a table at the city’s most popular establishmentsSeafood is king in Tavira something I come to appreciate more deeply at the large municipal market on the edge of the city’s working salt pans a passionate cook and culinary historian who runs local tour company Taste Algarve Our chatter is punctuated by the thud of fish hitting fishmongers’ slabs but Inêz demystifies the stalls of crustaceans finally picking the freshest snapper to take back for a cooking class “Fishing in Tavira has always been connected to the production of salt which was used to preserve and export the catch Both traditions date back well over two millennia hand-harvested flor de sal as a final garnish for her dishes rather than coarse or industrially processed alternatives Sérgio Cupertino Photograph: Amelia DugganInêz’s elegant farmhouse and B&B almond and fig trees in the highlands overlooking Tavira I whip up three courses under her tutelage I begin to suspect Tavira’s greatest draw might be how easily it offers up the surrounding countryside This is something horse-riding guide Sérgio Cupertino It’s my last morning in the south of Portugal before I return home to Lisbon so he adapts his classic sunset tour to meet me just after dawn at his avocado farm seven miles east of Tavira We saddle up and trot into the Ria Formosa natural park following empty river beaches through samphire and flowering cacti until we reach Cacela Velha It deserves its reputation as the Algarve’s best-preserved village: stone cottages with brightly painted lintels climb towards a whitewashed 16th-century chapel overlooking the river and pearlescent ocean beyond this cottage opens as a tasca (tavern) and we can rest here and enjoy oysters so you can know it in all seasons,” Sérgio says echoing the invitations I’ve encountered throughout my time here Erick Tavira died on Rikers Island in 2022 An amended lawsuit filed this week claims his death was not only preventable but the result of the failures of several city agencies Multiple city agencies failed to help a man suffering from a mental health crisis in the lead up to his death on Rikers Island in 2022 who was 28 years old when he hanged himself on Rikers two years ago this week said in a lawsuit that it wasn’t only the city’s troubled Department of Correction that failed to keep the Bronx man alive which allegedly failed to treat Tavira when he was both in and out of the dangerous jail complex According to the amended lawsuit filed in the Bronx’s Civil Court this week Tavira was not only turned away from a city hospital when he came in search of mental health care but was forcibly removed from the health facility by two security guards who later lied about the interaction While incarcerated at Rikers Island a short time later the DOC and Correctional Health Services failed to get Tavira who had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder It all led up to Tavira’s death in October 2022 the firm representing Tavira’s family in the case and then again and again until it gets to a point where the failures are all leading toward a very foreseeable ending.” which was originally filed in January but updated with a complaint against Correctional Health Services and New York City Health + Hospitals on Tuesday claims what a handful of other lawsuits filed on behalf of those who have died on Rikers in recent years claim – systemic failures within the DOC and the city’s criminal justice apparatus largely contributed to a preventable death “It wasn't just the fact that [DOC officers] didn't do tours [of Rikers’ housing facilities] correctly,” Mortazavi said “It wasn't just the fact that a few months before that “There were signs that were ignored and that built upon the previous one the previous failures to ultimately get to Oct The events that led to Tavira’s death began in June 2021 Tavira went to Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan while suffering a mental health crisis Video surveillance footage from that day showed Tavira “[Tavira] was visibly in distress and in need of medical care,” the lawsuit claims two security officers walked up to the 28-year-old and violently put him in handcuffs though he later allegedly told prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney’s office that Tavira had intentionally injured the officer The claim resulted in Tavira’s arrest and arraignment He had yet to receive any treatment for his worsening mental health crisis Tavira was arrested again on a misdemeanor charge Though the charge alone was not a bail-eligible charge a judge was able to set bail and did just that Tavira was sent to Rikers Island on June 13 staff at both Correctional Health Services and the DOC knew that Tavira had more than 10 inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations in the previous five years and that he had taken 15 trips to the emergency room for mental health reasons during that same period of time They also knew about his mental health diagnoses and his previous attempts at self harm during Tavira’s 16-month stay in the jail complex he struggled often to get the city agencies to deliver his medication and to bring him to doctor appointments the DOC failed to get Tavira his required daily dose of medication for three weeks straight Tavira allegedly missed over 100 doses of his medication and dozens of medical appointments In the four-month period preceding his death Tavira missed a little more than 50 doses of what was supposed to be daily medication Tavira was hardly the only detainee the DOC and CHS allegedly failed to treat during his incarceration and in the years that would follow According to an August report by the Board of Correction officers with the DOC failed over 35,200 times to get detainees to their medical appointments scheduled with Correctional Health Services in 2023 The number of missed appointments accounted for just under 37 percent of all medical appointment requests made by people in custody that year Tavira was also subject to a number of other systemic failures facing the DOC Tavira was sprayed with pepper spray multiple times a practice the BOC recently found has been deployed with unnecessary regularity in recent years Tavira was also placed in punitive segregation despite the fact that his risk for suicide should have prevented him from being placed in the segregated cell a former social worker told the BOC that the DOC regularly “deadlocks” detainees with mental health issues in segregated cells where they are prevented from receiving mental health treatment “I want the world to see what happened to Erick and how the system completely failed him in his time of need,” said Tavira’s mother but he was a human being who deserved care He is now gone from our family forever and this is a void we will never fill.” A spokesperson for the city’s Law Department said the city was reviewing the updated filing Home / Law / Crime / Politics / Communities / Voices / All Stories / Who We Are / Terms and Conditions Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics Living overseas since 2011 Terry and her husband went on a housesitting assignment to Portugal in 2018 and they knew they’d found a place they wanted to call home When Julie Chen and her husband Erik Fuson decided to leave behind their lives in Colorado and move to Portugal in 2021 it wasn't a decision they took lightly the high-powered corporate job that once defined her was beginning to feel hollow and sleepless nights working with international clients were pulling her away from Erik and leaving little room for joy what is the point?" Julie asked herself Julie was no stranger to adventure—having lived in China for three years and traveled extensively—but Erik who worked in web design and marketing automation Julie pushed Erik out of his comfort zone with a destination wedding in Mexico Julie set her sights on something even bigger: a move abroad Julie wanted to plan their dream honeymoon in either Spain, Morocco, or Portugal But when the global pandemic put a hold on worldwide travel "what the heck," and moved to Portugal sight unseen with their dog Cora Little did Erik know on their wedding day that when he said his "I dos" to the love of his life that he would soon be living in Europe 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 "Everything was getting more expensive in Colorado," says Julie "We started to crunch some numbers and had thought about moving to a less expensive state but in the end opted to leave the US altogether." With the help of International Living publications Julie and Erik began searching for a country that they could someday call home "Since Erik had never traveled and speaks only English we needed to find a country where English was widely spoken to make his transition easier," Julie says "Our new country would need to be safe good internet for Erik to continue working and if we could someday apply for citizenship "We pay just $780 a year for our private health insurance with Multicare that's only $65 a month for the both of us," said Julie "Such a bargain compared to the high price of healthcare in the US." Julie and Erik chose the Algarve for its mild year-round weather with plenty of sunshine and English speakers. They first landed in Lagos where they rented a furnished apartment but when summer arrived with tons of tourists the two decided to move somewhere else "We drove east toward the Spanish border and landed in Tavira and it just felt like home," Julie says with a smile "Finding a furnished apartment that would allow our dog was not easy so instead we purchased a two-bedroom new apartment that came fully furnished for just €293,500 "Erik is an avid cyclist and it's so cool that we can bike to the border of Portugal from our home in Tavira and hop on a ferry to Spain for tapas It's almost like biking from one country to another." The couple love living close to Faro International airport where they can pick up a bargain flight to Paris or other destinations around Europe Julie had no idea that her mom would follow them.. Julie was determined to help her mom find a suitable long-term rental to call her own and that experience sparked an idea: perhaps she could provide that same service to others One of the requirements in the process to apply for a resident visa in Portugal is proof of accommodation This can be a daunting task to do from North America and is often a stressor for applicants How are you supposed to find a rental to live in for one full year—without seeing it she could help find rentals and make detailed videos of the properties for a fee And thus her very own company Tavira Long Lets was born "Real estate was always a hobby of mine," says Julie "By helping future expats find rentals I feel like I'm making a positive difference in the world plus making a little extra money to help supplement our income." When they're not working or hanging out with friends Julie Erik and her mom are studying Portuguese in the free government-offered classes held at local schools "We love our lives here," says Julie socialize more and are healthier because we walk everywhere and eat better." ExpandHampshire’s Amelia Nidelea-Polanin (top) wrestles Bolingbrook’s Alejandra Flores in the 115-pound final match on Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional. (Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald/Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald) SCHAUMBURG – Hampshire senior Anneliese Tavira fought back tears moments after defeating Maine West’s Lilly Garrett by decision to win the 170-pound championship at Saturday’s Schaumburg Sectional. Tavira remembered back to last year when she failed to reach sectionals. “I had just learned wrestling, but it was really upsetting for me,” Tavira said. “I was able to meet coach Hector Gomez [of Gomez Wrestling Academy in Carol Stream] and he was able to lift me up and make me the wrestler that I am today. There were a couple of things that were happening in my life at the time where I think I wasn’t prepared mentally. “I was able to prove to myself today that I can, and it means a lot to me.” Hampshire’s Anneliese Tavira (left) wrestles Maine West’s Lilly Garrett in the 170-pound final on Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional. (Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald/Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald) Tavira was one of three Whip-Purs to advance to state, which will take place Feb. 28-Mar. 1 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. Joining Tavira from Hampshire are sophomore Amelia Nidelea-Polanin, who won the 115-pound title, and freshman Sam Diehl, who took third at 190. The three Whip-Purs are the first girls wrestlers from the school to make it to state. Tavira and Nidelea-Polanin were the only two local wrestlers at Schaumburg to win a sectional championship. “They made history for Hampshire High School,” Whips coach Matthew Todd said. “It’s a really big day for them and for our school. There’s immense pride coming from all of us right now. The work they’ve put in has just been wonderful.” Tavira lost to Garrett last year in the regional round and now competes on the same club team at Gomez Wrestling Academy. Tavira met Gomez last year, which she said changed her life. “I was sitting at the regional crying because I had just been taken out,” Tavira said. “He was sitting there, he gave me a pat on a back and a granola bar. He told me he was hosting practice the next day, and I went there and never stopped going. They’ve helped me a lot, I owe a lot to the Gomez family. Also, coach Todd and Hampshire have helped me a lot with my bottom and top wrestling. I talk to him almost every day after practice. He always has the right things to say.” Nidelea-Polanin beat Bolingbrook’s Alejandra Flores by pin in 2:53 to secure the 115-pound title and advance to state. “I just felt it in the moment, it was the right moment to hit that move,” said Nidelea-Polanin, who didn’t wrestle her freshman year. “It’s exciting. Something new. I know what I want to get, which is a state title.” Todd said Nidelea-Polanin has helped elevate the team. “She brings a fun attitude,” Todd said of the sophomore. “Always going to shoot you a quick smile, she knows what she’s doing. Always helpful with the other girls, coaching them up. It’s just a fun group of girls. Really proud of them.” Hoffman Estates’ Sophia Ball (left) tries to escape the grasp of Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher in the 130-pound final on Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional. (Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald/Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald) Huntley advanced two to state: junior Aubrie Rohrbacher, who placed second at 130, and senior Natalie Aguirre, who took fourth at 170. Rohrbacher, a three-time state qualifier, lost to Hoffman Estates' Sophia Ball in the championship by fall in 2:28. Before Saturday, Rohrbacher and Janiah Slaughter, who was not competing, were the only two previous Raiders to make it to state. “I feel like it gives Huntley a better name. We just won regionals, we won a few tournaments, and I’m really excited to show what we can do” Rohrbacher said. “We’ve grown so much, and to have more than just two girls everyone knows about, to add to that third and get Natalie to state, it just feels so great.” Rohrbacher took third at state last year and has big goals for her junior season. “I want to win,” Rohrbacher said. “Last year I lost early, had to wrestle through wrestlebacks, wrestle three or four extra matches. This year, I want a straight shot. I’m going to put my head down and go to work.” Glenbard West’s Khloe Perez (top) wrestles Crystal Lake South’s Annalee Aarseth in the 110-pound final match on Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional. (Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald/Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald) Crystal Lake South sophomore Annalee Aarseth, a two-time state qualifier, finished runner-up at 110 pounds. She lost to Glenbard West’s Khloe Perez by fall in 1:50. “It’s really exciting, it’s another chance to improve and get higher on the podium this year,” Aarseth said. “I was pretty happy with the results. I feel like I could have done better. I wished I lasted a little longer in the finals, but was happy I was able to get to my shots. I know what I have to work on now and work on finishing them.” Dundee-Crown also advanced two to state. Senior Diamond Rodriguez (105 pounds, fourth) and senior Mackenzie Lessner (fourth, 155) will each go to state for the first time. “Overwhelmed mostly,” Rodriguez said of advancing to state in her final season. “Right now I’m exhausted, but I really did push because I have so many supporters here. It just makes me feel so loved, even if I were to lose it. So many times I wanted to give up, but they were watching me, my coaches counted on me. I’ve been working three years for this. This was it.” Lessner felt the pressure going into the blood rounds. “My blood round was a girl I lost to twice this season, so I thought I was gone,” Lessner said. “But I made it. I’m just looking to wrestle the best I can at state and make it as far as I can. Girls wrestling, it’s something new, so might as well make a name for myself.” McHenry junior Natalie Corona finished third at 140 and qualified for state for the third time. Last year she placed fifth. “It’s always been a goal of mine to be a four-timer [state qualifier],” Corona said. “I was feeling pretty confident. My goal for state is to make it to the finals. I almost made it last year, but I missed by a takedown. That was a real hard match. It lit a spark in me to keep going and come back better.” Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network 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 (KMPH) — WARNING: This report may be triggering for some and viewer discretion is advised A California woman is surrounded by loved ones after they say she survived a brutal domestic violence attack from her boyfriend that almost killed her Doctors said she was put in a medically induced coma because of how badly she was beaten her family said she was able to escape and get help from neighbors who called 911 What happened to her was described as if she was in a torture chamber The traumatic moments that took place inside 40-year-old Desiree Johnson's home were shared with KMPH Her family said it's the place where her ex-boyfriend almost beat her to death on Nov "She said it went on about an hour," Teresa Diaz "They had to fly her to Fresno with the helicopter because she was unstable." Teresa added Desiree was barely conscious and her head was cracked open from being beaten with a pan She also had damage to her body and her face had bite marks There was also internal damage she could not see there was trauma to her liver and fluid between her brain and skull The family identified the ex-boyfriend as 41-year-old Octavio Amador Tavira "They were very much in love in the beginning and they were together all the time," Krick said 15 and is now facing felony charges for torture The family is hoping the community can pitch in to help Desiree get a fresh start and wash away the memories and stains from what happened to her that day Desiree will not be returning to her previous job where she and Tavira met They added that one of Tavira's family members is one of her bosses If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence there is help available 24-7 The Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno County can be contacted at 559-233-HELP Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email The Algarve Diocese's Tourism Pastoral Care announces a series of English Holy Week celebrations at the Church of Santiago in Tavira.  These special services have been organized to serve the English-speaking community residing in the Algarve and visitors who wish to participate in the sacred liturgies and traditions of this important time in the Christian calendar We invite all members of the community to join us in prayer and reflection as we commemorate the Passion Below is the schedule of celebrations in English April 13th: 10:30 am - Palm Mass at Santiago Church April 15th: 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Confessions in English at Santiago Church April 16th: 6:00 pm – Way of the cross (Via Crucis) in English beginning at Santiago Church and proceeding through the streets of Tavira's historic centre April 17th: 6:00 pm - Mass of the Lord's Supper in English at Santiago Church April 18th: 5:00 pm - Celebration of the Lord's Passion in English at Santiago Church April 20th: 10:30 am - Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection in English at Santiago Church All are warmly invited to participate in these sacred celebrations please contact the Parish of Santiago in Tavira or visit the Diocese of the Algarve website 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 No changes in the overall standings at the Volta ao Algarve the small town that situated in the east of Algarve hosted a stage finish at the race for the tenth consecutive year and the stage that concluded there had bunch sprint written all over it despite the presence of some small climbs on the 183.5km course but once again the escapees didn’t have a chance against a peloton that had the clear goal of making sure everything would come down to a mass gallop Friday The speed picked up gradually and the leaders got caught with more than 25 kilometers to go it was Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) who turned out to be the fastest The Soudal Quick-Step boys concluded safely in the peloton – including Dries Van Gestel who was our top finisher – meaning that both Maximilian Schachmann and Ilan Van Wilder retained their places in the general classification top 15 ahead of Saturday’s complicated stage to Faro Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images to know how many times a particular page is read We only use this information to improve the content of our website These cookies are only placed after you have given your consent Hill Dickinson’s Equity Capital Markets team has recently advised Cairn Financial Advisers Oak Securities and SI Capital on a placing and subscription carried out by Helix Exploration plc which raised gross proceeds of £5 million from investors Hannam & Partners and Tavira acted as co-lead bookrunners and joint brokers in connection with the placing alongside Oak Securities and SI Capital The placing was conducted by way of an accelerated book-build process Sam Hudson said: ‘”We were delighted to be able to assist with this fundraise to enable Helix Exploration to advance its Rudyard project and also to fund other exploration and resource definition work across the company’s projects and general working capital requirements Oak Securities and SI Capital for instructing us on this transaction and congratulations to them on completing this successful fundraise in short order “This is one of several ECM deals completed by our team in recent months and we are hopeful that this is a positive sign of things to come in 2025 as London capital markets look to recover from a prolonged period of low activity.”  Copyright © 2025 Hill Dickinson LLP     VAT number 108228335  Arnaud De Lie third after Alberto Dainese relegated from podium to 134th The final 5km was a heated battle between the sprint trains of the major favourites Visma-Lease a Bike and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe most conspicuously controlling the pace as Dainese and Girmay shifted ahead of a fading Van Aert into the final straight Chaos erupted as a crash to the left of the peloton took down a dozen riders near the front of the sprint including a number of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe riders but thankfully sparing the sprinters positioned at the front of the field Meeus follow a fortunate early sprint from Casper van Uden (Picnic-PostNL) before sweeping ahead of Girmay and Dainese in the final 100 metres meaning Girmay placed second and Arnaud De Lie moved up to third "I was second already in my first race and I was really focused on the first stage here [it] didn't work out as we all know but today was another opportunity," Meeus said at the finish to Eurosport I felt good all day and the team did an amazing job so I'm super happy to finish it off It was actually quite a hectic day all day the hilly part there was also some wind with 35k's to go so I was really nervous Then after the bonus sprint we turned into headwind and then the sprint preparations started.  It was still a bit hectic in the final with the corners and the roundabouts but I managed to position myself well and finish it off." With fourth-placed Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) crashing out of the race with 23km to go António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) shifted into his spot and all the others in the top 10 moved up one spot as well with Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) going into 10th who won the same 183.5-kilometre stage to Tavira last year was part of the bunch contesting the sprint "I was super punchy in the final 3km," Wout van Aert said after the finish "I was in a good position toward the roundabout at 800 I lost too many positions for a good sprint." Warm if windy weather greeted the peloton at the start in the Portuguese border town of Vila Real de San Antonio Van Aert logically found himself at the centre of the media attention at the sign-on through the much more rugged opening half of the course did not prevent nine Portuguese riders and one Briton going clear in what potentially constituted a serious challenge to the sprinters and WorldTour teams present.  nominally represented the most serious threat overall but the allure of some time off the front and perhaps a breakaway win were the most obvious goals for the 10-man move also containing  Gonçalo Oliveira (Anicolor-Tien 21) Bruno Silva (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortagua) Carlos Miguel Salgueiro (APHotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense) Noah Campos and André Ribeiro (GI Group Holding-Simoldes-UDO) Joao Oliveira (Credibom-LA Aluminios-Marcos Car) and César Fonte (Radio Popular-Paredes-Boavista) By the foot of the first of the day's two classified climbs the 10 still held a solid three-minute gap But the climb itself began to take its toll with  Joao Oliveira one of the first to be dropped and the remainder of the breakaway shedding time as well.  the entire front move was recaptured and the sprinters' teams kept a strict eye on proceedings as the race moved towards the summit After German Nicolás Tivani (Aviludo-Louetano-Loule) darted ahead over the top to recapture the lead in the mountains classification from Foia winner Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) EF Education-EasyPost led the pack off the descent Soudal-QuickStep and Groupama-FDJ were notably present in the front part of the peloton as it zipped along a broad 'A'-road back down from inland towards the very windy segment of Atlantic coastline The unmistakeable figure of Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) at the head of affairs added yet more speed to the peloton as it moved into the final 30 kilometres speeded along by a brisk tailwind and well-surfaced roads After rattling through the cobbled boulevards and past the famous lighthouse in the start town of Vila Real for a second time a 90-degree turn brought the pack onto the long series of straightaways leading to the finish in Tavira Just as a crash brought down Bardet and Picnic-PostNL teammate Romain Combaud Lidl-Trek put in their first concerted effort of the day on the front With the peloton together and a flat 20km ahead it was for the sprinters' teams to orchestrate their lead-out trains and all eyes were on Intermarché-Wanty Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Visma–Lease a Bike Results powered by FirstCycling Alasdair FotheringhamSocial Links NavigationAlasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991 He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain he has also written for The Independent,  The Guardian,  ProCycling Let's explore seven of the most welcoming towns to retire in Portugal People dine on a quiet street in Évora, Portugal. Editorial credit: trabantos / Shutterstock.com Évora is a charming historic town, perfect for history-buff retirees who want to live somewhere with stunning surroundings. Évora is a UNESCO Site with a rich Roman and medieval heritage Enjoy the history that's all around you by visiting the Roman Temple and the Cathedral of Évora The museum has extensive exhibits showcasing the town's past and the streets in Évora are pretty and perfect for strolling around There are many cute shops and eateries to enjoy Visit the town's main square to shop and see the unique 16th-century Henriquina Fountain Editorial credit: meunierd / Shutterstock.com Retirees who like to surf will love this town; it is a prime spot for surfing Some of the most popular beaches for surfing are Vale Figueira which features a magnificent cove hemmed by cliffs that are perfect for exploration Sines is famous as the traditional birthplace of the explorer Vasco da Gama Today there is a monument celebrating him that faces the sea just next to the west tower of Sines Castle You can also learn more about the town's past at the Museu de Sines There are many historical buildings around town that add to Sines' character an old Roman town long abandoned but which remains available for exploration Storks take flight near the wetlands of Vila Franca de Xira Editorial credit: Pedro Rendas / Shutterstock.com This is the perfect spot to go wine-tasting The region is mostly known for its red wines While Vila Franca de Xira offers a slower pace of life The Linha de Azambuja is a commuter train with frequent runs offering an easy way to get in and out of Lisbon Lagos is a beautiful town in Portugal with windswept dunes and natural grottoes and relaxed lifestyle make this a great destination for retirees There are many beaches in Lagos with stunning views A natural wonder you will find at one of the beaches is the Ponta da Piedade and stacks of red and yellow limestone that tower above magnificent turquoise waters Next to Ponta de Piedade is Praia do Camilo There is a wooden staircase leading down to the cove Enjoy walking around Old Lagos to see beautiful architecture and historic sites Jose Formosinho to learn more about the area's history there is also a science museum—Lagos Ciência Viva Science Centre-to enjoy Something to know about Lagos is that the area's beauty attracts many tourists in the summer Sometimes the downtown area can get rowdy and music can be heard playing throughout the night Those looking for a quiet retirement will want to find a place away from the town's center People spend the day along the famous beaches of Tavira Editorial credit: rui vale sousa / Shutterstock.com Known by many as the “Venice of the Algarve," Tavira is a romantic town on the banks of the Gilão River The town is a fishing village with beaches to relax on and lots of wildlife to see The Praia da Ilha de Tavira is the beach nearest to the town located on a barrier island separate from the mainland To get to the beach there is a ferry that travels back and forth throughout the day Another great beach in town is the Praia do Barril which has a long and wide belt of white sand with rows of lawn chairs making it the perfect place to unwind There you'll also find the curious Cemitério das Âncoras (Anchor Cemetery) you will see many historic buildings including the Castle of Tavira and the mid-16th century Igreja da Misericórdia church Tavira has a lot of bird traffic throughout the year since it's next to the beautiful Ria Formosa National Park The park features 65 square miles of water channels There are over 200 species of birds that can be spotted in the park Some unusual species of birds you can find include purple herons western swamphens (considered the symbol of the park) A traditional Madeiran folk group performs in Funchal on the Island of Madeira Editorial credit: amnat30 / Shutterstock.com Madeira—officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira—is closer to Africa than Europe. Just off the coast of Morocco it has a lower cost of living than many other towns in the country This makes it especially attractive to digital nomads and those looking to retire Enjoy the variety of plant life at one of its botanical gardens The tropical gardens at Monte Palace Madeira and Madeira Botanical Garden are two of the most popular Nature lovers will love hiking around the area you can hike on the nature reserve next to volcanic rock The rock has a reddish hue and the soil in the area allows unusual flowering plants like cardoons to flourish head to Madeira's tallest mountain: Pico Ruivo Many of the hikes there are walkable and afford stunning rocky mountain views the capital and biggest city on the island try getting around by one of the cable cars These cars go on the same route as the old steam railway line For those looking to retire to spend some extra time on the green Madeira is becoming a trendy golfing destination It was nominated as one of the "World's Best Emerging Golf Destination" by World Golf Awards Editorial credit: F de Jesus / Shutterstock.com Setúbal is the destination for a relaxed atmosphere and easy access to seafood and wine The port town is along the Sado River estuary and has an industrial history Setúbal past is evident in some of the town's unique buildings Some of the most spectacular places to visit include the Monastery of Jesus and the Castelo de Palmela The town's center has pedestrian-friendly streets which are perfect for a stroll to enjoy the town's atmosphere including the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve and Arrábida Natural Park This is considered by many to be one of the best markets for seafood in all of Portugal Portugal is a stunning country with a lot to offer retirees These Portugal towns are some of the best places to retire and offer something for everyone including those who need access to low housing prices Beach bums will love the turquoise waters in Lagos will enjoy all the historical buildings and monuments in Évora Whether you are looking for a remote wilderness paradise or a bustling beach town these Portuguese towns are great retirement destinations the beautiful weather and friendly community will confirm you made the right choice in your retirement destination photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com The city of Braga has become the second city in Portugal to endorse the Plant Based Treaty in recent months.  The move means they join 35 towns and cities worldwide, including Tavira, and European capitals, Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh, in calling for a global Plant Based Treaty to be added to the Paris Agreement. The motion was introduced by Eng. Altino Bessa, from the Environment Council, and recognises that “animal agriculture is responsible for around 43% of methane emissions in Portugal, being above the global average of 32%,” and, “Portugal has a legal commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 2005, and by 90% by 2050.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Plant Based Treaty (@plantbasedtreaty) The Plant Based Treaty motion commits Braga to developing an ambitious plant-based food strategy, including: Noel Santos, Plant Based Treaty Portugal campaigner said, “We ended 2024 with Tavira's endorsement and now we begin 2025 with Braga's commitment to this call for a Global Plant Based Treaty. All the more so after we met with Tavira's executive and agreed on further measures to facilitate access to menu changes both in schools and in the town's cafés and restaurants. This will be the year of the Plant Based Treaty in Portugal.” In October 2024, Tavira became the first city in Portugal to endorse the Plant Based Treaty and commit to: The Plant Based Treaty is modeled on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has received support from 36 cities, almost a quarter million individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, and more than 3000 groups and businesses. The Plant Based Treaty has secured high-profile endorsements from celebrities, including Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, who issued a written statement calling for politicians to support the Plant-Based Treaty. They said: “We believe in justice for animals, the environment and people. That’s why we support the Plant Based Treaty and urge individuals and governments to sign it.” 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. A Plant Based Treaty - what a fantastic idea. It's the perfect quadruple threat to much of what ails modern society: Obesity, Increased Health Care costs, Environmental damage, and the Suffering of animals. If the majority of people ate more plant based foods (particularly Gutbio or pesticide free versions, which thankfully I have seen more of recently in the local supermarkets) the world would be a much better place. 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. 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Expat shares the best thing about living in Portugal Portugal is one of the most appealing destinations for expats thanks to its stunning weather and easy-going lifestyle has shared her experience of living abroad Terry Coles and her husband lived in two different areas of Portugal before settling down in Tavira Speaking on the YouTube channel International Living Terry said: "We started near the city of Caldas da Rainha on the Silver Coast The expat has lived in Portugal since 2016 The couple then lived in Villa Mora but left after two years due to noisy tourists in the summer Terry said: "We had made many friends that lived in Tavira The nice part about it is the beaches are on an island They can only be accessed by a short ferry ride "That keeps the bulk of the tourists out of the city and out of our lives for the most part unless we want to get on the boat and go to the island." Tavira offers a relaxed lifestyle and individuals can be "as busy or not as busy as [they] choose to be" Part of Portugal's appeal is the weather with the average summer temperature in the Algarve reaching 28°C The expat said: "The Portuguese are some of the most warm and welcoming people we have ever met My husband and I have travelled to much of Europe and you cannot say the same about every country "English is really widely spoken here but that is not to say you should not learn the language There is a vast expat community across the Algarve so meeting people in similar positions with like-minded attitudes is very easy with several food options for people to pick from Terry explained: "Tavira is the representative Portuguese community for the Mediterranean diet so it is easy to eat and stay healthy here It's a beautiful country with great people If you fall in love with the country like we did you can come and live your best life." Another expat in Cyprus shared why he moved abroad He said: "It was like a breath of fresh air I have been living here for seven years and if I have to decide where to live Gemma Fullam beside the Gilao river in the centre of the Algarve town of Tavira I’ve been on many solo holidays over the years from jungle adventures in Peru to Moroccan fly and flops – and while they’ve all brought me joy (and it’s an unavoidable truth that travelling alone can get a bit lonely when even the most absorbing book is a poor substitute for some convivial chat Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel IL Readers Go from Conference Hall to Real Life Portugal Many IL members fell in love with Tavira, Terry’s adopted hometown in Portugal. |©iStock/EunikaSopotnickaUpdated May 30, 2024By Terry Coles Those who attended International Living's Fast Track Europe Conference last month were overloaded with tons of useful information about moving, living, and investing here in Europe. But once the conference was over, many of the attendees took to the cobblestones to see for themselves what real life was like in Portugal My husband Clyde and I had the opportunity to speak about our adventures in house and pet sitting around the world along with our years of living full-time in Portugal Many attendees stopped by our table to chat and ask questions Those who expressed an interest in the Algarve or more specifically Tavira were invited to join us at the weekly expat meetup a few days later about 20 to 30 of the conference attendees showed up eager to meet other expats to pick their brains about life in Portugal and all were happy to share their experiences I asked a few of the people to elaborate on what they thought about Portugal and here's what they had to say Karen Martin and her husband traveled from California to attend the conference and later stayed around to explore "The conference coincided with my 60th birthday a milestone in my life that ideally needed to be celebrated with travel "There are so many areas in Portugal that I'm interested in seeing but for this trip we concentrated on the Algarve We went to the expat meet-up in Tavira and met some wonderful people who have already made the leap and all have really full lives here in Portugal." Besides Tavira, the Martins visited Lagos, Albufeira, Estoi, Faro, Loulé, Salir, Alte, and Villa Real de Santo Antonio before making their way north to Lisbon to fly back to the US "We are in love with Portugal," Karen exclaimed "but we are not 100% sure of our plans just yet The conference answered lots of questions and invited us to ask even more we need to tie up some loose ends back home then plan some longer trips to explore other countries in Europe before deciding to take the plunge into expat life abroad." Attendee Dennis Keithly opted for a scouting trip that would also cover the Algarve and São Brás de Alportel to see what areas spoke to him "I really liked Olhão with its huge fish and produce market," Dennis said "This weekend I'm headed to Loulé to check out their market held in an Arabic inspired building that is just beautiful I found the Portuguese people to be wonderful and very willing to help me since I have mobility issues or helping me to get onto the right bus." and sampled way too many decadent sweet treats at his favorite bakery He even attended a Rotary Club meeting while in Portugal and found himself surrounded by an international mix of expats from England "I took a two-hour guided city tour of Faro then enjoyed an entree of tuna and fries for lunch with a beer for just $9," Dennis added "In Fuseta I found a great place for grilled fish wine and coffee for around $21 per person." Dennis' goal is to find a city to live in that is about a 30-minute commute to Hospital Particular do Algarve in Gambelas he wants to live close to a Joint Commission International institute of excellence I was lucky enough to have breakfast one morning with Tuula Rampont IL's France correspondent," he said "She opened my eyes to France and possibly even Spain Dennis plans to look at some rentals while here and is working with a company to facilitate the matter Patty and Dean Hahn-Carlson fell in love with Tavira We showed them a local Chinese discount store that sells just about everything including the kitchen sink they took a second look at an apartment to buy just a few streets over from us in Tavira and made an offer that was accepted "We certainly had no plans to buy a place this soon," Patty said "But we fell in love with the apartment because it has a private rooftop deck with elevator access up to it and offers ocean views the two-bedroom apartment comes fully furnished and was a steal compared to prices back in Arizona." has reopened to traffic in the Luz de Tavira area after circulation was closed due to flooding caused by rain in the evening and early hours of today the closure of the Algarve railway line in Fuseta (Olhão) remained due to the derailment of a train caused by stones on the line being washed away by the rains between Moncarapacho and Alfandanga and National Road 397 according to with the Algarve Regional Command 148 incidents have been recorded in the Algarve involving 441 operational personnel and 178 land resources The municipalities most affected by the bad weather and where the highest number of incidents were recorded were Olhão and Tavira Although the situation is more normal today firefighters continue to have to respond to different situations two people were left homeless in Castro Marim and two others had to be rescued in Tavira one from a car in Ribeira do Almargem and the other from a house a woman was rescued after falling into Ribeira de Alfandanga one of the areas most affected by the floods in the last 24 hours and was later taken to the Algarve Local Health Unit which specializes in Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine as our doors will remain open under the new management/ownership Our existing STAFF will remain in front of house as well as back