Cross the Tagus River from Lisbon and you’ll arrive in the sleepy former fishing village of Trafaria the town doesn’t look like a hot spot for fusion cuisine boasts dishes with influences that span three continents when the former Portuguese colony of Goa was annexed by India many Goans fled to another Portuguese possession Unable to source all the ingredients of their homeland creating a repertoire of dishes with clear Indian roots but that would probably have been unrecognizable back home.  southeast African cuisine became popular in Mozambique especially among white Portuguese settlers When Mozambique became independent in 1975 and the Portuguese colonizers were booted out Founded by ethnic Portuguese retornados who ran a restaurant in Mozambique Piri-Piri serves a couple examples of this Goan-Mozambican-Portuguese hybrid coconut milk- and spice powder-based curry that’s common across Lisbon is typically served with shrimp or chicken And frango à cafreal takes the form of chicken rubbed with a spicy marinade and grilled over coals the dish thought to be the inspiration for the chicken peri-peri served at more than 1,200 locations of Nando’s Trafaria can be reached via a commuter ferry from Belém Chef Lisa Nelson serves up sensational doubles Dine on southern Thai “fusion” cuisine in a home-based Hat Yai-style fried chicken is renowned throughout Thailand—here’s where to get it in its origin city this restaurant takes diners on a gastronomic journey through West Africa This Peruvian-Chinese institution has perfected the art of rotisserie chicken—alongside plantains and lo mein Two James Beard Award-winning chefs are putting their own spin on Filipino favorites in a food market stall The menus here are a love letter to the culinary history of New Orleans 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 The first phase of public participation in the Metro Sul do Tejo (MST) expansion project to Costa da Caparica and Trafaria will begin in the coming weeks The process will be mediated by the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Nova FCT) mediate and produce an independent report on citizens' contributions details in a statement the Metropolitan Transport of Lisbon the Municipality of Almada and the Lisbon Metro The route under study for the extension of MST line 3 will be 7.16 km long Várzea de Pêra (with connection to Funchalinho) Bombeiros Voluntários da Trafaria and Estação Fluvial da Trafaria the project foresees the requalification of public spaces as well as the creation of a route dedicated to active mobility (pedestrian and cycling) linked to the connections planned at the Municipal Cycling Network level the Minister of Infrastructure said that works to extend the Metro Sul do Tejo to Costa de Caparica and Trafaria should begin within five to seven years seven years we could be thinking about works on the ground and rolling stock acquired” said Miguel Pinto Luz on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the cooperation protocol for the expansion of the metro to Costa da Caparica and I would cheat 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 Website Find your way with 206 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters "Choupana Caffe" in Lisbon makes some amazing brunch - in my opinion "Linha d'Água" is a perfect park in Lisbon to relax Just be careful: the birds might steal your food "Village Underground" Lisbon is a creative incubator space a co-working community & an events destination I just love the progressive vibe of the place "RD's Restaurante" is THE Nepalese restaurant in the city Very tasty and great if you're on a budget offers a permanent exhibition on electricity and rotating art shows Lisbon was sleeping while some of the new urban artists and graffiti artists were painting and drawing over vacant buildings in town.. 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Sign up Explore our Food Tours → all fish restaurants would be like Casa Ideal lovely staff taking care of your orders and affordable prices we would have visited Casa Ideal much earlier which for 40 years has operated in the backstreets of Trafaria on the south bank of the Tagus River some time ago but never made the time to stop in for a bite Yet after learning that the restaurant had changed hands a year and a half ago – 54-year-old Conceição Augusto took over from her sister and brother-in-law and now runs Casa Ideal with her cousins Gabriela Carmo who works behind the counter – we decided to check it out Considering its location close to where the Tagus meets the ocean it’s no surprise that Trafaria began life as a fishing village and later developed a relatively large fishing and clamming industry: two fish-canning factories were built in the area as well as factory that turned fish into fertilizer Trafaria also became a popular leisure spot in 1901 when Queen Amélia opened Lisbon’s first seaside resort a place where people could come for a swim and some fresh air New houses and accommodation were built for the influx of visitors turning the neighborhood into one of the region’s first beach destinations and the beach became smaller as the sand receded causing the crowds to flock to nearby Costa da Caparica with its long sandy beaches and dunes the construction of a sizeable grain terminal where large ships could unload wheat or corn changed the landscape with imposing towers and deposits looking at the industrial silos and empty buildings the neighborhood’s fishing community endured And Trafaria’s reputation for excellent fish and shellfish restaurants remained intact tourists are now arriving by boat from Belém across the river (2.90 euros per person for a round-trip ticket on the car ferry) In addition to clams harvested in the area’s waters they are treated (depending on the season) to octopus particularly the carapau manteiga (butter horse mackerel so-called because of its soft texture and buttery flavor) caught by local fishermen in the nearby Atlantic Ocean One of the best spots to taste these delights from the sea is Casa Ideal or “Fishermen’s Street.” Conceição assured us that they are maintaining the traditions of her sister and brother-in-law “We love to get fresh fish directly from the fishermen and when we have customers from other countries we make sure to bring to the table all the fish we have available “We must keep with our traditional food – after all that’s what fascinates visitors.” this commitment to traditional food is what brought Conceição and her two cousins back to Trafaria was a chance to get back to their roots and move away from what they see as an overly “chefy” food scene in central Lisbon “I agree with making food look prettier and restaurants cleaner and well decorated but we must keep with our traditional food – after all that’s what fascinates visitors,” explained Conceição The three cousins and their families have always worked in restaurants Conceição began working at Antiga Casa Marítima a restaurant in the waterfront in Trafaria and for years owned a restaurant in Rua do Século in central Lisbon “My aunt was the owner of Primavera do Jerónimo [a famous classic restaurant in Bairro Alto] and she taught me and my five sisters how to cook,” she said They’ve kept most of the traditional dishes like caldeirada a traditional fish stew with tomatoes and onions (available by special pre-order as customers can choose the fish they want in it) But the trio have also brought some new flavors to the table as the restaurant gets busy both inside and out on the terrace as well as some tourists who wander through the backstreets,” said Conceição Escaping the crowds in Belém and crossing the river to Trafaria for lunch can be a lifesaver Dinner is also quite nice too (and sometimes means a ferry ride at sunset) although we recommend going early enough to get the last boat back at 9 p.m As part of the couvert (the food that automatically comes to the table although you only pay as much as you consume) garlicky olives and an addictive corn bread with chouriço While it’s tempting to fill up on these starters ideally at least one fish dish and one rice dish “All the fish is grilled over charcoal and all the dishes are cooked freshly so you might have to wait for the rice to cook,” warned Conceição But when the rice does finally arrive at the table Just make sure not to waste time taking photos – the rice will soak up all the juice by the time you’re done Instagraming loading map - please wait...Map could not be loaded - please enable Javascript!→ more information The government is preparing to announce a new crossing of the Tagus this time via a submerged tunnel between Trafaria and Algés Jornal Económico has just published a story reporting that the Portuguese government is going ahead with an immersed road tunnel between Trafaria and Algés as part of the infrastructure investment package the government will announce a road project for the country and a new strategic port plan for Portugal The announcement was made this week by the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing at the conference ‘Portugal 2030: Strategic Future for the Construction Sector’ organized by the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN).” The construction of one of these infrastructures has long been a desire of the mayors of the south bank and now it may even be announced by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro who will take the opportunity to unveil plans for the third crossing over the Tagus as well as other strategic initiatives for the country For Portugal's participation in the 55th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia the artist Joana Vasconcelos (born in 1971) is presenting Trafaria Praia is transformed into a floating pavilion and artwork The Trafaria Praia is moored next to the Giardini's vaporetto stop and sails around the Venice lagoon at regular intervals daily the Trafaria Praia hosts a series of public programs related to Portuguese culture she created an environment made of textiles and light—a complex medley of blue-and-white fabrics all over the ceiling and walls The installation suggests the deep ocean—something out of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Joana Vasconcelos is a commentator on the real She investigates the present through a critical reading of Western mythologies and iconographies and customs in order to examine identity with respect to gender She appropriates familiar objects and images and re-elaborates them often calling upon artisanal techniques and employing craft-related materials She reflects on the tensions between high and popular culture She has had recent solo shows at the New Art Gallery Walsall UK; Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo; Museu Coleção Berardo Key group shows include the 51st International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia; Frac Île-de-France/Le Plateau Paris; Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture Moscow; and Palazzo Grassi/François Pinault Foundation Key collections include the François Pinault Foundation; Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création Paris; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León Miguel Amado (born in 1973) has recently been a curator at Tate St Ives He has had key curatorial fellowships and residencies at Rhizome at the New Museum and the International Studio & Curatorial Program He has also guest-curated exhibitions and projects for institutions such as the Museu Coleção Berardo New York; and Frieze Projects at the Frieze Art Fair He is a graduate of the MA Curating Contemporary Art of the Royal College of Art the Defense Technological and Industrial Base was based on more than 300 entities Portugal had a small defense industry since the eighteenth century fuels were provided by a government agency a factory for supplying military uniforms and equipment was established the defense industry expanded to meet the specialized requirements of the antiguerrilla operations in Africa The new bike path allows you to catch the boat in Lisbon get off at Trafaria and reach the beaches at Fonte da Telha without traffic or other confusions The new cycling infrastructure also serves all Costa residents who want to cycle in safety several caparicans are already taking advantage of the new infrastructureThis is an area with a tradition of sea and fishing where cycling is an element of everyday life Like any area with a tradition of sea and fishing the bicycle is an element present in their daily lives The new bike path offers a segregated corridor from the sometimes violent road trafficserving everyone who wants to get around safely by bicycle at least on the day of LPP's visit: we saw mobility bikes and others from the new private sharing services Next to the bike path was left space for pedestrians The City of Almada put signage in an attempt to deter abusive parking that sometimes occurs on this new cycling infrastructure Although there are no bollards or other physical blockages the municipality hopes that this will deter drivers from stopping on top of the bike path and adjacent pedestrian area - as they do in other parts of Almada The signs display the message "don't ruin a good beach day with bad parking" and show a photograph of cars being ticketed and towed for being on the bicycle infrastructure; fines can range from 60 to 300 euros What is certain is that Almada also needs to have the bike path unobstructed because it also serves for emergency vehicles to quickly access the beachesThis is a good way to escape the traffic that is usually quite heavy on weekends and during the bathing season in case an ambulance or other emergency vehicle needs to pass the cyclists and other road users will have to move away at that moment when they hear the siren or see the emergency vehicle the new Forest Road bike path connects with the sea wall and with the existing bike path along Avenida Afonso de Albuquerque it is now possible to cycle all along the seafront of the Coast The connection between the different cycle paths (the Florestal the paredão and Trafaria) is not always the most immediate follow the route that is still marked and when you reach Avenida Afonso de Albuquerque turn to the sea area in one of the first intersections to reach the Forestry Road and access the beaches of Fonte da Telha you must take a short stretch through a small and quiet local road PACicla foresaw 223 km of paths intended primarily for bicycles and pedestrians throughout the municipality As of June 4, dockless shared bicycles and scooters from four private operators became available in Almada: Bird, Bolt, Lime e Whoosh The services are available on the maritime axis of Costa da Caparica mostly in pedestrian areas but some also in areas previously intended for cars To foster a healthy coexistence with this new offer it will be mandatory to park these soft mobility vehicles in the virtual docks defined for this purpose marked in the operators' apps and identified on site Taking into account that public space is shared by all Almada City Council intends that in this way the parking of these shared vehicles is done in an organized and responsible way Failure to park in the locations marked for this purpose will incur costs for users since it will not be possible to "conclude the journey" The operators Bird, Bolt, Lime e Whoosh They offer trips counted by the minute but also daily passes that can range from 5 to 10 euros These are services designed for occasional the first docks are next to the Trafaria river terminal and at the end of the Estrada Florestal bike path; on the Almada axis the first parking spots are next to the Cacilhas intermodal interface and next to the Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT) campus at Universidade Nova in order to guarantee the safety of the users zones of forbidden circulation were defineddepending on the volumes of foot traffic and potential increased risk marked on the map according to the following criteria as is the case of the Costa wall; in prohibited circulation zones the motor of bicycles and scooters is turned off MB Way: 933 140 217 (indicar “LPP”) Ou clica aqui Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] O LPP / Lisbon For People é um jornal local dedicado à cidade e à área metropolitana de Lisboa editado de forma totalmente independente e sem fins lucrativos ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Almada Town Hall is going to renovate five public spaces in the municipality with the community from discussing ideas to carrying out the work The first participation sessions will take place between this week and the beginning of April Almada City Council wants consulting the population on the requalification of five public spaces throughout the municipality The five spaces will be chosen by the people who will also have the opportunity to present ideas and vote on the redevelopment proposals that will be presented The initiative is called My Neighborhood and starts this week The first five participatory sessions will take place between March 13 and April 5 previously identified by Almada Town Hall; people will be able to make suggestions ask questions and present ideas for redevelopment from the two spaces previously identified by parish/union of parishes a place for intervention will be chosen through an online vote This voting phase will take place between April 6 and 21 the intervention proposals will be presented to the public where the community will once again be able to share their ideas and opinions contributing to the realization phase of the public space (re)qualification project Once the execution project and the process of launching the contract have been completed the population will have five new public spaces in the municipality to enjoy and will also be involved in this phase also contribute to the prosperity of the new squares and plazas The Program My Neighborhood "aims to promote urban and landscape improvement access to public art and reduce inequalities in the use of public space"the Almada City Council said in a statement "In collaboration with the five Parish Unions in the municipality a participatory program is being developed that involves the educational community municipal bodies and the local community in the phases of selecting the sites to be intervened in submitting contributions for the realization of the public space requalification project and its subsequent monitoring." The program kicks off this Wednesday, March 13, at 6 p.m., with the first participatory session taking place at the Maria Lamas Municipal Library, in Monte da Caparica. This session concerns the União de Freguesias de Caparica e Trafaria, where two venues have been selected: the Largo Manuel Arriaga, in Trafaria; and Largo da Torre, in Monte da Caparica. You can find out more about the program My Neighborhood here. Take note of the five participatory launch sessions: Here are the 10 public spaces identified by Almada Town Hall and the following texts are the responsibility of Almada Town Hall (we have only reproduced them): Framework: This is a rural area that is still reminiscent of the old Quinta da Torre Close to the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL/FCT) the square is currently framed by old buildings of heritage interest and recent road infrastructures whose opening has contributed to its de-characterization Diagnosis: This is a sizable area with good access to public transport (MST and buses) There is a lack of definition in the use of the area and in the existing roads with two variants (lanes) running off to the north buildings and walls in ruins that belonged to the former Quinta da Torre which constitute heritage that should be preserved Bulhão Pato lived in the building to the south of the square giving priority to meeting spaces and increasing permeable areas by reinforcing the green structure through the planting of trees The intervention should also promote the restructuring of the road network the pedestrian connection to the UNL/FCT campus and the enhancement of the historical and cultural heritage that characterizes the site Framework: space located in the Historic Core and in the Urban Rehabilitation Area (ARU) of Trafaria It is surrounded by several buildings that have already been rehabilitated under this program From Largo Manuel de Arriaga you have access to the Municipal Market (loading and unloading) Diagnosis: This is a very central area in the town of Trafaria At the beginning of Largo Manuel de Arriaga stands the Trafaria Fountain The square has abusive parking on the sidewalks and universal accessibility is not guaranteed; the fountain is in a poor state of repair Idea: improve the urban image by consolidating the authenticity of the place The proposal to reorganize the road structure in this square is intended to frame and enhance the Trafaria Fountain (once it has been restored) with a tree-lined square reinforcing the green structure and providing seating areas that promote neighbourhood experiences As well as guaranteeing universal accessibility the redevelopment of this public space also aims to renovate the street furniture as a way of encouraging leisure Framework: interstitial space located in a consolidated urban area to the south of the "Almada Atlético Clube" sports complex and adjacent to the "AIPICA" facilities This space is marked by the steep slope of the terrain where buildings have been built on levels at very different heights served by streets with little formal parking Diagnosis: space located inside an urban block with pedestrian access via several streets with a large difference in elevation between the north and south tops Halfway up the slope is a dilapidated and disused multi-sports field The surrounding slopes are stabilized with well-developed plantations Some of the trees have good vegetative growth which is compatible with the species and should be preserved There are still unfinished pedestrian areas with little connection to the residential buildings Idea: improving universal accessibility to promote social interaction and the urban environment new street furniture and converting the multi-sports court into a pedestrian plaza Framework: space located in a consolidated urban area surrounded by 3/4-storey buildings from the 1950s/60s The landscaped public space resolves the existing unevenness through slopes and accesses the various buildings at different levels Diagnosis: Formal urban garden dating from the 1960s/70s with occasional rehabilitation interventions The area is contained between the façades of residential buildings and roads A compartmentalized space with planted areas and pedestrian zones which over time have become distorted and degraded The entire direct surroundings of this space are occupied by abusive car parking Idea: reconverting and updating this space as a formal garden with a view to strengthening social interaction; renovating the street furniture strengthening the green structure and transferring the existing seating area to the west to the central square where it is also proposed to install a kiosk/bar with a terrace The parking areas adjacent to Avenida Rainha D Leonor and Rua Eduardo Tavares should be reformulated and reorganized It is also planned to relocate the Urban Solid Waste disposal areas Framework: space located in a densely built-up area with a reticulated urban fabric and no landmarks It is characterized by the exclusive presence of single-family homes and a limited range of places to meet and socialize Diagnosis: This is a totally permeable area with large trees in good phytosanitary condition that we consider important to preserve With good conditions for universal accessibility this site is naturally suitable for creating an area for recreation and nature sports It is currently abused as a dumping ground for construction waste and road crossings ​Idea: creation of a space for nature sports and social interaction The plan is to install a tree climbing trail of reduced difficulty and complementary sports equipment seating areas with a picnic area and children's play equipment The green structure should also be rehabilitated and reinforced with new planting of trees Framework: space located inside a U-shaped block built in the 1970s and adjacent to the Elias Garcia Primary School there is a children's playground and the "Sobreda Basketball Court" The streets are not very formalized and have no edges with considerable differences in altitude resulting in extensive areas of slope Abusive and disorderly car parking occupying pedestrian circulation areas Some trees show good vegetative development compatible with the species Idea: the creation of a space for social interaction which will reinforce the identity and image of the neighbourhood thus formalizing the "Vitor Péon Garden" (cartoonist) The aim is to regulate parking and traffic reorganize and reinforce the existing green structure by planting new plant material and stabilizing slopes Universal accessibility will be guaranteed throughout the space Framework: public space surrounding the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição located next to the main entrance to the city and access to the sea wall and beaches Diagnosis: streets located in the central area of the town of Costa da Caparica next to the 19th century Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição which succeeded the small wooden and thatched-roof church built by the first inhabitants of Costa da Caparica This is a partially pedestrianized area of historical importance to the Costa da Caparica community The streets show abusive parking occupying the sidewalks; the planted or wooded areas are in a poor state of repair and the sidewalks and markers of the pedestrian zone are degraded Idea: improve the urban image by reinforcing the green structure and increasing permeable areas With the proposed reorganization of the road structure around the church and the subsequent formalization of parking in Rua Teixeira da Cunha tree-lined square with seating areas that will promote neighbourhood experiences Its requalification will also be helped by the installation of street furniture which will enhance the urban landscape and the social and leisure function intended for this space Framework: streets located in the first Fishermen's Quarter of Costa da Caparica It is essentially used for residential purposes with small masonry buildings that are the evolution of the original wooden "palheiros" and the pedestrianized street space is used as a place for socializing Diagnosis: This is a very central and partially pedestrianized area with great historical importance for the Costa da Caparica fishing community the pedestrian sidewalks are in a poor state of repair and there is abusive parking along the stretch of road is the most colourful and authentic street on the Costa da Caparica with paintings on the ground made by the local residents with quatrains alluding to the beach and fishing an identity mark that must be preserved and supported consolidating the simplicity and authenticity of this place The aim is to improve and enhance the urban image of these streets supporting initiatives such as "Pinturas na Rua 15" and extending the concept to the so-called Rua 14 promoting Urban Art through the "Pintura na rua 14" initiative to be carried out with the collaboration of local residents and artists It is also proposed to install mobile street furniture that allows for the installation of vegetation encourages leisure and boosts social interaction and community spirit Framework: space located in a residential area with first floor shops framed by 4-storey buildings that form a U-shaped block opening to the south onto the busy Rua Bento de Jesus Caraça Diagnosis: The large size of the existing plane trees makes for favorable climatic comfort in an urban environment The lack of steep slopes means that there are accessible spaces in terms of pedestrian mobility There is no children's or sports equipment There are only a few garden benches and small retaining walls Idea: creation of the Bento de Jesus Caraça (mathematician) Garden as a space for social and intergenerational interaction The intention is to reinforce the green structure by creating permeable areas and new plantings of herbaceous and shrub species as well as maintaining the existing plane trees which provide shade in the summer and sun in the winter New street furniture should be installed and universal access to the space should be guaranteed accessible via Praceta de Oliveira Martins is located behind the Parish Church of São José Operário and the Community Center surrounded by steep slopes that descend to the Municipal Sports Complex Diagnosis: the space is totally permeable and has never been treated or used in any way and there is a feeling of insecurity in its use There are some informal footpaths resulting from the use of crossing routes Naturalized space with examples of native trees in a good state of health with an incipient presence of shrub and herbaceous strata Idea: to create a safe and functional space by organizing the network of pedestrian paths and the road link to Praceta de Oliveira Martins with the installation of fitness equipment to complement the existing equipment in the surrounding area It is also intended to create leisure and relaxation areas to contemplate the unobstructed views and to install a dog park Relevant trees should be preserved and the rest of the green structure reinforced Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] What started as a fishing community that grew over time where there are people living in shocking conditions electricity provided through electricity contracts remains a dream for the inhabitants who have to steal electricity from the EDP street light in order to have power This precarious situation has already caused serious problems that led to the situation being denounced throughout the media in January following a situation that led inhabitants to spend more than 70 hours in the dark some of the children reported that when they were living in the dark it was very difficult to eat cold food and they were afraid that their younger siblings would fall and get hurt because they couldn't see anything president and coordinator of Cova do Mar association "We were handing out head torches so the children could play," she said it wasn't enough to stop cruel things from happening "We had a mother who was desperate because she had antibiotics in the fridge for her one-year-old baby and the antibiotics spoiled because there was no electricity but these realities still exist in Portugal,” Xana added Founded five years ago to provide support to children in the slum Cova do Mar association has created a new project called Fábrica dos Sonhos project that has been giving a voice to this problem and helping children with a mission "to create a free after-school centre" Even though it is not a formal after-school centre is a place where kids can play after school "There is a business around happiness and children's play where parents buy happiness packages that can be summers camps to ensure that their children are happy with educational activities," said Xana Gonzalez Leal president and coordinator of Fábrica dos Sonhos That is why they decided to create an association to defend article 31 of the convention on the rights of children which states that children have the right to leisure and holidays and “the State has the duty to promote these activities," she said this right has not been granted to all children "There is no solution for children whose parents cannot afford it," she pointed out the Fábrica dos Sonhos was born out of a dream to create a free "after-school centre" Xana has a degree in management and worked for several years in the sector but as time went by Xana began to feel the need to seek her mission in life and it was then that she found humanitarian work "I had done a summer camp monitor course and then we decided in August 2015 to set up a summer camp” - that's how the Cova do Mar association was born with the first mission that no child had to pay to play it was something that came from the heart and just doing what makes sense in each moment," she added it was time for the Fábrica dos Sonhos "We were already here in Cova do Vapor and that they suggested we develop the project and start giving more support to the children of the Segundo Torrão" Despite the fantastic social impact it has on the community the Fábrica dos Sonhos still can't reach all the children who need help "Unfortunately we can't reach all the children in the slum but every child they have receives total dedication “Our job is not just to open the door what they are struggling with at that very moment" In their work they also try to involve wider society “We have moments when the GNR of Trafaria works in partnership with Cova do Mar in playful actions We try to involve them in our work to demystify the idea that children may have of the GNR” “they usually go and scare the GNR in the police station if we scare them well they get the jellybeans so the GNR came to the Fábrica dos Sonhos and the children had to win the jellybeans in a PlayStation challenge with the police” Fábrica do Sonhos has already welcomed 112 children It is open Tuesday to Friday from 3.30pm to 7.30pm and on Saturday mornings and relies on the help of donations and volunteers as at the moment they can only afford one person on a wage The Portugal News has tried to contact Almada Council to ask for clarification on this social problem Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist who finds writing a means of self-expression She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve instead of the government spending money on Ukraine that includes all the Ukraine flag wavers out there Every country has inequalities but this is stark for a country seeking to pose as a progressive nation both local and national should be ashamed that this situation not only continues but is growing I cannot agree with the comment that we should not support Ukraine and use the cash locally Stopping the national sport of tax avoidance and having a more progressive tax system will garner the resources to invest in quality housing new schools and infrastructure to give people living in slums a chance to develop and thrive The wealthy people in Portugal as well as the Portuguese government should donate money to the needy people especially the children living in these unacceptable We need to take care of our own people first How sad that in this day and age this exists in a so called modern country Unfortunately you expect this in third world countries which still doesn't make it right or acceptable I you can find the money to send to Ukraine you better find it to take care of your own people Ukrania after the Portuguese kids are taken care of??? The IC20 connects Almada to the Costa da Caparica and will be widened on the stretch between the Centro Sul traffic circle and the Casas Velhas junction "Portugal is probably the only developed European country that continues to invest in reinforcing road infrastructure to solve problems of accessibility and urban mobility," criticizes Fernando Nunes da Silva the main road in the municipality of Almada is to be widened to four lanes in about half of its length.between the center of Almada and the Casas Velhas/Universidade junction This widening is justified by a contractual obligation on the part of Auto-Estradas do Baixo Tejo the sub-concessionaire that manages this public infrastructure as traffic has reached more than 60,000 vehicles per day if widening a highway like the IC20 increases its capacity allowing more cars to circulate at the same time it doesn't solve the problem of traffic and congestion: the fact is that when you have a section with excess demand and you build a new section with the capacity to absorb that excess demand rises again and exhausts the capacity of the new section It's a little fish with a tail in its mouth We'll go into this in more detail in a moment it's important to understand the context of the IC20 and its extension The IC20 is owned by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) but is managed by a private company This model is known as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) It was at a meeting of the Almada City Council Executive on September 18, in the middle of European Mobility Week, with online transmission, that the population learned about the widening of the IC20. This is despite the fact that the project has already passed by the Diário da República at the end of 2022 was invited to be present to present the work which will formally begin on October 2nd with the assembly of the shipyards which states that when the roads reach a certain traffic flow limit This is the case of the stretch of the IC20 between the south center of Almada/access to the A2 and the so-called Casas Velhas junction where there are currently three lanes in each direction there is a annual average daily traffic of more than 60,000 vehicles "Given that that stretch of road has more than 60,000 vehicles a day João Portela simply passed on information about the work although the construction site was to be set up on October 2nd the work was scheduled to start on October 3rd "end of October or beginning of November"Completion is scheduled for May 2025 The widening will mean that the IC20 will be 34.6 meters wide instead of the current 25 meters on that four-kilometer stretch which will require changes to viaducts (including the one over the train line) and loops there will be a intervention at the A2 junctionThere will be three lanes from the Centro Sul traffic circle towards Lisbon and there will also be a new "arm" connecting the IC20 to the A2 "Our strict obligation under the contract is to increase the number of lanes"but "we thought it would be difficult to present ourselves to the Almada municipality with just this obligation"João Portela explained that they were able to "finding savings in another project and bringing them to this project"This will finance the changes to the A2 junction He pointed out that "the improvement of the South Center exit to the tollbooth is not yet closed"It will also have an impact on the Pragal Urban Park a green infrastructure built in 2019 next to the access to Lisbon and which acts as an extension of Parque da Paz The work on the IC20 will also affect the Casas Velhas junction where there will now be two lanes connecting to the A33 The three pedestrian overpasses to be replacedThe new pedestrian bridges should also be cycleable and accessible to all The existing bus stops on that stretch of the IC20 will also be relocated away from it; they will be placed either at the exits or further into the urban areas "The location of those stops is not suitable"taking into account the expressway characteristics of the IC20 and "we take this opportunity to make amends"said João Portela the work will be carried out by the contractor Alberto Couto Alves They are drawn up between Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) the state-owned company responsible for the road infrastructure the contract is signed between IP and Auto-Estradas do Baixo Tejo (AEBT) and there have been two versions since the start of the sub-concession: the original contract is from 2009 and 10 years later it was updated/renegotiated there is a clear point about the increase in lanes: "the increase in the number of lanes of the Motorway sections will be carried out unless otherwise instructed by the Grantor: (...) in the Sub-sections with six lanes the construction of one more lane in each direction must be started in the year following that in which the ADT [Average Daily Annual Traffic] reaches 60,000 (sixty thousand) vehicles." the grantor - which is IP - can decide not to increase the number of lanes There is another exception: if the new bridge over the Tagus or the new Lisbon airport is built the TMDA count and the obligation to increase the number of lanes are suspended resulting from the implementation of the aforementioned infrastructures" "in the event that the Portuguese State awards a tender for the installation on the south bank of the Tagus River of the airport infrastructure commonly known as the New Lisbon Airport or in the event that the Portuguese State decides to award a tender for the construction of a new road crossing of the Tagus River downstream of the Vasco da Gama Bridge or if the design and construction of any of the aforementioned infrastructures is initiated this Contract may be terminated by the Grantor in which case the provisions of paragraph 84.10 shall apply." the contract renewed in 2018/19 added a caveat about the IC20 in particular: "the increase in the number of lanes in the Sub-sections identified below already triggered under the combined terms of paragraphs 40.1 with the entry into service of the respective increased lanes by the end of the respective period indicated in Annex 21 to the Sub-concession Contract" This means that the IC20 between Almada and the Casas Velhas junction has to be widened didn't say much about the work to widen the IC20 but she did point out that "does not compensate for the need for a third or fourth (I don't want to prioritize) crossing between the south and north banks" Medeiros has advocated a bridge between Trafaria and Algés as a way of relieving congestion on the 25 de Abril "None of this [traffic] will be solved if there isn't a new crossing that allows traffic to move between the two banks without going through the heart of Almada and the center of Lisbon." In other words the new crossing between Trafaria and Algés would take pressure off the Centro Sul traffic circle and the entire Cova da Piedade area But "it's important that national organizations realize this importance"he underlined Inês de Medeiros clarified that the IC20 has "strange status"because "despite being in the heart of a developing urban area in many cases having the characteristics of an urban road"and stressed the Chamber's willingness to "humanize" the IC20 and to bring it under its management "There are too many people in charge in Almada It's always good to have several heads thinking but it's terrible to have too many people in charge of the same territory"he said referring to the division of land management and planning in municipalities such as Almada between the municipality where there will now be a direct connection "of those coming from the coast to get onto the bridge" ("those 100 meters are a black spot" because the IC20 had been "made to be much smaller than it is now") and where the Almada exit (from the Centro Sul traffic circle) to the 25 de Abril Bridge will also be widened The resolution of this junction was a long-standing demand of Almada and its completion now together with the contractual widening of the IC20 will help to make this work more acceptable to the municipality the contract between IP and Baixo Tejo transcends the Almada City Council which has very little say in the management of this infrastructure Any opinion it issues on the work is not binding and it would be difficult for that position to have any practical consequences the municipality is responsible for the area around this road a green corridor is still planned to link Parque da Paz with a cycle path offering mobility between the two cities and Pragal The municipality has also tried to improve aspects of the IC20 widening project making them accessible to cyclists as well they are trying to build a pedestrian bridge that would "it could be a section of the cycle network to connect the University to the old houses"said Medeiros The recent announcement of the widening of the IC20 road in Almada, triggered the creation of the petition against the widening of the IC20 the petitioners say that "the people of Almada were surprised" with this work which should have already been renegotiated by the state with the Baixo Tejo sub-concessionaire in order to meet the environmental objectives" the petition already has around 1900 signatories The petition has also been signed by the following associations Almada Archaeology Center FPCUB - Portuguese Federation of Cycle Tourism and Bicycle Users GEOTA - Spatial Planning and Environment Study Group MUBi - Association for Urban Mobility by Bicycle Women in Architecture e The Future Design of Streetsand also by the Setúbal regional branch of the Quercus and by the local collective Estuary The petitioners say they are "disgusted with the situation with its short notice period and without any consultation with the population" and argue that "IP instructs the Baixo Tejo sub-concessionaire that there is no need to increase the number of lanes" "It should be emphasized that the financial investment in this work by the sub-concessionaire is indirectly public money because if the state renegotiates the contract with the concessionaire it will be able to recover the money that is in danger of being wasted on a work that is perfectly useless and against the government's own environmental objectives By releasing the sub-concessionaire from this useless and expiring obligation it is perfectly legitimate for the government to recover at least part of this money costs estimated on the basis of what could be gained from the best alternative use of that money."they write "The reasons for this opposition to road widening are that the work goes against the national climate strategy does not solve the problem of congestion (creating the so-called 'induced traffic' and 'bottleneck' effects) and promotes urban dispersion in Almadense territory priority measures are suggested in terms of financial investment which should be implemented in the territory namely by increasing the number of BUS lanes quality and extent of public transport and creating more and better infrastructures for soft mobility It is also important to implement measures such as the creation of new elevated cycle-pedestrian crossings that reduce the negative geographical barrier impact of this type of road and the adaptation of existing viaducts to include safe pedestrian and cycle paths." The authors of the petition want to reach at least 2,500 signatures so that the issue can be discussed in Parliament Induced traffic - concept referred to by the petitioners - is a well-established scientific fact: it means that increasing the number of lanes on a major road will lead to greater demand and will not solve congestion; in other words it means more cars on the road because capacity has increased It's easy to think that adding more lanes would mean less traffic and the truth is that they may relieve congestion temporarily but the added space will invite (induce) more car journeys or by people who eventually used other modes of transport And soon that widened axis will be congested again It's a catch-22 because the temptation is once again to increase the capacity of the infrastructure which will only lead to more journeys and more dependence on the car Urbanism and Environment disciplinary area at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) the widening of the IC20 is "To go back to the late 1980s to the so-called road revolution in Portugal environmental and transport policy point of view it's an unspeakable and unjustifiable step backwards" the fact that the work is only four kilometers long "It's always a bit better than the IC20 "it's also a waste of money because it doesn't solve the traffic problems" Nunes da Silva only accepts part of the contract: the correction of the A2 junction "The problem with the IC20 is not one of capacity it has to do with the accesses to the 25 de Abril Bridge which have not been resolved." The widening contracted between IP and Baixo Tejo will resolve this situation which was not an obligation of the sub-concessionaire and which "The problem has to do with getting from the IC20 to Lisbon without conflicting with those leaving the A2 to enter Almada and those coming from Almada It's a problem that was studied by Gabriel Oliveira several years ago and has never been done Another problem is the entrance to the A2 from Almada which has to be disconnected from the Centro Sul junction That permanent congestion at the entrances and exits to Almada at peak times must be unblocked once and for all.“ "It makes perfect sense to free up access to the bridge for the interior distribution in the South Center but that doesn't require widening the IC20 to add one more lane per carriageway"he summarizes And he reinforces his point: the widening of the IC20 is "absolutely contrary to what was the government's own policy from the point of view of sustainable mobility and the decarbonization of mobility" "Portugal is probably the only developed European country that continues to invest in strengthening road infrastructure to solve problems of accessibility and urban mobility Everyone is looking for alternatives to individual road transport leaving to it what can't be solved any other way." "We have a justice system captured by certain types of interests and lobbies which is to defend the public interest and constitutional guarantees"Nunes da Silva laments "The concessions and contracts that have been made with private entities are absolutely ruinous for the state and the public interest," he assures us fixed revenues for 30 years to these private companies; they were risk-free deals for the investor" when all the policy is in the opposite direction.. At least the policy that is announced and proclaimed to the four winds in relation to climate change"he insists Fernando Nunes da Silva has no doubt that "If the government were of a different political persuasion the City Council would already be screaming its head off protesting against this retreat from sustainability and decarbonization policies But as Almada Town Hall and the government are currently at loggerheads the council is keeping quiet in the face of this kind of nonsense spending millions on something that is completely unnecessary." Having worked on the PDM (Municipal Master Plan) for Almada Nunes da Silva knows the municipality south of the Tagus well and also points out that the widening of the IC20 "it's an extremely negative alternative" in relation to the planned green "The PDM that was being revised proposed taking up Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles' idea - when he worked under the previous regime for the Housing Development Fund and the Almada Integrated Plan - of creating a large green corridor between Parque da Paz detailing that it was an idea that he was still working on "perfectly feasible because that area has some agricultural use and the few building interventions are occasional or not completely on top of the IC20" And it's green infrastructure "absolutely essential to avoid flooding in the area of Cacilhas and also Cova da Piedade but especially in the case of Cova da Piedade" it would make much more sense to use the PRR - Recovery and Resilience Plan - to finance this project instead of spending 20.5 million on widening a highway the people of Almada and the south bank of the Tagus have been waiting for the expansion of the MTS 19 stations and 13.5 km; with a Y-shaped layout However, since the first MTS plans were drawn up in the 1990sThis is the first time that the light rail service has been extended to Moita, passing through Barreiro, and also to Costa da Caparica and Trafaria. Wills that were recovered in a new route study presented in early 2021 The aim of this work was to study the expansion of the MTS beyond Moita proposing a mixed system between LRT (the current system) and BRT (aka "metrobus") The expansion of the MTS to Costa da Caparica has been planned since at least 1995 And the report presented in 2021 reaffirms it on double track towards the Costa da Caparica turning southwest before Quinta da Armadora (Pêra de Cima) and crossing a more rural area up to the viaduct of the A33 link to Trafaria and developing along the north side of this road until it enters the town of Costa de Caparica always segregated from other means of transport The most optimistic scenario envisages three circulations per hour and 600 passengers per hour per direction with the same type of vehicles that already run the service between Almada and Seixal there are still no concrete dates or figures Almada is going to have two more traffic lanes per direction on a major road axis going against environmental and modal shift goals To Paulo José Silva, creator of the Facebook group Public Transport in Costa da CaparicaThe extension of the MTS to the coast should be a priority and which is Almada's densest parish and the one that has grown the most" "There's a lot of talk about climate change and decarbonization and we want to add more cars instead of reducing them and to have more and better public transport"he laments has used public transport for more than 35 years of his working life but having a discussion group on Facebook and taking part in debates and forums in person to contribute my experience of using it and what I've felt on my skin for many years." You have no doubt that "The fact that they're adding another lane won't solve anything which will block the entrance to the bridge No matter how much you change the IC20 and the rest they'll still clog up the bridge"he points out Paulo believes that this issue of widening the IC20 doesn't just affect Almada - it also affects the city "Lisbon probably doesn't want any more cars either it suggests improvements to the railroad and river transport lamenting both the Cacilhas and Trafaria crossings "We used to have boats every half hour in Trafaria now it's every hour and they often fail." He also calls for fast bus connections between Costa and Trafaria and between Costa and the nearest MTS station - FCT - until the light rail system is expanded "We have no fast connection between Costa and the MTS There should be a shuttle." These would be ways of relieving the IC20 Paulo José Silva doesn't hold out much hope for any changes to the plans to widen the IC20 not least because the work is about to begin That's why he's asking for the additional lane per direction to be a BUS lane Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] Moving To LGBT Lisbon? Find the best gay neighbourhood to live in Freepik Editorial Team 1 July 2022 15:00Lisbon continues to be one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world has long been the preferred place to live for the LGBTI+ community making it one of the best gay neighbourhoods in Lisbon and there are other places that stand out on the map of the most sought-after inclusive neighbourhoods to buy or rent a house in Greater Lisbon The Avenida Almirante Reis area is one of them while attention is also focused on the South Bank And if you're planning to move to LGBT-friendly Lisbon how much does it cost to buy or rent a house in the best gay neighbourhoods continues to be an inclusive area par excellence because "many of the main and most iconic businesses" frequented by the community are still located in this area The consultant highlights the centrality of the neighbourhood multiculturalism and proximity to areas such as Chiado "as a result of growing real estate speculation that has caused prices in this area to become unaffordable at least for the national LGBTI+ community," he points out Data from idealista/data shows that the Misericórdia parish remains one of the most expensive in Lisbon to live in despite a cooling of prices in the market between 2020 and 2021 Property prices in Misericórdia: unit price in euros/m2 and price in euros idealista/data"In the last year this is a parish that has registered a strong demand from the market Note that only between 2020 and 2021 did this indicator fall only in the last year there was a drop in volume with -40% in the purchase and sale market and 80% in the rental market" according to the analysis of the specialists at idealista/data Rental prices in Misericórdia: unit price in euros/m2/month and price in euros idealista/dataSanto António, gay friendly but one of the most expensive in LisbonAnalysing the most inclusive areas, and given the geographical proximity to the parish of Misericórdia, João Passos also highlights the parish of Santo António which is also one of the most expensive to buy or rent prices have increased in the last four years prices for the buying and selling market have increased around 12% Property prices in Santo António: unit price in euros/m2 and price in euros idealista/data"The demand relative to this parish shows a generally increasing trend of the indicator with relevance for the period between 2020 and 2021 in the purchase and sale market (+130%) and for the period between 2022 and 2021 in the rental market (+358%) Also in this parish of Lisbon there has been in the last year a fall in the volume of supply -25% in the purchase and sale market and -59% in the rental market" indicate from the data specialists at idealista prices on the buying and selling market are observing an upward trend The only exception was in the period between 2020 and 2021 in which the unit price practically remained stable and the overall price fell by 9% Property prices in Arroios: unit price in euros/m2 and price in euros idealista/data"In the rental market we verify that only in the last year did prices increase we can see that the parish is very dynamic in the buying and selling market only in the last year has there been a notable growth of over 300% in both markets there was a drop in the last year -37% in the buying and selling market and -59% in the renting market" indicates the analysis of the specialists of idealista/data Rental prices in Arroios: unit price in euros/m2/month and price in euros idealista/dataThe behaviour in the parish of Penha de França was similar in terms of prices idealista/data points out "a clear cooling down in the period between 2020 and 2021 the data shows a positive variation of this indicator over the last four years in the buying and selling market the record in recent years has been of a fall Last year, João Passos had already identified Lisbon's South Bank (Margem Sul) as a destination of special interest for the LGBTI+ community, and the trend continues. At a short distance from Lisbon, Almada and Caparica are emerging areas characterised by their proximity to beaches "The dream of having a house in the country or on the beach is increasingly becoming a reality motivated by the search for a certain return to origins and a more sustainable lifestyle supported by the new possibilities of remote work," explains the real estate consultant UnsplashIn the Trafaria and Caparica area for example the trend in market prices has been upwards in recent years and despite some cooling off between 2020 and 2021 there has also been a rise in prices in recent years in practically all areas Property prices Trafaria and Caparica: unit price in euros/m2 and price in euros idealista/data"The apparent slight drop in unit price of -7% and in global price of -12% verified in the last year for the total residential market was due to negative price variations verified in the typology T0 for which the sample is not representative These numbers highlight the importance of a detailed analysis of the available market information especially in the rental market where supply is scarce" Rental prices in Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal and Cacilhas: unit price in euros/m2/month and price in euros idealista/dataJoão Passos believes that the appetite for all these gay-friendly areas in Lisbon remains and even believes that it has a tendency to increase, "whether in the more urban centres, for a more national and younger community, or near the beaches, for a more international and adult segment, in a retirement or investment perspective," he concludes.   Carnation Revolution: Portugal's Freedom Day On 25th April Portugal underwent a fundamental transformation known as the Carnation Revolution This pivotal event marked the end of the Estado Novo dictatorship and the start of Portugal's path to democracy The day is celebrated annually as Freedom Day to honour this peaceful transition and the newfound era of freedom and democracy.