Inside Portugal Travel http://insideportugaltravel.com/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:02:53 +0000 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://insideportugaltravel.com/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png Inside Portugal Travel http://insideportugaltravel.com/ Inside Portugal Travel - A complete guide to travel news, deals and ideas from the Portuguese National Tourist Office. Five viewpoints to the south of the Tejo river http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8182-five-viewpoints-to-the-south-of-the-tejo-river.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8182-five-viewpoints-to-the-south-of-the-tejo-river.html The area to the south of the River Tejo has many little nooks and crannies of incomparable beauty and romanticism, ideal for those in love.

Cross over the Ponte 25 de Abril and head for Sesimbra. Continue along the road to Cabo Espichel. Proudly and faithfully standing guard at this isolated headland is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Our Lady of the Cape).

Discover an entirely new panorama by making your way up to Sesimbra Castle, from where you can enjoy a view over the whole of the bay.

Move a little closer to the sea by driving down to the seaside village of Portinho da Arrábida. In the very heart of Arrábida Natural Park, take some time to enjoy a long walk along the beach. From here, you can even walk all the way to the beaches of Galapos and Figueirinha. Next, head on to Vila Nogueira de Azeitão where you can taste some of the local wines in one of the region’s famous cellars.

Don’t return to Lisbon, however, without first passing through Setúbal. From the Pousada de São Filipe, there is an excellent view over the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, and, at Palmela, you have the chance to enjoy the sight of a truly glorious sunset from the castle tower.

]]> Miguel C. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Batalha invests in spa complex http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8032-batalha-invests-in-spa-complex-.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8032-batalha-invests-in-spa-complex-.html The City of Batalha will invest 3.5 million euros to reactivate the spa complex of Salgado in the town of Branco, a project which aims to combine health, welfare and recreation. The spa complex of Salgado is made up of a two storey building that will offer changing rooms, gyms, doctors offices, several treatment rooms, whirlpools and a spa. The Salgado spa was in operation until the 1950s, and its waters used primarily for treatment of respiratory diseases and rheumatism.  The investment includes a loan of one million euros from the European Regional Development Fund.

]]> Miguel C. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Surf Guide from Centro de Portugal http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8165-surf-guide-from-centro-de-portugal.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8165-surf-guide-from-centro-de-portugal.html The Centre of Portugal is a destination of excellence for the practice of the “wave” sports: surfing, body boarding, kite surfing, and kayak surf. The region is famous for the quality of its beach breaks that can be found on the Beaches of S. Jacinto, Barra, Murtinheira, Mira and Tocha. The wave of Cabedelo is internationally referred as one of the most consistent ones in Europe. Also worth mention is the wave of Buarcos.

]]> Miguel C. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Fleur de Sel salt from Algarve http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8027-fleur-de-sel-salt-from-algarve-.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8027-fleur-de-sel-salt-from-algarve-.html Marisol‘s Flor de Sal is made from salt crystals that float on top of the salt water in open-air tanks. Traditionally, salt is the product that is left when the seawater evaporates. The company makes its salt in Tavira in the Algarve in a traditional Salt pan in the Ria Formosa and Castro Marim Marshland Nature Reserve and is hand-harvested and sun-dried with the machines. Simply - the salt is derived from evaporation by the sun and the wind. Highly prized in culinary circles, it's a soft waxy salt that has all the minerals from the sea - especially magnesium and calcium - and it is 100% natural. Techniques used in Tavira date back thousands of years to the Phoenicians. A Fleur de Sel 100g bag costs € 2.

]]> Miguel C. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Grande Hotel do Porto reopens http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8150-grande-hotel-do-porto-reopens.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8150-grande-hotel-do-porto-reopens.html The Grande Hotel do Porto has been renovated and reopened maintaining the classic lines of the original model. Each of its 94 rooms is fully equipped with direct dial telephone, individually controlled air-conditioning, safe-deposit box, mini-bar, electronic wake-up alarm call and satellite TV. Hotel amenities also include a bar and reference rooms, as well as Renascença Restaurant, which specializes in traditional Portuguese dishes and international cuisine.

]]> Miguel C. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Tejo Wineries invite tourists to participate in the harvest http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8306-tejo-wineries-invite-tourists-to-participate-in-the-harvest.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8306-tejo-wineries-invite-tourists-to-participate-in-the-harvest.html ejo River Regional Wine Commission (CVR Tejo). More than a thousand participants will get the unique opportunity to be a part of the secrets a region full of cultural diversity, architectural, landscaping, restaurant plus a bullfighting tradition. Wine production in this region has seen a 25% increase compared to 2009 production - totaling 68 million gallons of wine. ]]> Miguel C. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:55:28 +0000 U.S. market is growing at double digits for the Portuguese hotel industry http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8288-us-market-is-growing-at-double-digits-for-the-portuguese-hotel-industry.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8288-us-market-is-growing-at-double-digits-for-the-portuguese-hotel-industry.html U.S. market grew in the first half of 2010 by 15.9% in terms of hotel guests in Portugal and 10.5% in the number of overnight stays. The average stay was 2.18 nights. It all ads up to 264,121 room nights for American tourists in Portuguese hotels in the first 6 months of 2010, according to data from Turismo de Portugal.  Nationally, 165,892 were in Lisbon, Algarve 28,691, 24,435 in Porto, 17,594 in the Centro Region, 12,711 in the Azores, Madeira had 8,754 and  finally 5,954 in the Alentejo. By percentage, the Azores was the fastest growing region where the number of American guests was up+27.3% over a year ago, and two other regions also had increases above 20%, including the Centro, with +25.7% and Lisbon, with +24.8%. Then came the Alentejo, with +17.8% up, and the Algarve, with an increase of +13.1%, while Porto/Norte and Madeira reported declines of 21.9% and 3.7% respectively. Nights spent by tourists from the U.S. To Centro had the strongest growth in percentage, with +26.8%, ahead of the Azores, with +19.3%, Lisbon, +16.2%, and the Algarve, with +6%. Madeira is the region where American tourists spent on average more time (4.19 nights) and the Alentejo is where they had a shorter stays (1.54).]]> Miguel C. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:16:26 +0000 Treasures of Lisbon’s Market Await http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8133-treasures-of-lisbons-market-await.html http://insideportugaltravel.com/blog/8133-treasures-of-lisbons-market-await.html Lisbon's centuries old flea market, and indeed one of the oldest in Europe, is called Thieves' Market (Feira da Ladra). Located at Campo de Santa Clara, near the Castle of São Jorge, in the Alfama district, the market dates all the way back to 1195 when it was called the Mercado Franco de Lisboa. Open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday, the Feira da Ladra is a large sprawling mass of stalls selling everything from antiques, to second-hand clothes, to jewelry, ceramics etc. as well as a wide range of interesting items from Portuguese-speaking Africa.

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