Current News

Hundreds of locations nominated to Portugal’s Natural Wonders

Sunday, 24 January 2010 00:00

Hundreds of different locations across continent Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, have been nominated as candidates to Portugal’s Seven Natural Wonders. The competition takes into account Marine and Non-Marine Aquatic Areas, Caves and Grottoes, Beaches and Cliffs, Forests and Countryside, Large Landscapes and Protected Areas. Large Landscapes was one of the most popular categories with the nominations of the Zêzere Glacier Valley (Centro), the Marvão and São Mamede Mountains (Alentejo) Pedras Parideiras (Centro) and Pedra Bolideira (Norte). The River Vez (Norte) and the Fisgas de Ermelo (Norte) and Portas do Vale do Almourão (Centro) natural formations are also in that category. Non-Marine Aquatic Areas the Óbidos Lake, Alvor Ria (Algarve), and the rivers Mouro (Norte), Alva (Centro), Douro (Norte) and Paiva (Norte). The category also includes the Cabreia Waterfall (Sever do Vouga), Fraga da Pena (Arganil) and Sapal do Rio Coina (Barreiro). Marine areas include the Berlenga Islands and the ‘Onda dos Supertube Wave’, on the Ondas do Supertubo beach, in Peniche. The 77 official candidates will be revealed on February 7th. On March 7th, 21 finalists (3 per category) will be announced and offered for a public vote online until September 7th.The final ‘Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal’ will be announced in the Azores this September.

2010 Turismo de Portugal Awards just announced

Wednesday, 13 January 2010 19:00

The 5th Turismo de Portugal awards took place this week at the BTL Lisbon Travel show.  The judges were: business leader André Jordan; Luís Patrão, President Turismo de Portugal; José Carlos Pinto Coelho, Presidente of the Confederação do Turismo Português; and António Perez Metelo, journalist. The awards went to:

Best New Private Project: Tivoli Victoria (Loulé, Algarve)
Honorable Mentions: Herdade da Cortesia Hotel (Avis, Alentejo); Altis Belém Hotel & Spa (Lisboa, Lisboa); Hotel The Vine (Funchal, R. A. Madeira)

Best Public Project: The new "Portas do Mar" ocean front marine terminal and park (Ponta Delgada, R. A. Açores)
Honorable Mentions: Museu do Douro (Douro museum in Peso da Régua, Norte); Museu de Portimão (Portimão museum in Portimão, Algarve);

Best redevelopment, Private project: Hotel de Charme Casa da Ínsua( Viseu, Centro)
Honorable Mentions: Monte Real - Hotel, Termas & Spa (Leiria, Centro); Renovations at the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais (Sintra, Lisboa)

Best redevelopment, Public project: Romanesque Route of Vale do Sousa (Lousada, Norte)
Honorable Mentions: Interpretation Center for the Battle of  Aljubarrota (Porto-de-Mós, Centro); Rebuilding of the Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha (Coimbra, Centro)

Best Service: In-flight publication Up - Ouse Sonhar Mais Alto (Lisboa, Lisboa) Honorable Mentions: Culinary itineraries Online (Lisboa, Lisboa); Porto Tram City tour (Porto, Norte); Accessible Portugal Guide (Lisboa, Lisboa)  -

Best Events: Rip Curl Pro Search – 2009 (Peniche, Centro)
Honorable Mentions: Lisbon City Festival ( Lisbon  - www.egeac.pt <http://www.egeac.pt/> );
Vodafone Rally Portugal (Alentejo e Algarve - www.rallydeportugal.pt <http://www.rallydeportugal.pt/> ) ;

Best Environment Sustainability: Implementation of Environmental Management and EcoResort (Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve)
Honorable Mentions: Zmar - Eco Camping Resort & Spa (Odemira, Alentejo); Centro de Congressos do Estoril (Meeting Center) – Green Venue Lider Europeu - Os Green Events na promoção de um Turismo de Negócios mais Responsável (Cascais, Lisboa)

Special  Turismo de Portugal award: New Pousada do Palácio de Estoi (Faro, Algarve)

Wine cork recycling takes root

Friday, 11 December 2009 20:44

ReCork America works to keep wine stoppers out of landfills and put them back in use as mulch, wine shipping containers and even shoe soles. The program began two years ago as a pilot, with Archey visiting vineyards and asking for their used natural corks. When he gathered more than a half million stoppers, he knew ReCork was on to something. Cork maker Amorim supports a storage facility in Northern California, to amass about six tons of natural cork to send to Portugal. A repurposing factory and Portuguese workforce awaits delivery to convert the stoppers into insulation, floor tiles or even shoe soles. ReCork would love to avoid the carbon footprint involved in shipping the corks around the world.

Porto Santo in Geoparks?

Monday, 07 December 2009 17:51

The island of Porto Santo has applied to join UNESCO’s Network of Geoparks, based on its rich geological, biological and cultural heritage. If this application is successful it will be the 2nd Geopark in Portugal. The depositing of marine formations gave rise to Porto Santo’s 6 mile long beach with its fine, soft sand, among other natural phenomena such as the 19 million years of volcanic activity which has left unique marks on the geological panorama of the main island and its islets. Gaining this status would be of great importance for the island, as it would bring a new dynamic to its developing tourism sector, while at the same time creating greater environmental awareness and greater economic development. The European Geopark Network includes 33 members from 12 countries; there are approximately 53 Geoparks worldwide.