Centro de Portugal Region

Birds & Nature offers bird watching tours starting at 70 €

Monday, 15 March 2010 00:00

Portugal possesses a fantastic diversity of habitats and consequently of birds in a relatively small area, the week birding program designed by Birds & Nature provides for visits to several rich areas without the necessity of travelling long distances.

A Beginners Course in Birdwatching is being offered in the BioRia itinerary and Aveiro salt pans of Centro de Portugal Region on April 10 to 11, 2010 for 70 € (1 people); 120 € (2 people)

Weeklong Birding Adventure starts at 1.200 euros per person - 7 Days/6 Nights Program- Start at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tejo estuary (about 20 minutes). Visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva. Next, explore the Sado estuary area (about 30 minutes), to explore some of the interesting sites in this protected area: Zambujal, Gâmbia, Monte Novo de Palma, Batalha, Carrasqueira and Comporta (inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak and pine woodlands). Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva. Then - travel to the Alentejo (about 90 minutes). Visit the great Castro Verde plains and the Pulo do Lobo area (rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley). Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo. Visit other special sites of interest in this part of the Alentejo region, including Mértola, Pomarão and Mina de São Domingos. Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo. And, travel to the Algarve region (about 45 minutes). Visit the complex of canals, saline flats and salt pans of the Castro Marim area. Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora. Visit several habitats such as dunes, open water, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, reed beds, lagoons and pine woods of the Ria Formosa area. Price includes bird guide, transfer from/to Lisbon Airport, ground transport (including fuel and tolls), accommodation for 6 nights (including breakfast) based on two people sharing in excellent quality hotels, use of optical equipment (quality binoculars and telescopes) and field guides, entrance fee in private or protected areas and participant’s accident insurance. 
More details at http://www.birds.pt/week-long-trips

Fornos de Algodres to get new inn

Thursday, 11 March 2010 00:00

The county of Fornos de Algodres, in the wine region of mountainous Centro, will get a new Estrela à Vista Inn with 4-stars. The investment of 8.5 million euros is a private-public partnership. The Estrela à Vista will offer 130 rooms with a spa and heated pool. And, the hotel will aim to attract soccer clubs looking for a training hotel, as well. Ground has been broken, and eh in will open in 2011. Fornos de Algodres has a fine 16th-century pillory, an 18th-century manor-house which was once the Town Hall, the Misericodia Church (also from the 18th century) and many charming wine estates with manor homes.

Jewish Travel to the Mountains of Centro

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 00:00

The Serra da Estrela has seen a growing number of tour operators bring Jewish visitors to the region to see its Sephardic heritage. Portugal and Israel and now discussing direct air link. More than 1,000 Israelis visit Portugal each year, and 3,000 Portuguese visit Israel. Yet, about 20 percent of Israelis are of Sephardic origin. Last year in Serra da Estrela’s Belmonte Jewish Museum of the 17,840 visitors in total, around 800 were Israeli Jews. Belmonte is rich in the history and traditions of crypto-Jews, who practiced their religion in secret for centuries. The local Serra da Estrela tourism office has prepared an excellent tour of the region’s Jewish heritage (check details under tourism routes and cultural tourism). It was in towns like Belmonte that Portugal’s Jews practiced their religion in secret after the abolition of Judaism in 1496. The village was already famed for being the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the first Portuguese captain to sight Brazil in 1500. But, in the 20th century a significant community of cryptic Jews, sometimes called Marranos, emerged. Although they had practiced many of the ritual of Judaism for centuries, they were unaware of their true heritage. Jewish communities around the world came to their aid to help them rediscover their roots, and in 1993 the community welcomed it first rabbi in more that four centuries. Shortly after that Temple Bet Eliahou was built. Amazingly, may of the Jewish families still live in the town’s charming Judiaria, called the Bairro de Marrocos. Other strong Jewish ties may be found at the near by town of Trancoso, where a Lion of Judea relief is still well preserved on the facade of the Casa do Gato Negro, the Medieval Home of wealthy Jewish merchant, and perhaps the local synagogue. The Jewish quarter is well also preserved in this living museum.

Boom Festival Returns

Sunday, 28 February 2010 00:00

The Boom Festival will return to its lakeside setting at Idaho-a-Nova near Castelo Branco, Centro de Portugal, from August 18-26, 2010. Described by Revolve magazine as 'the most psychedelic of all festivals', the event offers a rich mix of art, culture, education and some of the best electronic music around at the moment. Bio-construction and bio-architecture are two of the main themes of this year's Boom. Solar generators will provide the energy and bamboo is being used for most of the structures. A ticket costs 125 euros for the entire duration of the Boom, with added options available for bus transfers from Lisbon and the After Boom wind-down party.

Living Museums

Friday, 19 February 2010 00:00

Ten regions of

Portugal

have banded together to form the Living museum initiative. The tourism office Lousã in the Centro de Portugal and the Dr. Louzã Henriques Museum now have computer terminals with information on regional museums, crafts, music, history, and driving and hiking circuits.