Orient Museum in Lisbon,  celebrates today five years with free entry

As the European city to make the first cultural and trade contacts with much of Asia, Lisbon had to have a space dedicated to the art and culture of the Orient, explaining the role it played in it. 
The Museu do Oriente fulfills that intention. Its collections of Portuguese and Asian art are a most important demonstration of the historical encounters between the West and East. With the same purpose, the collections that assemble traditional cultures of Asia are a demonstration of its richness, of its plurality and its genius, that we want better known in Portugal and in Europe.
More than a museum, this is a cultural center also hosting special events and temporary exhibitions relating to the Far East.

In the NG TOP 10 Ocean Views

Sagres Bay, Portugal

For a whiff of historical romance and swashbuckling adventure, few outlooks outclass the one at Sagres, mainland Europe’s most southwesterly community. In the 15th century, Prince Henry the Navigator came here to found his School of Navigation to train sailors and cartographers, in order to fulfill his quest to expand the known world’s frontiers and open a sea route to India.

Planning: The best way to explore Sagres Bay and Cape St. Vincent is by car or on foot, as there is no public transportation.

by National Geographic

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve

Feel the Adrenaline

The racing school offers motor racing enthusiasts the ultimate opportunity to enjoy a safe learning experience from the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve behind the wheel of a dream car such as a Porche or a BMW. You can choose for a range of experience days tailored specifically to meet the profile of each participant, from racing or defensive driving to driving experiences and hot laps, to car and motorbike track days. With all the necessary safety conditions in place and with a group to accompany you , discover each corner enjoy every minute and experience the thrill of driving on one of the best motor racing tracks in the world.

A Portuguese Super Brand

Vista Alegre

Today, Vista Alegre, more than being market leader in Portugal and possessing the best and most automated porcelain factories in the world, continues to develop and preserve the porcelain made and worked by hand, honoring its history and tradition.

Vista Alegre services are used officially by the President of the Portuguese Republic, and also in the White House and by royalty and many heads of state all around the world. Personages such as Queen Elisabeth II of England, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Beatrice of Holland, ex-President Ronald Reagan and the most recent President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, are all in possession of beautiful Vista Alegre tableware.

But not is it only on the tables of celebrities that can be found pieces of Vista Alegre; also museums all over the world keep valuable examples in their collections.

Vista Alegre pieces sparkle in show-cases of the most famous, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

It is without doubt an institution, in Portugal and in the world, synonymous of excellence and unequalled quality.

STORIES

One of the curious stories in the life of the Vista Alegre factory is the tale of the Duck and Drake. It happened that one day an important order arrived for a duck in porcelain. The artist delegated to carry out this order said, that to make a perfect piece, he needed a live duck as a model. His apprentices quickly set out to find the most beautiful duck on the estate. However, after some days, the duck began to lose its feathers and became emaciated and unattractive. Concerned about his model, the master requested his apprentices to summon a vet to see what was happening to the creature. When the vet arrived he made a brief examination of the duck and rapidly concluded that the bird was ill due to lack of company; it needed a female duck close by. The apprentices went out to find a fine female duck to keep the drake company during his time as a model.   The drake rapidly recovered his plumage and it was said that the piece was particularly beautiful !

Happy Valentine’s Day !

14th February

Madeira Island is a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day. Instead of chocolates and Roses this year again, do something wild and different, let that special someone know how much they are loved, surprise you’re loved one to a memorable romantic week in Madeira Island and enjoy wonderful scenery, romantic sunsets and a taste of the Madeira Wine.

All about pampering in Reid's Palace Hotel

Set in subtropical gardens overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this legendary Orient-Express hotel in Madeira has, for more than a century, been the ultimate place to stretch out in the sun and relax. Its subtropical gardens are internationally renowned, and now feature a spa tucked in among the trees.
Over the years Reid’s has honed the art of pampering every guest. The right place to celebrate love.

Convento da Graça, Tavira

Inspiring Culture

While converting the 16th-century Convento da Graça into a luxury hotel, developers ran into an unexpected problem that canceled plans for a basement spa and pool.

Beneath the old convent and the defensive walls of the ancient coastal city, the excavations uncovered a cobbled street and foundations of a dozen homes built more than 700 years ago by the Arab Muslims who then ruled much of Portugal.

Instead of the pool, there’s now a small museum under the hotel bar. Walkways allow visitors to wander above what remains of the medieval Moorish neighborhood.

Much of Portugal lived under Islamic rule for over 500 years from the early 8th century, when North African invaders overturned the Germanic kingdoms that had held sway over the Iberian Peninsula since the fall of the Roman Empire.

The Portuguese reconquista gradually forced the Arabs south, driving them from their last strongholds along the Algarve coast in 1249. In the neighboring Spanish region of Andalusia, the Emirate of Granada would hold out for another 250 years.

The Pousada de Tavira, Convento da Graça, is located in the Santo Agostinho Convent, founded by Dom Sebastião in the sixteenth century. This hotel in Tavira perfectly combines classic lines with a welcoming atmosphere and modern equipment.

 The Pousada de Tavira has 36 rooms, all with a view to the patio or the garden with pool. All the rooms come with air conditioning, a private bathroom with bath and hairdryer.

 The guests at the Pousada de Tavira can enjoy the outdoor pool on the sun loungers under the parasols or read a book in the drawing room.

The restructuring project of the Pousada do Convento Graça was the sole responsibility of the architect John Sousa Campos, who also included the construction of new spaces.

During the construction of the Pousada’s remodelling, they uncovered archaeological treasures of Islamic origin from the thirteenth century: Bairro Almoada. These discoveries forced some adjustments in the original project design, to allow for the preservation of another important historic legacy, which can be enjoyed at the Patio Moor Bar.