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.

Vila Joya, Algarve

A Hotel For a Marble -Top Table

In the year of 1978, when the Jungs visited the old, abandoned house for the first time, what seduced them was not the scenic view, over the ocean, nor the proximity of the peaceful Praia da Galé - not even the privileged path leading to a secluded beach captivated them into that strange place.

The big house erupted in the middle of a void, inhospitable clearing. Ahead of it the see was limitless; behind it a wasteland stretched, it´s monotony broken at points by heads of ruble. Empty, at rest under a thick layer of dust, a long heavy table with a marble top unexpectedly broke the silence of the house. That was the reason that made them want to stay; it was over that table that Vila Joya was founded.. Two majestic silver candelabra are now set on the marble-top, side by side with a vase of fresh flowers , around the table, the waiters busy themselves in studied and exact gestures. Stories tell of how the engine of a bulldozer and the arms of more than twenty man were needed to placed there - with the stubbornness of a bull, the table remains impassive and indifferent to the parade of time, as to the periodic organization of the Vila Joya dinning-room, it is the ex libris of the hotel. 

The Jungs had found their holiday haven, despite the hesitations of Claudia, who would have preferred a smaller house over that eight-room mansion. Klaus bought it and Claudia had thought of creating a small hôtel de charme, with thirteen rooms. She made a point of taking care of everything personally. In the winter of 1982, the Vila Joya Boutique Hotel was opened, with some friends and acquaintances of the Jungs . None of the two had had any previous experience in the hotel business. But that precisely set the freedom they felt as to the rules of the hotel instruction manuals, and made Vila Joya what it is today. Silently wandering the rooms of the house, meticulously observing the common areas and the large suites, Claudia measured the true potential of her small hotel - its quality has been often recognized and awarded, both in Portugal and abroad , and it comprises the only restaurant in Portugal granted two Michelin stars. The space is open facing the sea; the decoration is sober and minimalist, yet cosy and warming.

Fado, The Portugal´s Heart and Soul

Fado is, by its very nature, the song of Lisbon. It was taken to the four corners of the world by the famous diva Amália Rodrigues, considered the best ever exponent of a very Lusitanian soulful yearning. In 2011, Fado was classified as a Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Inspired by a very personal sentiment, a soul that is felt but not explainable, Fado remains the most noble and genuine expression of popular Portuguese culture. And given this very special nature, Fado is always a surprise for visitors to Lisbon.

Fado is fado and cannot be otherwise categorised. It is the music that issues forth from the Portuguese soul. Nevertheless, there are those who seek divisions between professional and amateur fado. The former is sung by those with the voices and talent to make it their profession and ensure the prestige of Portuguese singing extends beyond national borders.

The latter, amateur fado, takes on other characteristics even while incorporating the same sentimental emotion in the singing.In the amateur fado houses, which again thrive in fado’s spiritual home of Alfama and other traditional neighbourhoods such as Bairro Alto, the fado singer is never invited, he or she makes her own invitation. Similarly, there is no pre-set line up. A grilled smoked sausage is served to accompany a few glasses of wine before the lights go down and the magic of such gatherings bursts forth. Whoever wishes to sing, does so giving full reign to their inner sentiments.

The spirit of an amateur fado house is entirely different to those of more established professional fado houses where the full ritual and ceremony of such occasions is brought to the fore in a celebration of emotions and wills.

From the Bairro Alto to the Alfama, discover the best Lisbon Fado has to offer.

by Visit Portugal

PESTANA PALACE HOTEL

Passionate About Hospitality

I simply love this place.  Pestana Palace,  is doubtless one of the best hotels in Lisbon, is a luxury hotel in a 19th century palace located in a residential area of the city of Lisbon, and its gardens, with a variety of plants and subtropical trees, are classified as "National Monument".

 This hotel in Lisbon is located near some of the most important monuments of the city, such as Centro Cultural de Belém, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Centro de Congressos (Congress Centre).

Choose one of the four royal suites and feel just like a prince or a princess. If you feel spiritual , in the Palace building you can find the chapel or the Spa to get real relaxed.  

All salons are profusely decorated, with French-inspired details. The private quarters of the Marquises have been turned into beautiful and spacious suites. Here, likewise, works of art decorate the walls, complemented by elegant furniture from antique shops and by luxury sofas.

The view to the Tagus river or to the vast gardens of the Palace can be enjoyed from all royal suites.

Pestana Palace hotel is a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World", a symbol that ranks Pestana amongst the most luxurious and refined hotels in the world.