Theme Week Algarve – Sagres

19 July 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Sagres Lighthouse at Fortress São Vicente © Joaomartinho63

Sagres Lighthouse at Fortress São Vicente © Joaomartinho63

Sagres is a town located in the municipality of Vila do Bispo and in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. It has a surface of 34,28 km² and a population of 1 939 (in 2001). Sagres Point, the southwesternmost tip of Europe, historically connected to the Portuguese Age of Discovery, is located there.   read more…

Theme Week Algarve – Portimão

18 July 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

Praia da Rocha Beach, near Portimão © Husond - GFDL

Praia da Rocha Beach, near Portimão © Husond – GFDL

Portimão is a located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão. In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão Municipality has 50,454.   read more…

Theme Week Algarve – Évora

17 July 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  5 minutes

© Joananv22

© Joananv22

Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.   read more…

Theme Week Algarve

16 July 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks Reading Time:  8 minutes

Beach of Carvoeiro © Haloorange

Beach of Carvoeiro © Haloorange

The Algarve is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal. It has an area of 5,412 square kilometres (2,090 sq mi) with approximately 450,484 permanent inhabitants, and incorporates 16 municipalities. The region coincides with the Faro District, and has as its administrative centre the city of Faro, where both the region’s international airport at Faro (FAO) and public university (the University of the Algarve) are located. Tourism and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve’s summer economy. Fish, seafood and fruit production, which includes oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, are other important activities in the region. The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in Europe. Its population triples in the peak holiday season thanks to a high influx of visitors, and receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year. In total, including national visitors, almost 10 million people visit the Algarve every year.   read more…

Country overview

9 November 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

In addition to the regular search function, a country overview is available here. Click on the country name to see all currently available blog entries.   read more…

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Faro, gate to the Algarve

28 June 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

City Hall © Osvaldo Gago

City Hall © Osvaldo Gago

Faro is a city in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region. The Algarve and Faro district cover the same territory.   read more…

Madeira, the Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean

15 March 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  9 minutes

Market in Funchal © Hannes Grobe

Market in Funchal © Hannes Grobe

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union. The archipelago comprises one of the two Autonomous regions of Portugal (the other being the Azores located to the northwest), that includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, the Desertas and the Savage Islands. Madeira was re-discovered by Portuguese sailors in the service of Infante D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator) in 1419, and settled after 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.   read more…

Lisbon, the white city

23 November 2010 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Architecture, European Union, European Capital of Culture Reading Time:  10 minutes

© Stefan Didam-Schmallenberg

© Stefan Didam-Schmallenberg

Nowhere in Portugal visitors will find a more impressive reminder of the great seafaring tradition and the wealth of the former colonial power than in the capital. It seems as if one would breathe history and even untrained eyes can see “Once here was power and money at home!”. Much is well preserved, especially the pride of the residents. Lisbon is one of the quieter, yet vibrant European cities with the typical southern European lifestyle, which could keep much of its originality without missing the connection to the modern era, on the contrary: For a number of years now, an increasingly stronger start-up scene from the IT sector has been established, which also attracts large international corporations (Startup Lisboa). Lisbon owes the nickname “The White City” the picturesque white houses, historic buildings and palaces.   read more…

Return to TopReturn to Top