Discover Madeira

Right in the middle of the Atlantic, the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo are a haven of natural beauty. The exotic colours of the flowers stand out from among the blue sea and the emerald green vegetation; this is an archipelago where two thirds are a protected area and where the largest Laurisilva forest in the world is located.



The springtime temperature, felt all year round, cries out for open air activities. You can go for a walk along the network of levadas (irrigation channels), visit the city of Funchal and discover the heritage associated with the Discoveries or roam freely around the island. Boat rides are an excellent way of admiring the coastline from a different perspective.

In such a naturally welcoming environment, balance and well-being are taken for granted. Madeira offers various tourist complexes and accesses to the sea with prime conditions for leisure boating and scuba diving. The island of Porto Santo, in particular, is the ideal place to escape from stress and undertake a thalassotherapy programme, or a beach holiday combined with a spot of golf.

Popular feasts, which take place all year round, are opportunities to appreciate traditional gastronomic flavours and see Madeira partying, especially for the Carnival parades, the Flower Festival, the Atlantic Festival and, above all, the end-of-year fireworks display.

Find more information about Madeira islands at:
- https://www.visitportugal.com/Madeira
- http://www.visitmadeira.pt/
- http://madeiraallyear.com/
- http://www.exploremadeira.pt/

If you are a music fan, don´t miss the 2016 edition of MEO Sudoeste Festival in Zambujeira do Mar, Alentejo

The Sudoeste (Southwest) Festival is the biggest summer festival in Portugal. It takes place between 3 to 7 of August,in Zambujeira do Mar, a fishing town on the Alentejo coast famous for its beautiful beaches and mild temperatures.

For five days there are performances by bands of various types. The show carries on through the early hours and onwards with electronic music, but to know all that will happen, take a look at its official website.

As always, the party takes place at Zambujeira do Mar, a fishing town on the Alentejo coast famous for its beautiful beaches and mild temperatures. Those who acquire the festival pass have access to free camping, which means a vacation week for a very nice price!

Find more information about the MEO Sudoeste Festival at:
- For Meo Sudoeste Guide click here
- http://sudoeste.meo.pt
- https://www.facebook.com/MEOSudoeste
- https://twitter.com/MEOSudoeste
- https://www.instagram.com/meosudoeste/
- Press-Kits (download here)

New Video Mapping show in Lisbon: The Faces of Lisboa

Once again Terreiro do Paço will be the setting for a free video mapping show with the theme “The Faces of Lisboa”. The show will run from 5 to 14 August, in a summer celebration where the city of Lisboa reveals some of its stories, people, places and special moments.

Through its not just historic but timeless characters, such as the fishmonger, the master paver and the knife sharpener, visitors to Lisboa see it going about its business then and now, its evolution, transformation and its many faces.

Taking the sea as inspiration in a powerfully captivating opening sequence, the visitor goes swimming with some fish until these end up in the fishmonger’s basket, as he sells his wares in the square and marketplace. From here the voyage continues through a traditional Lisboa neighbourhood with its houses painted different colours, as it awakens and the knife sharpener arrives riding his old bicycle.

We simultaneously jump to where the master pavers are laying “calçada” stones, a livelihood which not only brings the pathways of Lisboa together, but also its people. Lines of tracks then appear, branching out from one side of the street to another as trams loom over the façade and then give way to an image of steel beams and construction work that fills the screen, commemorating this year the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April bridge.

Towards the future we go, as the many faces of Lisboa and its traders wish us well - from washerwomen, newspaper vendors and pavers to our modern technologies that have given us such things as the metro, or telecommunications - bridging our past and present, with its technological advances and entrepreneurial spirit.

 

Dates: From 5 to 14 of august
Schedule: Daily sessions, at 9:45 pm, 10:30 pm, 11:15 pm, day 7 sessions at 10.30 pm and 11.15 pm
Location: At terreiro do paço (metro: terreiro do paço)
Duration: 15 minutes
Free entry

Source: Turismo de Lisboa

It´s starts tomorrow the Medieval journey to Santa Maria da Feira

Every year in the end of the month of July and beginning of August, Santa Maria da Feira  becomes a medieval town, filled with knights in heavy armour, wielding long swords and taking part in jousting tournaments.

Over a 12-day period, the historical centre is transformed into a major medieval fair, with the presence of merchants, artisans, blacksmiths, bakers, mule-drivers and liqueur sellers.

Inside the castle, visitors may observe scenes from the daily life of the epoch and outside they may take part in the renowned festivities and savour specialty dishes from the past. In the streets, acrobats, musicians, jugglers and fire-eaters exhibit their skills, transporting visitors back in time.

Find more information at:
- http://www.viagemmedieval.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/viagemmedieval
- https://www.instagram.com/viagemmedieval/
- Download the program here

Out Jazz: From May to September, parks and gardens in Lisbon, Cascais or Troia will be invaded by music!

On Saturdays, in Cascais or Troia, and on Sundays, in Lisbon, concerts will be held at the end of the afternoon in various parks, gardens and other public spaces. 

Admission is always free. Out Jazz will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2016 and will be bringing the sounds of jazz, soul, funk, lounge and hip-hop to some unusual venues.

On Saturdays, the shows will be held in Cascais: in May and July in the Marechal Carmona Park; in June and August in the Paula Rego Garden; and in September in the Palmela Park (with a few exceptions during the summer, when the performances will be at Tróia Beach Club).

On Sundays, the concerts will be in Lisbon: in May in the Torre de Belém Garden; in June at Tapada das Necessidades; in July at the Tejo Park; in August at the Estrela Garden; and in September at the Campo Grande Garden. 

Don't miss the shows and enjoy something different on your weekend afternoons, listening to music in an informal setting.

Find more information at:
- https://www.facebook.com/OutJazz/
- http://www.ncs.pt/outjazz.php 
- Check the program here 

New "Harry Potter" book will world premiere in Porto's magical bookshop, Livraria Lello

Lello Bookshop -®Porto Convention & Visitors Bureau

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II" will have its world launch in Porto, more accurately at Livraria Lello, a bookshop which inspired the author of the saga while writing her stories about the young wizards.

The book’s world launch is scheduled for 31st July, the birthday of the writer J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter, at precisely the moment the bells strike twelve. So that all of her fans can buy the English-language edition firsthand, the bookshop will open for a special one-off event at midnight on 30^th July.

As a prelude to the event, a party will be held from 10 pm onwards on 30th July with various characters from the saga, magic potions and many other surprises to entertain the young and old “Potterheads” in the queue. The iconic Porto bookshop invites readers to join in the fun and dress up for the event.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II" was written by Jack Thorne and is based on the original story by J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany. "The Cursed Child" follows the life of Harry Potter nineteen years after "Deathly Hallows" and tells the story of the childhood of his youngest son, Albus Severus Potter.

Find more information about the event at:
- http://www.livrarialello.pt/
- https://www.facebook.com/LivrariaLello/
- https://twitter.com/LivrariaLello

Source: Porto Tourism 

Tall Ships’ Race is back to Lisbon

Beginning on 22 July 2016, Lisbon will be hosting the Tall Ships’ Regatta, with the River Tagus welcoming more than 50 sailing ships into its estuary.

The great regatta of the Tall Ships’ Race will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. 



The ships are set to begin their first race on 10 July, starting in the port of Antwerp, in Belgium, sailing towards Lisbon, where they will stay till the 25th July. From there they will head to Spain, passing through Cadiz and ending their race at La Coruña at the 14th August. 

Lisbon will be in festive mood and the River Tagus will be filled with excitement. From 22 to 25 July, there will be a programme of official commemorations, which will include visits to the ships themselves and will reach their high point with the Naval Parade down the river. 

This is a tremendously beautiful spectacle that you can’t afford to miss.



Find more information at:
- http://tallshipslisboa.com
- http://www.sailtraininginternational.org/events
- https://www.instagram.com/tallshipsraceslisboa/
- https://twitter.com/TallShipsRaceLx
- https://www.visitportugal.com/Events
- https://pt.pinterest.com/TallShipsLisboa
- Download the Press-Kit here