Austrian delights
Traditional food, BBQs and plenty of beer this summer at Vila Vita Biergarten. Vila Vita Biergarten in Porches has announced special summer events to give visitors the opportunity to enjoy traditional Austrian food and summer barbecues with live music. Every day until July 15, the authentic Bavarian-style beer garden will be serving mouthwatering Austrian specialties at lunch and dinner such as veal consommé with pancake strips,...
Holy sweetness
Lagoa will be hosting its popular sweets fair, Mostra do Doce Conventual, from July 17 to 21 at the town’s São José convent. The event gives visitors a chance to taste a variety of traditional sweets inspired by nuns’ century-old recipes. There will be jams, sweets, honey, cakes made with traditional Algarve ingredients such as almonds, figs and carobs, and a selection of delicious liqueurs as well as Monchique’s famous medronho...
Greener pastures
Inside Carvoeiro visits Convent’Bio We have patiently been watching the renovation of the old convent, just off the EN125 road that runs through the centre of Lagoa, and wondered what it might be — another hotel or maybe a private residence? When the sign went up saying Convent’Bio, we were thrilled to find that there would be a working biological and entirely organic farm right on our doorstep. Our first visit was in early February,...
Fine Wines & Food Fair returns
The event on every foodie’s calendar is back at Vila Vita Parc Held every two years, the Fine Wines & Food Fair, currently the biggest gastronomic event in the Algarve, will return to Vila Vita Parc, in Porches, from May 5 to 13 for the fourth time. Living up to its name, the fair pairs the finest culinary creations from renowned national and international chefs with the best wines and producers, all under the same roof. For...
Escaping the Laboratory
Escape One bring us the first of their mystery rooms Some people will not have heard of an escape room and must think that it’s some strange kind of pastime, but in fact, it’s actually a great way to spend an hour as a group of friends or family. It’s essentially a team game, and, ideally, you should bring different types of people with you — someone with strong problem-solving skills, someone who is good with mathematical equations,...
Award-winning hikes
Lagoa’s Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is best hike in Europe Lagoa’s Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Sete Vales Suspensos) has been named the Best Hiking Destination in Europe by online portal European Best Destinations. The ranking, based on votes from over 28,000 travellers from 153 countries, is led by Lagoa’s stunning coastal trail, which is described as “breathtaking, unforgettable and one of the most beautiful hikes in Europe”. The...
Portimão is the 2019 European City of Sport
Sports fans can enjoy a vast array of events this year Windsurfing World Championships©Rafal Czepulkowski Our neighbouring city Portimão has found its place on the map and will be hosting hundreds of sporting events to honour their European City of Sport status. Earlier this year, the opening event attracted over 4,000 people along with several of Portugal’s most iconic athletes, including former Olympic champion Rosa Mota, who is...
More fun in the sun
Zoomarine has new attractions and improved facilities Way back in 1991, Portuguese-Argentinean businessman, Pedro Lavia, opened the doors to his dream park, Zoomarine Algarve. Anyone who went when it opened probably wouldn’t recognise it now as it keeps evolving and growing into its 26-hectare plot, making it the biggest theme park of its kind in Portugal. The team was the first to introduce dolphins to the country and, in 2002,...
Urban regeneration
The future looks bright for Atrium Lagoa As we all know, the Algarve is a trendy destination for foreign visitors and investors, and thankfully, Dutch entrepreneur Erik de Vlieger fell in love with the region of Lagoa many years ago. Better known for his partnership with Carvoeiro Clube, where alongside his Swiss friend and business partner, Andreas Stocker, they have been rejuvenating many older properties along the coast and even...
Five stars for Monte Santo
Europe’s Most Romantic Resort of 2018 has a fresh new look When Monte Santo Resort opened its doors in August 2008, there was a lot of curiosity about the all-suite development behind the gates. Sprawling over a vast eight hectares of manicured and now mature gardens, the salmon-coloured collection of 113 suites and luxury townhouses have set themselves into the landscape and look as if they’ve always been there. In early 2018, the...
