Portugal Property News

The most well known party for several years is back: White Party at Purobeach Vilamoura  – Friday 24th July.

Purobeach Vilamoura is a small oasis right next to the sea on Vilamoura beach where you’ll find a restaurant, lounge bar and massage area. A combination of a healthy and calming atmosphere during the day with vitality and entertainment at night. A place where body and mind encounter perfect balance.

On the beach, the decoration is exotic and complemented by an exclusive service. As the sun rises, enjoy a massage or just simply relax in the body-hugging comfort of the chairs and beds to the sound of music Purobeach style.

At night, the dinner menu with the exotic influences of Miami, Marrakesh and Melbourne will surprise the most demanding of foodies and always in a unique party atmosphere.

The 1st edition of the Summer Lovers Market, an event that falls under the category Fashion & Food, will take place this 25th and 26th July the Vilamoura Casino gardens.

This initiative has 40 of the most trendy National Brands that dictate fashion trends and street food. The summer fashion will bring caipirinhas and ice creams under the sound of chill out music, bossa nova and reggae. Plus, every evening visitors can enjoy a sunset party.

The festival will feature several areas, which are divided into summer brands, street food, lounge area and a stage for performances. It has a sympathetic character to support “From Kibera With Love” – a project that strives to ensure the education of children of Kibera, the largest slum in the world in Kenya.

This event runs from 10am to 8pm – free entrance.

For more information check  www.facebook.com/summerloversmarket

The mythical restaurant “Casa Velha” has blossomed in Quinta do Lago. This gastronomic space of French cuisine reopened doors a few days ago and now features an elegant facility with Mediterranean character, with a Menu renewed by Chef Yannick Guichaoua and impeccable table service managed by Celine Guichaoua and her team.

The village that houses the Casa Velha Restaurant, dates from the first half of the twentieth century and is one of Quinta do Lago’s landmarks.

Over the decades, the space has undergone architectural changes, adapting to the times and culinary fashions. From the original design remains very little: only the Moorish-style stone fountain that still hums freshness in the inner courtyard and the photos in the memories ark of those who followed the metamorphosis of the facade over the past.

In the past, this was the venue of endless parties and even one of the hottest nightclubs, “The Patio” in the 90’s.

Today, we find an idyllic retreat, reminiscent of the villages of the French Riviera. This year, the Quinta do Lago group invested a few millions in the extensive refurbishment of the former Casa Velha, from which two different spaces arise: “Bovino”, a premium steakhouse and the French kitchen corner, which retains its original name “Casa Velha”

From the 16th to 19th July, Faro will be hosting the 34th International Motorcycles Gathering.

As usual, Vale das Almas will be the meeting point for thousands of bikers who will gather for a weekend of lots of fun, turning Faro into the capital of “two wheels”.

The “Moto Clube de Faro” is responsible for organizing this event which is considered one of Europe’s most mythical bikers gathering.

Every year thousands of bikers drive to this town for a weekend full of shows, concerts, performances, exhibitions, among many other activities.

From July 1st to August 15th, the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura 5* Hotel hosts Cristiano Ronaldo’s CR7 Museum.

With direct access to the Marina, at the CR7 Museum in the Tivoli Marina Hotel it will be possible to know Cristiano’s great wins, what he does in his spare time, take pictures with the Golden Ball & Boot or learn to shoot like him.

According to Jorge Beldade – Operations Regional Director for the Tivoli Hotels & Resorts in the Algarve: “We are very pleased that the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura has been elected to host the Museum CR7. The hotel offers all the conditions and infrastructure to embrace a project of this scale. He also states: “This will be a unique and exclusive opportunity for our customers and visitors to get involved in the universe of one of the best players of our time”

It is recalled that the CR7 Museum was opened in December last year, now hosted by the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, having gone first through the Forum Algarve in Faro.

Considered the summer’s most competitive tournament in the Algarve!

With the presence of well known  Portuguese and Spanish sports celebrities. With more than 150 teams and about 2,500 participants.

Between the 20th and 27th of June, The Vila Real de Santo Antonio Sports Complex will host the largest Iberian Children’s Football Tournament.

This complex hosts varied sports related events such as Soccer “Mundialito”, the European Athletics Veterans Championship and several Championship cups of  European Athletics Clubs, this year receiving the “COPA DO GUADIANA” 3rd Edition, it is considered a privileged space for holding sporting events offering unique conditions, unparalleled in Algarve ground.

The Vila Real de Santo António County, apart from an extraordinary Sports Complex offers accommodation units in well known Hotels (Vila Real Santo Antonio, Monte Gordo and Altura) to welcome the teams and their companions.

The access to various beaches for leisure and entertainment just 100 meters from the Hotels, the warm Mediterranean sea temperature and the extensive sandy beach – makes Monte Gordo one of the best beaches in the Algarve.

All teams participants (athletes and staff) have access to the Guadiana Bus that will be available to transport teams from the Hotel to the Sports Complex 12 hours a day.

The Vila Real de Santo Antonio Sports Complex is equipped with:

– 8 seven football fields of natural and synthetic grass;

– 1 five football Field of synthetic grass;

– 10 tennis courts

– Stadium with covered benches;

– Athletics track;

– 18 Changing rooms;

– Indoor track for specific training of athletes;

– Exhibition Centre and leisure deck area of over 2000 m2;

– Physiotherapy Clinic;

– Food and beverage spots;

– 2 car parking spaces.

Competition:

* Football 11: 20th to 22nd June 2015;

* Football 7: 23rd to 27th June 2015;

* Football 5: 23rd to 27th June 2015;

– Classes

* Football 11 (2000 and 2001)

* Football 7 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006);

* Football 5 (2007 and 2008).

– Fields

* Football 11 (3 natural grass courts and 3 synthetic grass);

* Football 7 (5 natural grass fields and six synthetic grass);

* Football 5 (2 natural grass fields).

Registrations are now open for the “COPA DO GUADIANA” Tournament. The range of offer for accommodation associated with the event guarantees conditions and quite affordable values ​​to all participants.

Great players and unique experiences in this week. Don’t miss it!

Between the 25th and 28th June, the World music event will return to the Historic District of Loulé.

The “Med” Festival closed the concert’s poster advertising the Spanish Alamedadosoulna, Portuguese Brass Wires Orchestra and French Babylon Circus. The 12th Edition of the world music event is between 25th and June 28th in the historic area of ​​Loulé and will be providing 42 bands from 15 different nationalities.

This year, the festival pays tribute to Fado, the Alentejo songs and the Mediterranean diet, the three expressions of Portuguese Culture declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The last day of the event, June 28th, will be open to the public and dedicated exclusively to the Mediterranean diet.

Tickets are already for sale and price is 10 euros (for 1 day) and 25 euros (3 days) – bought in advance. During the festival, the daily tickets will cost 12 euros and 3 day passes 30 euros.

Below is the schedule for the main stage of the event:

25th June (Thursday)

CASTELO
9.45pm – TAPE JUNK (c/ FRANKIE CHAVEZ) (Portugal)
11.45pm – BRASS WIRES ORCHESTRA (Portugal)
1.45am – CLUBE CONGUITO (Portugal)

MATRIZ
10.15pm – CARMINHO (Portugal)
12.15am – BABYLON CIRCUS (France)

CERCA
9.15pm CATI FREITAS (Portugal)
11.15pm JAMBINAI (South Corea)
1.15am SKIP & DIE (Holland/South Africa)

26th June (Friday)

CASTELO
9.45pm – DANÇAS OCULTAS & DOM LA NENA (Portugal + Brazil)
11.45pm – BATIDA (Portugal/Angola)
1.45am – DRUMSPROJX BY SYLVA DRUMS (Portugal)

MATRIZ
10.15pm – ESTER RADA (Israel)
12.15am – CUMBIA ALLSTARS (Peru)

CERCA
9.15pm – RAQUEL TAVARES (Portugal)
11.15pm – AZIZA BRAHIM (West Sahara)
1.15am – BALKAN BEAT BOX (Israel)

27th June (Saturday)

CASTELO
9.45pm – GIANA VISCARDI inviting SARA TAVARES (Brazil + Cape Verde)
11.45pm – TIAGO BETTENCOURT (Portugal)

MATRIZ
10.15pm –  NNEKA (Nigéria)
12.15am – FERRO GAITA inviting DINO D’SANTIAGO (Cape Verde)
2.15am  – DJ MARFOX (Portugal)

CERCA
9.15pm – KARYNA GOMES (Guiné Bissau)
11.15pm – BALOJI (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
1.15am – ALAMEDADOSOULNA (Spain)

There are about 100 thousand people expected at the 13th edition of FIESA, the World’s largest Sand Sculptures Exhibition, which runs until October 20th in Pera – Silves – Algarve

FIESA has as its theme “Music”, with a hundred works from sculptors from various countries, most of them from last year, which illustrate people, objects and scenery spread over 15 thousand square meters enclosure.

Mariza, Pedro Abrunhosa, Xutos e Pontapés, Mozart and Michael Jackson are some of the artists played on sand sculptures that reach 15 meters in height.

In the central area of ​​the enclosure, Amalia Rodrigues occupies a prominent space with a work dedicated to Fado – musical style – that in 2011 was declared by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

“Music, as a universal theme, enjoyed by adults and children, is very comprehensive”. This led the Organization to keep most sculptures from the previous edition, including a few changes,” quoted Filipe Martins – producing assistant – to Lusa agency.

Filipe Martins added that the decision of keeping the theme and most of the works from last year, has to do with the change of location of the event, to an area that will cover wider areas, with the creation of another infrastructure.

“The goal is to try to be able to create something that is maintained throughout the year, given that the 2016 edition will have another location,” stressed the Producing assistant – avoiding revealing more details about the future project.

Over the six months of the exhibition, the organization estimates to repeat the number of 100,000 visits recorded in 2014.

“We have had a stable number of visitors with little oscillations a couple of months, but overall, balanced,” he said.

The nearly one hundred sculptures occupy an area of ​​15 thousand square meters  for which 40,000 tons of sand have been used 40,000.

During the exhibition, the public can experience and show their creative abilities in this form of artistic expression, a play area available for the making of sand sculptures.

FIESA, located between the E.N 125 and the A22 motorway, and between Pera and Silves, will be open until October 20th, running from June 1st, between 10am and 7pm.

Between 2nd June and 14th July closing time is 10pm. Between 15th July and 15th September closing time will be at midnight, and between 16th September and 20th October, it will be open from  10am to 8pm.

Audi chose Portugal to perform a dynamic presentation to International Press of the new generation of the Audi R8 sportscar. Between the 8th and the 25th of July over 350 journalists, from around the world, are expected to drive the new Audi R8 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.

The second generation of the Audi R8 is equipped with a V10 engine of 5.2 liters available with two power levels – 540 horses and 610 horses – named R8 V10 and R8 V10 Plus, respectively. The automatic transmission S tronic and the new all-wheel drive system ‘quattro’ are highlighted in this supercar that will also have an electric version: the R8 e-tron.

The atmospheric engine with dry character of the R8 is mounted in a central position and has direct and indirect injection, which enables increased power and decreased consumption. The version of 540 horses, the R8 V10 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 323 km/h. However,  the most powerful R8 V10 Plus accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.2 seconds and the top speed is 330 km / h.

Both versions of the R8 are equipped with Start/Stop system and the new box dual clutch S tronic 7-speed is positioned behind the engine and has the “Launch control” (to achieve maximum acceleration as from “start”). The wheel drive system ‘quattro’ shows changes compared to the previous generation.

The driver of the R8 has three driving modes: comfort, auto and dynamic via Audi drive select. Each has a specific configuration that determines the response speed of the pressure engine on the gas pedal, steering, transmission and traction as well as the operation of the suspension when the vehicle includes the Magnetic Ride system. There is also a fourth mode called ‘individual’ which allows a custom fusion of different regulations.

The new Audi R8 has a length 4.42 meters, width of 1.94 meters and a height of 1.24 meters, being lighter than its predecessor. This weight reduction is possible by the use of lightweight materials in its construction, being aluminum and reinforced plastic with carbon fiber main components. The reduction in total weight reaches 50 kg.

In front of the driver’s compartment, is the virtual Audi ‘cockpit with a digital screen of 12.3 inches.

In 2014, the Audi Group delivered to its customers around 1,741,100 cars of the brand.

The car access rules and temporary parking for passengers drop offs and pick ups will be changed starting today, Thursday 21st May.

All private users who want to drop or pick up passengers at the airport are entitled to 10 minutes free in the area known as “curbside”, located opposite the terminal.

“This way, the experience of dropping or picking up someone at Faro airport will be smoother, more convenient and faster, as users can stop right next to the terminal”, mentioned the ANA Airports, in a news release.

The Management Company from Faro Airport warned that this new rule has daily limits. “The goal is to discourage the intensive use of the curbside, charging on the third use over a period of 24 hours”, according to ANA.

As for professional users, the rules are different. Public buses are free. Taxis that drop off passengers do not pay any fee for using the Bus range in Departures. Taxi’s passengers pick ups will remain at the space currently available for this purpose, which will be accessible to people with valid authorization. Tour buses and shuttles from hotels will have their own spaces suitable for access to the airport (spaces P5 and P6 respectively). The rent-a-car Companies with no facilities at Faro airport already have appointed parking (on a retainer basis)

This new rule was adopted, according to ANA Airports, due to ‘operational constraints and environmental impacts, registered at the curbside zone mostly motivated by misuse of external private and commercial users to ANA’s airport activities.

“Given the identified congestion, the aim is to streamline the access to passenger terminals, in order to promote operational efficiency, security and environmental sustainability of its use,”

“The curbside is a space of critical and reserved utilization and should not be used as extended parking spot, which can interfere on the appropriate levels of operational safety and access to terminals. It is vital to encourage responsible use of these spaces in order to provide a better experience for all users” reinforced the ANA.

The system that will now be installed in Faro “is a concept much used in other airports in Europe and the world”, quoted “Kiss & Fly”.

Among others, this system is used in Helsinki, Prague, Marseille, Basel-Mulhouse International Airport, Paris – Orly, Geneve, Paris CDG, Chicago O’Hare, JFK, Brussels, Wroclaw, Charlotte-Douglas, Bologna, Tallinn, Dortmund, Gatwick, San Francisco, Nice and Heathrow.