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segunda-feira, 29 de agosto de 2016

Discover the Algarve beyond the beaches



 We all know the Algarve for its beautiful beaches with its calm waters and its temperate weather, but there is much to discover beyond that.
The Algarve was one the regions that remained more time over the Arab domain as such most of it’s heritage conveys that way.




Starting this tour in Albufeira, Algarve’s western city. The Castle of Arab origin, the castle of Paderne, opens the doors for a visit to the merger between the Muslim and a Christian. This takes a very important position in our history, since it is one of the seven castles that are represented in our national flag. In 1248, it was conquered from the Moors. With the earthquake of 1755 this castle was highly damaged and in 1858 it was turned off never undergoing restoration work ever more.





Albufeira doesn’t live only of castles and Arab architecture, archeology museum housed in the old town, where once worked the Town Hall, opened in August of 1999,and it is a property with features of urban architecture of southern Portugal.
The Museum presents areas of study, conservation, restoration and storage of materials, and a small thematic library.
His pieces are deeply connected to the history of Albufeira, from its origins to the seventeenth century, it is divided into four major sections - Prehistory, Roman Period, Islamic Period and Modern Age.



The old town center of Albufeira, is the oldest part of town, this is where we find some of the older properties that still have traditional facades. Also we can find a wide range of restaurants of various nationalities, but predominantly the traditional Portuguese food restaurants with a wide variety of fish and seafood caught near Fisherman's Beach. On the same beach one can find various terraces ideal to enjoy the huge sunny days and at night this is a area that never stops. During the walks at the streets of Albufeira you can buy local crafts like bijou, jewelery, clothing and pottery.

We will travel to Portimão, here, and though subject of this post set the tone to flee the Algarve beaches and most go through their streets and heritage, we will get to know the Santa Catarina’s viewpoint and its wonderful view over the Praia da Rocha and over the marina. It served time as a lookout post of the coast, being built in the old Santa Catarina’s hermitage.





Far from being part of the historical heritage of Portimão, the Algarve International Autodrome or simply the Portimão’s Autodromo, it is a 20008 construction, but was only opened in 2010 and is one of the largest in Europe.

The project involved a karting track, an off-road track, a technology park, a five-star hotel, a sports complex and apartments and is a national interest project.
One of the valences of the race track is the Racing School that offers all motoring enthusiasts the chance to enjoy a safe learning behind the wheel of high-power cars.





Lagos is one of the cities that is most closely linked to the Portuguese Discoveries, given it’s location and economic importance, it became a central point to the Discoveries, here came out in 1419, the ships that discovered the Madeira in 1427, those discovered Azores and in 1434, left the navigator Gil Eanes, to bend Cape Bojador. In 1573, it became a city by the hand of King Sebastian which made it the capital of the Algarve’s Kingdom.
Over time, the city was being occupied by Carthaginians, Romans, Barbarians, Muslims and already in the thirteenth century was reconquered by Christians.
The fortifications of Lagos and its evolution followed the extensive history of the city. Although the castle has not come up to the present day and the whole medieval about finding something massacred, Lagos is the Algarve town with the longest fortified perimeter.




From the opening of the Marina de Lagos in 1994, it has been awarded the Euromarina Anchor Award, the European Blue Flag, the 5 stars of the Anchor GoldAward of the Blue Star Marina, delivered by IMCI, orgulhando from the comfort and security of its facilities and the quality of reception that provided by its employees and the various crews of different nationalities that have visited, became its best ambassadors. It is located in the Bay of Lagos, where are located some of the best beaches in the Algarve, with the privilege of being close to the historic center of one of the important cities of Discovery.





To enjoy in family, the Lago’s Zoo, which opened in November 2000, was sponsored by Maria João Abreu and José Raposo.
Besides the usual valences that we can find in a zoo has a multipurpose room, a veterinary clinic, a library / video library, a picnic park, playgrounds and a garden events.
In essence the Lagos Zoo is more related to a nature conservation park than a zoo in the traditional sense. But even not being able to find more wildlife, one can find various exotic birds and primates, as well as a pet area, appreciated mostly by children for having the opportunity to interact with the animals.

Finnishing this “ride”" by the Algarve charms beyond the beaches in Tavira. Starting with its castle, which have probably been built by the Moors on an ancient Roman fortress, which years later was rebuilt and reinforced by Dom Dinis, in the thirteenth century, when its conquest to Muslims around 1240, by the forces of Paio Peres Belt.





With the discoveries, Tavira saw grow its importance, that would maintain until the War of Restoration, when the castle was modernized by King John VI. In 1755, the earthquake caused serious damage and was never recovered. Lost defensive utility and the space that served as a cemetery throughout the first half of the nineteenth century.

The last monument we give you to know in Tavira is the Municipal Museum of Tavira, a territory museum, polinucleated and multi-thematic, structured in several units.
Its main objectives, research, inventory, preserve, exhibit and disseminate the rich heritage, tangible and intangible, from the presence of different civilizations and geo-cultural diversity and productive territory.
Develops the coexistence of research programs of the previous eras heritage, but with the openness to new artistic expressions of contemporary, making dialogues exist between ancient and contemporary heritage, particularly of the artistic and scientific work of the past and present generations.


Prepared to find out everything beyond the Algarve's beaches? Get to know our Algarve 2 Days Tour at: www.besttimetour.com/tour/roteiros-turisitcos-algarve-2-dias-portugal/

Find this and other tours at www.besttimetour.com 

sexta-feira, 26 de agosto de 2016

Horseback Riding | Sintra - Cascais

Known as the Portuguese Riviera, Sintra and Cascais, are perfect cities for cultural and leisure outings with the family or your other half. Given its characteristics horseback riding becomes a very inviting activity. But before we get there, let's go through some of the most emblematic points.


Visit Sintra is like entering an enchanted kingdom but at the same time feels a modern reality.

One example is the NewsMuseum, the recently opened museum dedicated to the history of the news, media and communication evolution. Located on the same premises where was once the toy museum. Over its three floors you can see more than 25 thematic modules, where you counted by news, the history of Portugal and the World. It has more than 300 journalistic articles for consultation and about 16 hours of information, entertainment and media available, an interactive approach that enables visitors to see and associate with the stories told.



Built over time, Sintra’s National Palace that began as a Moorish palace, has acquired various architectural styles such as medieval, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Romantic.


Located right in the historic center of the village it tells their stories along the rooms, as in the Hall of the Two Sisters, the Hall of Columns, the Room of the Archers - where previously was the Royal Guard of Archers - the Swan Room - so known because of the ceiling decoration where you can count twenty-seven swans - The room of Pêgas, the hall of the Sirens or Gale - which is a room where the ceiling is painted with the mermaid image and a Gale - the hall of Emblems, the Chinese room - where stands a Chinese screen folding in six black lacquered leaves and with vegetable decoration of animals, birds and butterflies - the Arab Room - so named because of its decor dating back to their Muslim origins - and Don Sebastian’s room - where you can see a ebony bed of large dimensions decorated  with copper paintings.




Cascais Castle or the Moorish Castle as it is known, stands on one of the Serra de Sintra peaks, this fortification was built around the tenth century after the Muslim conquest. It was sent rise because it offered a strategic lookout point over the Tagus River and the town of Sintra.
The passing years have not been easy for the castle in 1636 a lightning caused a fire that eventually destroyed the central tower and in 1755, the famous Lisbon earthquake brought down its walls and ramparts. The castle became increasingly insignificant until King Ferdinand II decided to give a new life to Sintra’s region and made it possible that you could visit it even today’s days, being the perfect place to admire the village’s scenery, the Palace of Sintra, the Pena Palace, the mountains and even the view of the plain and the Atlantic ocean.





 
Getting to Cascais the scenario is not so romantic but more bohemian with its wild dune beaches, excellent to be enjoyed on a horseback ride that also passes by Quinta da Marinha.

Cascais, known for its beautiful shopping streets full of shops and its cosmopolitanism, the village, which never ceased to be fishing town, Cascais has adapted to the times, becoming a refined pole of  culture with a lively nightlife, while at the same time they remain in a sophisticated resort by the sea with the same glamor of before, when it served as a summer retreat of the Portuguese monarchy.
Given its proximity to the sea and be a strategic point for the defense of Lisbon, many of its monuments are related to defense and navigation.
In its historical center there is the Largo de Camões, full of Italian food restaurants, bars and Irish pubs. Right there next to the famous right street which is now called Frederico Arouca’s street, known for its local trade and various souvenirs and crafts selling stalls.

And nothing like finish this tour in Estoril’s area. It started as a barren and inhospitable land but the view of some made her what we all know today. The plans to make it a tourist center of international ambitions began in 1913, but with the outbreak of the First World War was necessary to postpone.
The coastal road and a period of immense construction gave the breath that Estoril needed to become a tourist center of first order, coming to receive during and after World War II a large number of refugees and exiles.





















Today, the region is considered the Portuguese Riviera and has as a symbol of its great growth, the Estoril casino, which opened in 1931 and is considered the oldest and largest casino in Europe.



Curious to know our Riviera by horse? Discover the Sintra - Cascais tour at:


Discover other tours at:  www.besttimetour.com

terça-feira, 26 de abril de 2016

Algarve, Places to visit?

In the south of Portugal, in Algarve’s land, the light, the warmth, the vibrant colors are a source of energy for the whole year.



The Vilamoura marina is one of the main sights in the Algarve, is a tourist complex of luxury. It is the largest and most important marina in Portugal and occupies a place of reference in the panorama of national and international nautical recreation where you can see a wide range of luxury boats.



Algarve has been considered several times the world's best golf destination by magazines and international associations of specialized tour operators.



The fantastic beaches that look authentic cards, the color filled cliffs and the waters that invite to a bath in a warm weather day.

The whole Algarve coast is full of beautiful beaches any of them are worth of a visit.



You can’t go through Lagos and not try the gastronomic sweet  of the region, the sweet Dom Rodrigo, a mix of wire, fresh eggs, almond kernels, cinnamon and sugar.
Book your tour in Portugal with Best Time Tour and immerse yourself in Algarve’s waters.





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