Monte Horizonte

The county of Fornos de Algodres, in the wine region of mountainous Centro, will get a new Estrela à Vista Inn with 4-stars. The investment of  8.5 million euros is a private-public partnership. The Estrela à Vista will offer  130 rooms with  a spa and heated pool. And, the hotel will aim to attract soccer clubs looking for a training hotel, as well. Ground has been broken, and eh in will open in 2011.  Fornos de Algodres has a fine 16th-century pillory, an 18th-century manor-house which was once the Town Hall, the Misericodia Church (also from the 18th century) and many charming wine estates with manor homes.

recent study confirms that Portugal is an excellent birdwatching destination.This is because Portugal boasts a wide variety of landscapes and a high degree of diversity of natural habitats at short travelling distances (up to 2-3 hours by car), making it possible to carry out birdwatching programs in distinct habitats that harbor a high number of species, in particular, mountains, estuaries, escarpments, cork oak forests, coastal lagoons, and steppes used for cereal crops. There around 330 species of birds that may be observed on a regular basis, many of which are found in very limited numbers in the rest of Europe and the world. It has a considerable number of unique species in Europe such as, the imperial eagle and the azure-winged magpie, and others which, although not unique, are of major interest for birdwatchers such as great bustards, kestrels and bitterns and, also, species that can only be found in Portugal such as the Zino’s Petrel, long-toed Wood pigeon and the Azores bullfinch (source: SPEA). Other rare birds which can be observed in Portugal include: the Ruppell’s Griffon, the Ruppell’s Vulture, the mute swan, the Arctic tern, and the slender-billed Gull. In the archipelago of the Azores it is also possible to observe species of American origin that find refuge in these islands.Today, 21% of Portuguese territory is considered Protected Areas, that have strong natural values and a high degree of biodiversity in terms of fauna and flora together with environmental and landscape quality, offering a range of tourism entertainment activities adjusted to different Nature Tourism segments. The nature reserves of the Sado and Tejo Estuaries, Ria Formosa Estuary, Sapal de Castro Marim marshland, Alentejo, Guadiana Valley, Douro International and Tejo International Park are just some of the natural areas that are rich in ornithological resources. Lisbon is the only European capital adjacent to an area that is extremely rich in birdlife – the Tejo Estuary (only 20 minutes away), where it is possible to observe around 100 different species of birds in a single day.

There are currently 94 special protection zones or Important Bird Areas  in Portugal. These sites have international significance in terms of conservation of birds at a global level. They are identified through application of international scientific criteria and constitute a network of fundamental sites for conservation of all birds classified as having unfavourable conservation status.

Some of the most important birdwatching sites, according to the Portuguese Birdwatching Society are as follows:
Mainland
Norte: Douro International
Centro: Tejo International, Ria de Aveiro estuary
Lisbon: Tejo Estuary, Cabo Espichel, Lisbon and the Estoril coast (not an IBA)
Alentejo: Paul do Boquilobo, Castro Verde, Mourão, Moura and Barrancos, Lagoa de Santo André and Lagoa de Sancha
Algarve: Ria Formosa estuary, Castro Marim, Lagoa dos Salgados and the Southwest Coast

Archipelago of Madeira
Madeira: Ponta de São Lourenço, Porto do Funchal (not an IBA) and Ponta do Pargo
Deserted Islands
Island of Porto Santo (only the West part is an IBA but there are also other locations of interest for birdwatching)

Archipelago of the Azores
Island of S. Miguel: Pico da Vara
Island of Terceira:

Birdwatching companies:

Birds & Nature   www.birds.pt
Ventura do Mar (Madeira)   www.venturadomar.com
Mar Ilimitado   www.marilimitado.com
Madeira Aventura (Madeira)   www.madeiraventura.com
Windbirds (Madeira)   www.madeirawindbirds.com
Rotas da Terra   www.rotastaterra.com
Natura Algarve   www.natura-algarve.com
“Terra Azul”  (Açores)   www.terrazulazores.com
Lands   www.lands.pt
Relevos   www.relevos.pt   
Vertigem Azul   www.vertingemazul.com

Portugal possesses a fantastic diversity of habitats and consequently of birds in a relatively small area, the week birding program designed by Birds & Nature provides for visits to several rich areas without the necessity of travelling long distances.

A Beginners Course in Birdwatching is being offered in the BioRia itinerary and Aveiro salt pans of Centro de Portugal Region on April 10 to 11, 2010 for 70 € (1 people); 120 € (2 people)

Weeklong Birding Adventure starts at 1.200 euros per person – 7 Days/6 Nights Program- Start at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva, in the heart of the Tejo estuary (about 20 minutes). Visit several areas and a variety of habitats within this huge nature reserve, including the Barroca d’Alva rice fields and pastures, the salt pans of Ribeira das Enguias, the inter-tidal mudflats and salt marshes of Hortas and the cork oak woodlands of Pancas. Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva. Next,  explore the Sado estuary area (about 30 minutes), to explore some of the interesting sites in this protected area: Zambujal, Gâmbia, Monte Novo de Palma, Batalha, Carrasqueira and Comporta (inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, rice fields, reed beds, cork oak and pine woodlands). Overnight at the Hotel Rural Barroca d’Alva. Then – travel to the Alentejo (about 90 minutes). Visit the great Castro Verde plains and the Pulo do Lobo area (rolling plains and bluffs and hills associated with the Guadiana valley). Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo. Visit other special sites of interest in this part of the Alentejo region, including Mértola, Pomarão and Mina de São Domingos. Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Clube de Campo. And, travel to the Algarve region (about 45 minutes). Visit the complex of canals, saline flats and salt pans of the Castro Marim area. Overnight at the Hotel Vila Galé Albacora. Visit several habitats such as dunes, open water, inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes, salt pans, reed beds, lagoons and pine woods of the Ria Formosa area. Price includes bird guide, transfer from/to Lisbon Airport, ground transport (including fuel and tolls), accommodation for 6 nights (including breakfast) based on two people sharing in excellent quality hotels, use of optical equipment (quality binoculars and telescopes) and field guides, entrance fee in private or protected areas and participant’s accident insurance.?
More details at http://www.birds.pt/week-long-trips

Lamprey eel is the focus of a Pousadas de Portugal promotion, where it will will be served up in some innovative ways as part of the Lamprey Festival running  until the 6th of March, 2010. Just two of the Pousada kitchens are involved,  the Pousada de Queluz in Lisbon and the Pousada de Amares in the North. Enjoy dishes such as Minho-style lamprey with rice and roast lamprey. Each meal costs 45 euros per person and includes hors-d’oeuvres, appetizers, a main course, dessert and vinho verde wine. For reservations at the Pousada de Amares, contact tel. (+351) 253 371 970, e-mail: recepcao.bouro@pousadas.pt. For the Cozinha Velha Restaurant in Queluz, contact tel. (+351) 214 356 158, e-mail: recepcao.dmaria@pousadas.pt.

HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialists, recognized three Portuguese properties in its first ever ‘Hostel Awards for Excellence’, the biggest awards-giving of its kind. The properties have been recognized for their outstanding contribution to the budget accommodation industry, with the top three properties in North America winning awards for: Atmosphere, Cleanliness, and Overall in Europe.

Three properties awarded for their excellence were: Travelers House, awarded the prestigious TOP 3 Hostel for Europe, is considered a peaceful, unique oasis in the heart of Lisbon with a 98%. BiniBag House (that opened on April 1st, 2009) presented with the Award for Cleanliness located in Aveiro and just steps away from major tourist’s attractions with a clean 100%. Kitsch Hostel in Lisbon offering state-of-the art amenities was an obvious choice for Best Atmosphere with a 95%.  

The site features over 17,000 hostels and budget properties on its website in 3,500 destinations across the world. Unlike other budget accommodation awards, all the winners were chosen solely upon Hostelbookers.com customer reviews, ratings and bookings. For full details of the winning properties click on www.Hostelbookers.com

The Oitavos connects the heritage of the local area, the beauty of the sea and authenticity of the Portuguese people, with the contemporary art and design of the hotel. Located in one of the most desirable addresses in Portugal, The Oitavos is just 20 minutes outside of Lisbon, near the town of Cascais, and only 3 hours from major European cities with direct flights. The 142 guestrooms of The Oitavos, includes 16 suites, with at least 64 square meters, with the two deluxe suites double that size, all with a private balcony offering ocean, golf course and mountain views. In addition the hotel will offer: restaurants and bars; Destination Spa;  Outdoor seawater swimming pool; Conference facilities for 300 people with separate access; Business Centre and Fitness Centre.The Oitavos will be opening in the summer/fall of 2010.

Choupana Hills Hotel on Madeira has been ranked with the world’s best resorts by the readers of two European publications, Condé Nast Traveller and Geo Saison. The five-star resort was rated ninth best in Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Spa Awards, the only Portuguese property on the list. Readers of German travel magazine Geo Saison considered Choupana Hills to be one of the top 100 spa resorts in the world.  Set in the hills overlooking Funchal Bay, Choupana Hills is an boutique-style resort offering bungalow accommodations with 58 luxury rooms and 4 suites elevated on stilts with spacious  areas.

A new 18-hole golf course under development on the Alentejo Coast is being built to Ryder Cup specifications in a bid to host the event in 2018. Integrated within the Costa Terra resort complex, midway between Tróia and Sines, the project is expected to cost  30 million euros and will be a candidate for the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is generally considered to be one of most important sporting events on the world calendar. The host will be announced sometime in 2011.

The Serra da Estrela has seen a growing number of tour operators bring Jewish visitors to the region to see its Sephardic heritage. Portugal and Israel and now discussing  direct air link.  More than 1,000 Israelis visit Portugal each year, and 3,000 Portuguese visit Israel. Yet, about  20 percent of Israelis are of Sephardic origin. Last year in Serra da Estrela’s Belmonte Jewish Museum of the 17,840 visitors in total, around 800 were Israeli Jews. Belmonte is rich in the history and traditions of crypto-Jews, who practiced their religion in secret for centuries. The local Serra da Estrela tourism office has prepared an excellent tour of the region’s Jewish heritage (check details under tourism routes and cultural tourism). It was in towns like Belmonte that Portugal’s Jews practiced their religion in secret after the abolition of Judaism in 1496. The village was already famed for being the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the first Portuguese captain to sight Brazil in 1500. But, in the 20th century a significant community of cryptic Jews, sometimes called Marranos, emerged. Although they had practiced many of the ritual of Judaism for centuries, they were unaware of their true heritage. Jewish communities around the world came to their aid to help them rediscover their roots, and in 1993 the community welcomed it first rabbi in more that four centuries. Shortly after that Temple Bet Eliahou was built. Amazingly, may of the Jewish families still live in the town’s charming Judiaria, called the Bairro de Marrocos. Other strong Jewish ties may be found at the near by town of Trancoso, where a Lion of Judea relief is still well preserved on the facade of the Casa do Gato Negro, the Medieval Home of wealthy Jewish merchant, and perhaps the local synagogue. The Jewish quarter is well also preserved in this living museum.