Monte Horizonte

A new initiative of Lágrimas Hotels & Emotions, Porto Bay Hotels & Resorts, Vila Vita Parc, Fortaleza do Guincho and Tavares, “The Stars Route” is offered throughout the spring of 2010 in Michelin-starred restaurants located all over mainland Portugal and on Madeira Island.

The restaurants participating in the “The Stars Route” food festival are “Arcadas” in Quinta das Lágrimas in Coimbra – Chef Albano Lourenço; “Ocean”, hotel Vila Vita Park in Porches – Chef Hans Neuner; “Il Gallo d’Oro”, hotel The Cliff Bay in Funchal – Chef Benoît Sinthon; “Eleven” in Lisbon – Chef Joachim Koerper; “Tavares” in Lisbon – Chef José Avillez; and “Fortaleza do Guincho” in Cascais – Chef Vincent Farges. Each of the participating Chefs will host two other guest Chefs for two days during which they will work as a team to prepare one or more tasting menus. More information available at
http://rotadasestrelas.blogspot.com

The Porto e Norte de Portugal region saw travel increase for the eighth consecutive month in January, 2010. Hotels overnights were up by a surprising 16.6 % at 35 thousand overnights. The occupancy rate also rose some  2.1 % – as the number of rooms increased.

The Algarve has won, for the third time, the German magazine GOLFmagazin’s Best Golf Destination in Europe award. Judges came from inside the sport, and from the magazine’s readers. Points of consideration were infrastructure, hotels and luxury facilities, and overall quality and professionalism. GOLFmagazin is the largest segment magazine in Germany, with a run of 57,000 per edition, – reaching some 270,000 readers each month.

Everyone as kid dream of sleeping in treehouse – and now you can in style in the Algarve. You can sleep in an urban garden treehouse until May 2, 2010 in Silves for 60 euros/night during the week and 75 euros during weekends. The treehouse has one room, bath and a terrace that can be rented for one (or more nights). It all is a project by young architect David Seabra and its studio http://www.dass.pt/ that was created for Experimenta Design 2000 using certified woods from the North of Europe uses triangule shapes to minimize the implantation area and reduce the ecologic footprint. The treehouse is doing a tour around Portugal and was previously on exhibit at Jardim da Estrela in Lisbon and it is an initiative promoted by http://www.casagranturismo.org/ that intend to create events and initiatives in Algarve on topics related to Ecologic Urbanism that will include an urbanism exhibition, a Land Art festival and a cinema festival. Reservations can be made at http://www.euwhole.com/

In Portugal, during these days, many centuries-old traditions are organized which do not form part of the Roman Missal, such as the processions of the Lord Ecce Homo, burial of the Lord and the resurrection. Although the Easter festivities are held throughout the country, two particularly emblematic events are the solemn processions of holy week in Braga and holy week in Castelo de Vide due to their unique regional characteristics. The former displays rigorous observance of Christian ritual, while the other is of Christian expression significantly influenced by Jewish culture.

Easter in Braga – North of Portugal

Come to Braga at Easter and enjoy the festive atmosphere during the Semana Santa (Holy Week). Attend the Ecce Homo Procession on Good Friday, led by the Farricocos (barefoot men in tunics with hoods), one of the most peculiar parts of the Portuguese religious tradition.

If you’re in the Castelo de Vide region in the south, you’ll experience a very different Easter celebration, one with Jewish origins. In the morning of Easter Eve, the region’s shepherds invade the town centre to have their flocks of sheep blessed.

At night, during the Vigília Pascal (Paschal Vigil), people ask for forgiveness in secret, reminiscent of the Jewish Yom Kippur. At the end of the mass, all those present bring cowbells that ring the Cortejo da Aleluia (Procession of Alleluia) through the town.

Easter is the perfect time to try specialties of Portuguese cuisine. After the fasting of Lent, the best delicacies are eaten, such as roast kid, lamb stew, meatballs, buns, chocolate and almond eggs. Just a few of the delicious dishes you can try.
Cordially,

Easter in São Brás de Alportel –Algarve Region
The torches lead the way on Easter, which were formerly long candles, are now poles festooned with flowers. They are carried by men who gather together in two wings during the procession, which marks the Resurrection of Christ, celebrated on Easter Sunday in São Brás de Alportel.

The Alleluia Festival begins at 10 o’clock in the morning, and goes round the town to the sound of the tones “He is risen as He has said – Alleluia, Alleluia!”. The townspeople turn out in force and join in the deep, deafening chant, which climaxes in the refrain “Alleluia!”.

The Festival of Sounds and Tastes begins at 3 o’clock in the afternoon in the churchyard of the Parish Church, where the torches and the most traditional and artistic quilts receive prizes during a cultural evening that includes music and poetry.

This is a hallowed day for all of the townspeople, and a festival where the religious and the pagan are harmoniously combined.
The atmosphere is one of joy and a lot of color. The air is scented by the branches of lavender, rosemary and wild flowers that decorate the torches, and the town is decorated with the red and white quilts that hang in the windows.

During the day they eat the traditional and unique almonds and pine nuts, which have been homemade by the same family in São Brás de Alportel for more than a century.

Easter in Castelo de Vide -Alentejo Region

Easter in Castelo de Vide is one of the major local events and is of special interest due to the way it intermingles Catholic traditions with aspects of Jewish culture, in turn, highlighting the town’s past history.
The celebrations are broken up into two stages: from Palm Sunday through to Good Friday and then from that evening through to Easter Monday, when celebrations most clearly demonstrate their Jewish antecedents. The traditions are still kept up even if for many of those involved there no longer is the initial religious meaning.

On Palm Sunday, there is the Blessing of the Palms and the Procession of Our Lord.
On the Thursday, mass is dedicated to the Lord’s Last Supper with the Solemn Offering of Wine, Wax and Wheat for the celebration of Holy Mass throughout the rest of the year. Throughout the night, the Sacrament is worshiped.
Good Friday sees celebration of the Passion of our Lord, with the Adoration of the Holy Cross and the holding of Communion and late in the afternoon there is the Burial Procession of Our Lord.

On Easter Saturday there is the traditional Blessing of the Lambs with shepherds taking over the centre of the town along with their flocks so they can be blessed before being sold.

Animals bought on this day are killed in line with Jewish practices although many carry out the slaughter on the previous day prior to sun set as is set down in the Scriptures. The animals are left by the door of the house with the skins being cleaned and sold on to local artisans. They also serve as the highlight of rich Easter dining to mark the end of fasting throughout Lent.

At night, there is the Easter Vigil with the Blessing of the New Light and the Baptismal Water, the Eucharist and the Resurrection of Our Lord is announced. On leaving church, there is a most interesting tradition. Some people will approach and ask, in secret, for forgiveness, in a tradition that recalls the Jewish festival of Pardon, known as Kippur. At the end of mass, the Alleluia Procession begins inside the Matrix Church before heading out onto the main streets accompanied by a philharmonic band and the church bells.

This is one of the high points in the entire Easter festival as all those participating take along castanets and bells that they ring in accompaniment to the procession.

Easter Sunday begins with the Resurrection Procession with its long established routing and hierarchy.
It involves various local associations and institutions in addition to some of the longest standing (carpenters, cobblers, ironsmiths, stone masons, etc) as well as more recent professions. Mass in the Parrish Church closes celebrations. It is then the congregation makes its donations to help cover the costs of Holy Week.

Easter Monday is a municipal holiday in Castelo de Vide to commemorate the Festival of Our Lady of Light. The morning mass is held in the Church of Senhora da Luz (Our Lady of Light) and in the afternoon, the Band tours the town inviting the people over to the celebration where there is the Ramos market and bar.

Throughout Holy Week, the Municipal Council puts on a wide range of activities and special events.

Il Gallo d’Oro is The Cliff Bay hotel’s gourmet restaurant located in Funchal on the Island of Madeira. The kitchen has been under the direction of Chef Benoît Sinthon since 2004. The Cliff Bay’s young Executive Chef’s career includes experience in famous French restaurants such as Jean Michel Lorain’s three Michelin-starred La Côte Saint Jacques.

Located in Chiado, one of Lisbon’s most emblematic and historic areas, Tavares is one of the oldest eateries in the world and certainly Portugal’s longest-established restaurant. The gilded walls, Venetian mirrors and imposing chandeliers create an intimate atmosphere of luxury and sophistication. Chef José Avillez’ career brought him the opportunity to work with some real masters such as Ferran Andriá (El Buli); he has been in charge of Tavares’ kitchen since 2008.

Situated in Armação de Pêra in the Algarve and led by Chef Hans Johann Neuner, Ocean is Vila Vita Parc hotel’s gourmet restaurant. With a sophisticated atmosphere and stunning views over the Atlantic, this restaurant is small – just six tables – and personalised – a 5 course menu is elaborated every day, accompanied by carefully selected wines.

Arcadas restaurant in boutique hotel Quinta das Lágrimas in Coimbra is surrounded by gardens and history. It preserves the story of D. Pedro and Inês in a romantic style by means of its light and elegant décor and the appeal of each dish created by Executive Chef Albano Lourenço. The Chef produces a seasonal cuisine using the freshest products available to create the dishes on the regularly changing menu that accompanies the rhythm of the seasons.

Set against the green hills of the Parque Natural de Sintra and with Guincho beach at its feet, Fortaleza do Guincho restaurant is situated near the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse. Strongly influenced by French haute cuisine under the direction of Chef Antoine Westerman assisted by Executive Chef Vincent Farges, emphasis is placed on the quality and variety of Portuguese products used in the culinary creations. The unmistakable and elaborate contemporary French haute cuisine technique underpins every aspect of the chef’s creativity.

Set at the top of Parque Eduardo VII, Eleven is an elegant restaurant belonging to the Relais & Châteaux family. It combines a discreetly luxurious, intimate and comfortable ambience with a charming view over Lisbon, the River Tagus and Serra da Arrábida. The elaborate and visually pleasing cuisine carries the personal mark and creativity of Chef Joachim Koerper, a fan of fresh and natural ingredients. His menus and dishes are enriched by the emphasis and use of many local products.

Portugal’s airports are up there with the best, according to the Airports Council International (ACI), the world’s largest airport association. ACI ranked Porto’s Francisco Carneiro airport as Europe’s third best airport, following Keflavik and Zurich in first and second spot. Santa Catarina airport in Madeira came ninth. And, the world’s Best Improvement Award given to Ponta Delgada’s João Paulo II airport on São Miguel Island in the Azores,  as the airports that have upgraded their facilities to the satisfaction of the ACI.