Monte Horizonte

Tones, themes and flavors.

Come to the Douro between July and October to unearth the secrets of chefs, winemakers and producers, as you take along the smells and flavors inherent to this beautiful region.

The calendar of these events is as follows:

August 12^th: Chef Vítor Claro from the Albatroz Hotel and Niepoort Wines

August 26^th: Ljubomir Stanics of 100 Ways (100 Maneiras) and producer Cristiano Van Zeller of Vale Dona Maria

In September and October, we will also be graced with the presence of chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, chef Mathiw Villa Joya, Alexandre Silva of Bocca Restaurant, and pastry chefs Francisco Gomes of Colonial and Nuno Diniz of York House. The wines presented include Chryseia, Post Scriptum, Casa d’Arrochella Farms and Santa Júlia de Loureiro Farm.

Price per person: € 370 (double room accommodations, all activities included)

http://www.aquapurahotels.com/

Morgan and Jacob’s Guesthouse is the newest hostel that has opened in the fishermen’s quarter near the local fish market in Aveiro. The building dates back to the beginning of the 20^th century. It is located at Praça do Peixe, nº 26 3 800 – 243 Aveiro.

Furadouro Boutique Hotel Beach & Spa – Located at Furadouro beach (in the city of Ovar, 45 km/28 mi away from Porto and 42 km/26 mi from Aveiro), this modern beach hotel offers ocean view rooms with a balcony, as well as garden view rooms (most with balcony). The hotel features a restaurant and bar, room service, spa, Turkish bath, sauna, heated indoor pool, gym, private garage, laundry room and meeting rooms. This non-smoking hotel offers shuttle services on request. Besides the glorious sea and the delight of discovering a small fishermen’s village, visit Ovar to explore the art of Portugal’s “azulejos” or painted tiles. Furadouro beach is located 4 km (2.5 mi) away from Ovar, a quick ride along the bicycle trail. It is located at Avenida Infante D. Henrique, nº 734 Praia do Furadouro 3880-355 Ovar. For more information call + 351 256 590 090

Grand Hostel of Coimbra – The Grand Hostel of Coimbra is situated at the heart of the Quebra-Costas district. It is a century-old building with beautiful high ceilings and wooden floors. It is located at Rua Antero de Quental, nº196, 3000-031 Coimbra. For more information call +351 239 108 212

The words ‘cheap holidays’ usually conjure up a mental image of poor quality, concrete sky-rises on the Costas or being fenced in behind barbed wire at all-inclusive fortress-like hotels in Tunisia.

A new Eco Suites Resort by Vida é Bela (Life is Beautiful) is located in Santiago do Cacém. For more information visit www.ecosuitesresort.com.

The Vincci Hotels will open a new hotel in downtown Lisbon in 2013, which will be the second in the Portuguese capital. The project, amounting to 15 million dollars, involves the rehabilitation of a building and its conversion into a hotel, media reported. The new Vincci in Lisbon will be a four star hotel.

“Mysteries of Lisbon,” directed by Raul Ruiz and presented by Music Box Films, opens on Friday, August 5, 2011 in New York City at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and IFC Center.

The film, produced by Paulo Branco, is an adaptation of nineteenth-century Portuguese novel, “Mistrios de Lisboa,” by Camilo Castelo Branco. The action in the film takes place over three decades in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. It involves adventures, coincidences, revelations, vengeance, betrayals and love affairs. “Mysteries of Lisbon” has won several awards, including the Louis-Delluc Prize 2010, Best French Film Award and the 2010 Silver Shell Best Director at the San Sebastin International Film Festival. Ruiz’s film also won three awards at the 16^th Edition of the Portuguese Golden Globes. For locations and playdates visit http://www.musicboxfilms.com/mysteries-of-lisbon.

Tours For You is promoting six unique events in Portugal. The best quartets of classical music in the world and the accommodation of charming hotels in Portugal create the ideal environment for the events. With the addition of private, special venues such as the Baroque Library of Coimbra or the Palacio da Bolsa in Porto forlive concerts, cocktails, dinners, as well as interaction with the artists,Tours For You offers high-quality, privately organized programs. Each event will have a minimum of 40 participants and will cost 2,750 euros per person, including four nights’ accommodation, among other inclusions, such as meals, cocktails, and private concerts. Six dates are available from February to November 2012. See the calendar at http://www.parnassusmusicalholidays.eu for more information. This is an ideal program for a couple, a small group or even as a corporate incentive. It is also very versatile since thefour nights can be combined with a holiday in Portugal with more nights.

On May 14, 2011  the town of Covilhã inaugurated the Cheese Museum and Town Hall of Peraboa. The only one in its region, the Cheese Museum allows visitors to understand the production process of some of the best cheeses in the world, appreciated and recognized internationally in both tourism and gourmet circles. In a 634 square meter area in the town of Peraboa, the Cheese Museum represents an investment of over 500,000 euros. The new space runs as both a museum and a gourmet cheese shop, which allows each visitor to experience something different. Included in the building are a reception and information area, themed rooms, 2D and 3D projections, interactive games, an indoor garden, a tasting room and a shop with recreations of the various activities from the field (shearing, milking, etc.).  An iron, wood and stone building, reconstructed by the City of Covilhã and enhanced with multimedia, visitors can get to know the methods and the environment surrounding the craftsmanship process of Serra Cheese (Queijo da Serra), as well as the techniques and even the tools used in order to create this delicacy. At the museum, it’s also possible to get to know the characteristics of Kosher sheep cheese, produced in Peraboa according to Jewish rules. On the same day, the City inaugurated the Peraboa Town Hall. The construction includes the town hall headquarters, a post office, meeting rooms and multipurpose rooms for the Town Assembly, a kindergarten with cafeteria, locker rooms, a patio and other facilities. The project is valued at more than 342,000 euros. In the Teachers House Restaurant, the gourmet route associated with the Cheese Museum, there is a tasting of regional products. This equipment was opened in September 2009, and has been a strong driver for the town, allowing for the dissemination and preservation of both local cuisine and the Serra da Estrela cheese. It is set at a series of investments over 870,000 euros, which will greatly enlarge the town of Peraboa and the county of Covilhã.

The chef, who owns two eateries, will cook the codfish á Bras, live in the NBC studios in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, arond 9:45 in the morning. This is his fourth time on the Today Show. Rui Correia is 39 years of age and was born in Porto. His family settled in Yonkers, NY. After having thoughts about a career as a soccer player, he opted for the cullinary world attending the New York Restaurant School. He owns two restaurants – the ‘Douro‘ in Greenwich, Conn., and ‘Piri-Q,’ in Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York.‘Today‘ had a Luso-American co-host in Meredith Vieira and is the highest rated morning show in the United States.

Geoffrey Wells’ debut novel, A Fado for the River, is a historically based political thriller about love, liberation and self-determination. Wells offers readers a rare glimpse into a corner of the world and period of history unknown to many.The author captures the turmoil in Mozambique at the time of the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Portugal, which marked the end of Portuguese colonialism. The book draws from events within the author’s own experiences. Those vivid memories and Wells’ own self-determination to share his story and create a global dialogue drove him to write A Fado for the River and publish it as an Ebook with a strong social media presence.

The Hotel Turismo do Minho, in Vila Nova de Cerveira, prepared a program for visitors to explore nature on the seat of a bike. Along the path, riders see regional highlights such as Adro Velho, the Old Churchyard, the Castro Farm (Quinta do Castro) entrance, the Tower of Lapela and the Gafei Convent. The trail makes both cultural and ecological entertainment easily accessible to participants over a peaceful view of the Minho River. The Pedais program features a two-night getaway in double rooms with an included breakfast buffet and a bicycle trip along the Minho River’s Eco-Trail. During high season (July 1 – August 31) rates per person run between 99 euros and 156 euros (for a themed suite). The three-hour trip covers 22 km (14 mi) between Valença and Monção, over the Rio Minho Eco-Trail, which follows along an old railroad track. F

Families looking for a great deal on a last-minute summer holiday can take advantage of fantastic discounts announced by the Algarve’s luxurious Monte da Quinta resort.

The InterContinental London Park Lane will crack open one of the world's most expensive bottles of port, worth over £2,500, to mark the opening of InterContinental Porto-Palacio das Cardosas on 14 July.

Just two weeks after its launch, Jet2.com’s new route from Belfast to the golfer’s paradise of The Algarve in Portugal, is proving popular and has even won the support of World Champion amateur golfer Danielle McVeigh from Kilkeel, County Down.

Qype.pt goes live today, giving Portuguese consumers direct access to over 1.9 million reviews and recommendations of shops and services across 166,000 cities worldwide.

Pharmacia Restaurant - Integrated into the building of the National Association of Pharmacies, the Pharmacia restaurant opened in May 2011. Given the location, it is intended to recreate the imagery and environment of an old pharmacy. The project is led by Susan Bliss and Tania Martins (responsible for Taberna Ideal) and focuses on Portuguese cuisine. It is the spirit of conviviality and informality. It is as if you were at home with friends, sharing platters and conversation. The dinner menu consists of four appetizers and two surprise dishes. On the terrace a la carte service throughout the day is available. The menu is the responsibility of chef Susan Happiness. The space also includes a cocktail bar, designed from Portuguese drinks such as port, Muscat, or Brandymel fro, which is the specialty of Tania Martinez. For more information call 213462146.

Lisbon’s Darwin’s Café- The Darwin’s Café was built into the Champalimaud Foundation and inaugurated in February 2011. Its name is a tribute to one of the fathers of modern science. The project bears the signature of the Department of Architecture Lanidor. Space management is the responsibility of LA Caffé. The chef is responsible for Antonio Rune.

Restaurant Tejo – Located in Edifício do Mar do Oceanário, the Tejo restaurant has three menu options, which are very affordable, with quality assurance of all the ingredients for a healthy diet. The traditional soup, the dishes of Portuguese cuisine, and Mediterranean inspired fish and salads, but also the folders, live cooking, are just some of the proposals in this space. The restaurant opened in April 2011. It thrives on building architecture and is toasted by the Tagus river, in harmony with a contemporary and cosmopolitan. www.oceanario.pt

Guilty by Olivier – As a result of a partnership between the chef and businessman Ricardo Azenha, Guilty is located in a cosmopolitan city, next to Avenida da Liberdade and was inaugurated in April 2011. It is a versatile and affordable space, offering a diverse menu in a relaxed location, open to various audiences. The menu offers a wide selection of entrees, pizzas, salads, burgers and folders. The big highlight is an innovation of Chef Olivier: papardelle with piglet and snow peas. The decor, designed by Sofia Costa, refers to an industrial, yet cozy atmosphere, in which shades gray and silver are used. Noteworthy are the brown leather club chairs, straight from the ovens of Italy and a wall covered with wood from thousands of cases of wines from all regions of the country. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays the kitchen is open until one o’clock in the morning and animation dj continues until dawn.

Restaurant Alma Lusitana – Opened in April 2011, Alma Lusitana has a privileged location, just across the River Tagus, in Cais do Sodre, and consists of two distinct spaces. One of them, with capacity for 150 people, is six meters from the Tagus. The other, with 100 seats, offers a rustic decor, with stonewalls and wooden ceilings. Between the two areas there is a lounge area (with capacity for 100 people), ideal for an aperitif or digestive. There is a stall of fresh fish to its customers. Grilled fish and meat are also in sight, in an area with no glass and smoke. All dishes are traditional cuisine, served in a saucepan and iron, from Trás-os-Montes, pans craft. For more information call 213467052.

Paradigma Restaurant – Situated in the historic center of Cascais, with a view over the village and the ocean, is the Paradigma (former Foral da Vila), which was opened in May 2011. It is a relaxed restaurant with a fusion cuisine. The space is modern, contrasting with some classical pieces of decoration. The quality of cuisine, delicious cocktails, friendly service and unique view are its main strengths. For more information call 214822265.

Opened in March 2011, Basic Braga is a low cost hotel situated near the railway station of the railway, just minutes from downtown. Housed in a reclassified building, which has a modern and functional feel. Rui Silva directed the architectural project and the decor is designed by Nuno Rodrigues, with the interior architect’s office Metrobox. The predominant brown and white, references to land-based clay and granite, typical of the region, and also wood, material that is identified with the aesthetics low cost. White, gray and red dominate the rooms, while LED lighting creates an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation.

The 2011 travel and tourism competitiveness index, put together by the World Economic Forum, places Portugal in the top 20 most competitive destinations for tourism andtravel investments for the 3^rd year running. This is the 4^th edition of the index, published every two years, in which Portugal ranks at 18 on a global scale, one place below its 2009 ranking, still maintaining its 5.01 score.

Tourism is one of the most important industries of the Portuguese economy. The Hotel Schools of Turismo de Portugal represent high-quality and top professional training in this specific sector.  After the successful 1st edition in Lisbon, the Culinary Arts Program, designed in partnership with the Ecole htelire de Lausanne, will be available in the Schools of Lisboa and Estoril for the year 2011-2012. This program represents a unique opportunity for high quality training in a country with a rich gastronomy, as well as the opportunity for the students to learn with top chefs in a multicultural context. Click here for more information.

The Portuguese architect is one of the winners of the 2011 Philippe Rotthier European Prize for Architecture. Set up in 1982 by the architect Philippe Rotthier, this triennial architectural prize rewards projects that consciously identify with the traditional concept of the town or city as seen through European eyes. José Baganha won the prize of “Prix de la meilleure reconversion sociale” with his project “Casa do Médico São Rafael” in Sines, the transformation of the main building of a farm in social center for seniors and it includes a restaurant and a hotel. Tel. + 351 269 860 800.

A study by Skyscanner has shown there is a huge misconception between the perceived cost of holiday destinations and the actual costs.

The study of 30 popular holiday destinations revealed that India was perceived to be the cheapest country, however in reality the former British colony is only ranked in sixth place, proving more expensive than many popular tourist destinations including Morocco, Thailand and Portugal. While the study revealed the Dominican Republic to be the cheapest country, once the cost of flights is factored in a very different story is revealed. The Dominican Republic slips to sixth position (although is the only long haul destination in the top ten), while Poland takes the coveted top spot, closely followed by Spain.

Portugal is number nine in perceived country cost ranking, but number seven on actual country cost ranking and number five in actual country cost ranking including flights.

Some locations that are cheaper than perceived are: Sweden, Japan, Iceland and Ireland. Locations that are more expensive than perceived are: Brazil, USA, Croatia and Egypt.

Though Sweden was fairly accurately perceived to be the most expensive, it actually came in fourth. Other nations, such as Japan, predicted as fifth most expensive, but were actually 14^th. This proved that tourists are not always aware of the true cost of a destination before they arrive. Holidaymakers were unaware of the deal they could get in Iceland, which was ranked as the fourth most expensive destination, but in fact was revealed to be ninth cheapest. The cost of holidaying in Ireland was also overestimated and was believed to be one of the most expensive destinations (position 23). It was, in fact, the 10th cheapest.

Brazil is a prime example of misconception. The South American nation was the second most expensive in the study, but was thought to be far cheaper.??Other popular holiday destinations underestimated in cost by the public were USA, perceived as 10th cheapest, but actually 21st, and Croatia, thought to be the eighth best value, but is actually much lower in 19th place. Possibly due to the continuing media spotlight on Egypt and its cut-price travel deals, Egypt showed a major disparity. It was perceived to be the fifth cheapest destination and was revealed to be far more expensive, ranking in the 12^th position.

Not surprisingly, when the cost of flights is factored in, the bottom ten positions are all occupied by long haul flights. Australia, Brazil and South Africa occupy the top three spots in the overall cost ranking. The impact of the price of long flights making a difference on total cost is best illustrated by New Zealand, which jumps from 13th cheapest to fourth most expensive destination. This reinforces the fact that those on a budget should balance the cost of a long haul flight with a destination, which is cheaper when they’re actually there. Other countries can benefit from the flight routes offered by budget carrier. Italy, for instance, goes from the 11th most expensive destination to become the 12th cheapest once the cost of flights is added to the total price. Likewise, Sweden improves 12 places from 27th position to 15th.

The study also shows that many holidaymakers are not aware of the prices in their own “backyard.”? The United Kingdom was perceived as the seventh most expensive destination in the study, but a holiday in Brighton was actually found to be just outside of the top ten cheapest destinations, in position 11. Even considering that some “staycationers” may opt to fly, therefore factoring in the cost of flight prices from Glasgow to London, the UK becomes the eighth cheapest country in the study.

“This study goes to show that it is hugely important for tourists on a budget to research all the various costs of holidaying abroad before deciding on a destination, rather than relying on their instinct for costs.  Most importantly, consider the price of the flight as it can have a real impact on the overall cost,” Skyscanner’s Sam Poullain said. “Those looking for real value should head to Poland. A fantastic all year round destination, winter sports are offered in the Tatra Mountains, while beautiful beaches can be found in the northern area near Gdansk, not to mention the great city break destinations of Poznan and Krakow.  Add to that the choice of cheap flights and it really is the perfect destination!”

Actor, Jeremy Irons will star in Night Train to Lisbon. The film is being co-produced by Studio Hamburg Production and Zurich-based C-Films. Eurimages has put approximately $2.9 million into Night Train to Lisbon so far, and there is also federal and regional funding in Germany, which includes $427,000 from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Irons was just in Neil Jordan’s The Borgias television series and is currently shooting The Words with Bradley Cooper, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Ben Barnes, Dennis Quaid, John Hannah and J.K. Simmons. That film is written and directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal.

For those who do not know what a Caralhota is, is a home-made bread, that i mouth-watering when accompanied by stone soup with a steak or simply with butter. The name of this delicacy comes from the Ribatejo town of Almeirim, and is popularly called Caralhotas as in the lint from wool. It starts with a hot oven to bake the bread. For those unfamiliar with these delicacies, we strongly suggest you try it.  As for Almeirim, the Portuguese Court chose it as a summer resort 400 years ago. Today, farming is still the region`s main economic activity, with the cultivation of tomatoes, melons and huge vineyards that produce a renowned red wines.  Aslo typical of Almeirim is the famous sopa da pedra (soup of the stone), the recipe for which, according to tradition, was invented by a cunning friar who visited the houses of the area with a stone, with which he would show how it was possible to make an excellent soup. When the water of the pan in which the stone was “cooking” had started boiling, he would ask for one more ingredient to give it flavor (which might be salt, sausage, beans, potatoes…) and in this way he tricked the local people. A video is available here.

The Blandy family of Madeira is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the family firm this year.