A celebration of artistic diversity, the Art Exhibition Lagoa features all forms of artistic expression, celebrating “the richness of human creativity” and offering “a showcase for emerging and established artists”.
The exhibition aims to showcase “emerging artists, providing viewers with a new and exciting window into contemporary art”, while also encouraging collaboration between artists from different disciplines as well as collaborations to live events.
By connecting art lovers from around the world and promoting cultural exchange, the Art Exhibition seeks to transcend borders and enrich global art culture.
Focusing on “diversity, collaboration and artistic discovery”, the Art Exhibition brings together two vibrant cultures from Portugal and Spain, aspiring to become “a captivating window for those looking to explore the many facets of contemporary art”.
Visitors can explore the exhibition from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm, Monday through Friday. Entrance is free.
Living in Portugal roadshow demonstrates continued growth from the US market
– March 15, 2024
Living in Portugal Seminars in the USA – Atlanta February 28, 2024
The ever-growing Living in Portugal seminars, organised by Open Media Group, publishers of Inside Carvoeiro and Inside Lagos, were this time held in Austin, Atlanta and Boston and revealed that interest in Portugal is stronger than ever amongst Americans, both for investment and relocation, with over 500 people attending the events.
Over 50% of those attending completed an online survey conducted by the event organisers beforehand, and once asked about their plans for property in Portugal, 28% replied that they intend to buy, with 25% looking to rent and 49% still unsure.
Living in Portugal Seminar in the USA – Boston Seminar, March 2, 2024
Interest from a pure investment perspective was also significant, with more than 10% specifically looking to invest in an investment fund eligible for Golden Visa .
Portugal’s Consul General for Boston, Tiago Araújo, and Bruce Hawker, Open Media Group CEO, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston on Saturday, March 2
Asked when they planned to move to Portugal, 28% replied that they would relocate within two years or less, with 11% planning to move within the next 12 months.
The most popular visa optionfor Portugal was clearly the D7 passive income regime, chosen by 35%, followed by the D8 so-called digital nomad visa selected by 19%.
The survey goes on to reveal data such as age groups, with 52% aged between 45 and 60, 26% over 60 and 20% between 30 and 45.
Living in Portugal Seminar in the USA – Boston Seminar, March 2, 2024
Nearly 40% of those queried are planning to retire to Portugal, followed by 24% who plan to work, and 9% who plan to invest.
As for the most popular regions of Portugal, Lisbon led the way with 27% showing interest, followed by the Algarve with 10%, whilst over 45% were not sure of which part of Portugal they would choose.
“The question of location in Portugal is often a grey area for American buyers,” said organiser Bruce Hawker. “This was our third US roadshow and I have had the chance to interact with hundreds of the people who attend our events.
Living in Portugal Seminars in the USA – Atlanta February 28, 2024
“The fact is that they see Portugal as a tiny country. Many of them have been to Lisbon from where they rent a car and strike to other areas, and they think nothing of the two-and-a-half hours it takes to drive from Lisbon to the Algarve, for instance.”
At last week’s seminars, two discussion panels were held at each session, mediated by Bruce Hawker who was joined on stage by property professionals from the Algarve and Lisbon respectively.
Living in Portugal Seminars in the USA – Atlanta February 28, 2024
For the Algarve session, Bruce was joined by Alda Filipe of Kronos Homes, Jaan-Claire Rodrigues of Quinta do Lago and João Richard Costa of Ombria Resort. Meanwhile, for the Lisbon session he was joined by Sara Allen of the Martinhal Group, representing the Martinhal Residences in Lisbon and the United International School, along with Pascal Gonçalves of Lisbon-based property development company Libertas.
“These panel sessions covered lifestyle aspects of each area, along with information on real estate, and I have no doubt that we whetted the appetite of many people who had not yet considered the Algarve,” said Bruce.
In total, 13 companies from Portugal participated in Open Media’s roadshow, offering real estate opportunities, legal advice, Golden Visa-eligible investments, relocation services, forex solutions, and health insurance.
The Ritz Carlton Boston hotel was one of the venues on the roadshow, along with the Ritz Carlton Atlanta and the W Hotel in Austin
Upcoming international events
The dates have now been announced for Open Media’s next Living in Portugal stateside roadshow taking place in New York, Chicago and Toronto on June 15, 19 and 22, respectively. Plans are also in place for a west coast roadshow taking place in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle in September.
Here in Portugal, Open Media’s next Living in the Algarve events will be taking place in Carvoeiro, Tavira and Lagos in April, May and June, respectively, with further events scheduled for the Autumn.
Living in Portugal US roadshow participating companies:
Vila Vita’s Ocean restaurant will welcome Catalan twins Sérgio and Javier Torres for a ‘Five Michelin-starred experience’ on February 28
– February 23, 2024 | Text Alexandra Stilwell
Chef Hans Neuner, Ocean Restaurant, Vila Vita, Algarve
Hans Neuner, chef at the two Michelin-starred Ocean restaurant, invites Catalan twins Sérgio and Javier Torres for an authentic gastronomic feast.
Just one day after celebrating Portugal’s first Michelin Gala in the Algarve, chef Hans Neuner welcomes chefs from the 3-starred restaurant ‘Cocina Hermanos Torres’ from Barcelona for what is set to be one of this season’s most exciting gastronomic collaborations.
The special menu will consist of four snacks and eight dishes, combining the characteristic flavours of each project, bringing influences, ingredients, recipes, and the knowledge of award-winning cooks from the two neighbouring countries to the table.
For this collaboration, Neuner selected some of his favourite dishes from the menus he created over the last two years, which were inspired by the trips he took with his team to discover Portugal’s gastronomic roots.
In 2022, his menu’s theme was the Indian Route, reflecting a journey that began in Portugal, passed through Africa, and culminated in Goa, on the coast of India, while last year, the menu focused on Memories of Brazil.
Dinner costs €275 (+€175 with wine pairing). Reservations can be made at www.restauranteocean.com or +351 282 310 184.
The OAD 2023 Top Restaurants awarded them 43rd place, and Javier and Sérgio Torres occupy 20th place in The Best Chef Awards 2023. They also entered the prestigious La Liste as the first entry, with a shared No. 6.
The Algarve Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of German trombonist Ferdinand Von Seebach and along with jazz singer Maria Anadon, will perform original compositions as well as jazz staples
The Algarve Jazz Orchestra will present music written by Ferdinand, created for various projects he’s worked on with his own Jazz Orchestra – the Fine Arts Big Band – which he founded together with the drummer Stephan Genze nine years ago.
Ferdinand Von Seebach has always been attracted to the theatre throughout his career because it is among the most conducive environments for jazz: the musicals, accompanied by jazz orchestras, create an atmosphere in which words, surroundings, images, poems, and people become a complete musical exercise.
For Ferdinand, “music is always a way of expressing something that words may not be able to express, of reminding our souls of feelings and stories that we may know but cannot tell”.
Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased at Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo Auditorium or via BOL’s website.
Aiming to recover the biodegradable waste and reducing the large quantities currently sent to landfills, residents and businesses will receive free buckets to help collect bio-waste
– December 20, 2023 | Text Alexandra Stilwell
The Municipality of Lagoa is implementing a selective bio-waste (food and garden waste) collection system from homes, commercial establishments, restaurants, cafes, school canteens, and Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS).
The project, named LAGOA VALORIZA + SELECTIVE PROXIMITY COLLECTION will promote the selective collection of bio-waste from existing homes in the Municipality in specific containers placed on public roads next to the “ecological islands” installed in Lagoa. For this purpose, a 10-litre bucket will be distributed free of chargetoevery residence in the Municipality.
The project’s aim is to meet national and community goals for recovering biodegradable waste and reducing the large quantities currently sent to landfills.
“Around 40% of the waste we produce in our homes is biowaste, most of which is food waste. The correct separation at origin allows its recovery and transformation into compost for organic soil enrichment, contributing decisively to the circular economy”, stated the Municipality.
LAGOA VALORIZA + CANAL HORECA will carry out the bio-waste from hotels, restaurants, canteens, cafés and pastry shops. For this purpose, 120-litre and 240-litre buckets will be distributed to participating establishments.
The LAGOA VALORIZA + project aims to implement this system in two phases. The first phase, which began on November 2, focuses on the areas of Lagoa and Carvoeiro, covering around 273 establishments on the Horeca channel and all school and IPSS canteens, and more than 4,000 accommodation units will also be covered.
The second phase, to be implemented next year, will extend organic waste collection to Ferragudo and Porches.
400-litre composters will also be delivered to citizens interested in composting at home.
According to the Municipality, around €150,000 will be invested to acquire collection equipment, subsidised by the Environmental Fund/PPR, and about €150,000 per year will be invested in bio-waste collection.
A website was also developed with all the information on this project and is now available here.
Lagoa’s library will host a joint exhibition of paintings starting December 11
– December 7, 2023 | Text Michael Bruxo
On Monday, December 11 at 5.30pm, Lagoa’s municipal library will inaugurate an exhibition of paintings by local artists Anke Punt Bach and Rui Botto.
The two Lagoa-based artists will be showcasing their creations at the library until January 31, 2024.
About the artists
Anke and Rui met at the Arco Íris stationery store at the Sudoeste Retail Park in Alcantarilha, where Rui works and where Anke led a series of art workshops.
After getting to know one another, the two artists developed a mutual respect for each other’s art.
Anke – a 58-year-old German artist who has lived and exhibited her works all over the world before moving to the Algarve in 2019 – eventually decided to challenge Rui, 55, to join her for a joint exhibition, given that Rui has not exhibited his works for over a decade.
While Anke has made a name for herself in the region for creating beautiful pieces inspired by the Algarvian coastline and using materials she finds during her hikes, Rui has remained a more reclusive artist, painting what he finds interesting and what fulfils him artistically as more of a hobby.
Rui Botto describes his art as “homoerotic”, “inspired by colour” and “figurative”, with his goal being to cause an impact on the viewer.
As his works often feature nude male bodies in suggestive or even sexual positions, Rui is well aware that his works might not be palatable to some. But as he explains clearly, he paints solely for himself, and whether others like his works or not is secondary.
“Whether they love it or hate, the goal is to make the viewer feel something,” Rui told us.
Rui, who has also worked as a professional make-up artist, will be presenting 11 paintings on canvas, while Anke will be exhibiting three paintings from her time in Russia, as well as four series of three paintings each – ‘The Red String’, ‘Serenity’, ‘True Color’ and ‘Connection’ – on wood.
For Anke, this exhibition marks a return to painting on wood after years of using materials like rocks that she has found on local beaches to create her artworks.
The name of the exhibition – ‘The Show Goes On’ – aims to represent the changes that both Anke and Rui are experiencing at this moment in their lives, with Rui exhibiting his works again after so long and Anke taking on new artistic challenges.
Anke also hopes that the exhibition may bring more attention to Rui’s work in the Algarve.
“He’s so talented and has a distinct style. If he lived somewhere like New York or Paris, he might be selling out galleries,” Anke added.
‘The Show Goes On’ can be visited during the library’s opening hours: weekdays (excluding holidays) from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. Admission is free.
The Vitra Clinicdental centre, in Lagoa, has extended its services to new areas. From now on, clients will be able to book General Family Medicine, Non-invasive Aesthetics, and a Speech Therapy appointment, all in the same space.
Ana Pragosa & Sérgio Sousa
This is an idea that the founders, Ana Pragosa and Sérgio Tavares de Sousa, had when they projected the facilities, therefore, the dentist’s office has a room available only for this purpose, which will be shared by Speech Therapist Tânia Francisco and General Practitioner Ângelo Afonso, who will also provide cosmetic services such as botox and medical facial peelings.
“The GP and Speech Therapy appointments are for all ages and can be booked any day,” explained Doctor Ana, stressing the importance of having multiple services at the clinic.
“We consider this addition to be an added value, making everything easier, closer, and more immediate,” she shared, adding that this will contribute to an effective and personalised care.
Being “a reference clinic” is the aim of the owners who want to “give families a complete response” by creating a connection between dentistry and basic health issues, which also makes it possible to regularly monitor children’s growth.
“All these services can complement each other and work as a whole,” concluded Doctor Ana.
This year, Lagoa will celebrate its “biggest Christmas ever”, with an ice rink, carousels, Christmas fairs across the Municipality, musical shows, walks, nativity scenes, street parties and lots of children’s entertainment
– November 27, 2023 | Text Alexandra Stilwell | Photo JackF, Getty Images
Starting this November 30, Christmas-themed activities and entertainment will be held across the Municipality to entertain and delight “kids” of all ages.
The Municipality of Lagoa is preparing “the biggest Christmas ever” with a vast programme for children and adults, including an ice rink, carousels, Christmas fairs across the Municipality, musical shows, walks, nativity scenes, streetparties and lots of children’s entertainment.
Lagoa will host its Christmas celebrations between November 30 and December 30 on the Carlos do Carmo Municipal Auditorium square, the Christmas epicentre of the Municipality.
The square will feature an ice rink, carousels, Santa’s grotto, shows for children and seniors, and musical shows for everyone. The activities will be open to the public from Monday to Friday, between 2pm and 7pm, on Saturdays from 10am to 9pm and Sundays from 10am to 7pm.
On Fridays, there will be shows at 3.30pm for the senior community. On Saturdays, at 6pm, musical performances and on Sundays, at 3.30pm, children’s entertainment. Entry is free, as is using the carousels and ice rink.
Next weekend, Ferragudo will host Artenataon the Largo Rainha D. Leonor. The oldest Christmas fair in the Municipality will feature various crafts, delicious delicacies, seasonal food, and plenty of entertainment.
On December 7, 8, 9 and 10, the city of Lagoa will host the Lagoa Christmas Fair on the Largo do Auditorio Municipal Carlos do Carmo, with more than 20 exhibitors, a parade of more than 600 Fathers Christmases and lots of children’s entertainment.
On the 8, 9 and 10, Christmas will also arrive in Porches with a Christmas Fair in the town’s urban centre with over15 exhibitors selling the best regional products, the opportunity to participate in a “Reindeer Walk”, beautiful Christmas lights and lots of entertainment.
The following weekend (15, 16 and 17), a Christmas Fair will take place in Carvoeiro, next to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, and in Estômbar, in the municipal garden. On the 21, 22 and 23, it will be Parchal‘s turn to hold a Christmas Fair.
The city of Lagoa will also host a unique and highly successful event, the “Living Statues”. The show will take place on December 15, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, and on the 16th, between 10am and 1pm, on the Rua 25 de Abril.
The Carlos do Carmo Municipal Auditorium will also host a Christmas concert by the Algarve Jazz Orchestra on December 16 at 7pm, and the Municipal Library of Lagoa will host various Christmas-themed performances, namely plays, such as “Luminous Elves” on December 9 between 10.30am and 11.30am.
Sons d’Aquém Mar Music Festival returns for its 4th edition
– November 17, 2023
The 4th Sons d’Aquém Mar is a “captivating event featuring concerts that celebrate the richness of music and culture”, promising to transport the audience into a world of musical and historical experiences.
The concerts will take place on November 24 and 25, and December 1, 8 and 16, in various venues in the Lagoa municipality.
Programme:
November 24 | S. José Convent | 7pm – historical re-enactment dating back to 1773. Actors and musicians will create characters and scenes that date back to the end of the 18th century, taking the audience on an immersive journey through time. Entrance is free, and limited to available seats. For reservations: eventos@artis21.pt
November 25 | Quinta da Palmeirinha | 4.30pm – Joana Bagulho, harpsichord concert featuring works transcribed from the music of Carlos Paredes, interwoven with works from the 18th century. Before the concert, a short film by Patricia Leal and Beatriz Cardoso will be presented, addressing environmental issues and water scarcity in the Algarve. Tickets cost €5 per person and can be purchased via artisxxi.bol.pt. Entrance is free for children under 16.
December 1 | Lagoa Mother Church | 7pm – The Orquestra Barroca D’Aquém Mar orchestrawill present a Christmas concert featuring works by Bach, Telemann and Buxtehude, under the direction of Sigiswald Kuijken. Tickets cost €5 per person and can be purchased via artisxxi.bol.pt. Entrance is free for children under 16.
December 8 | Porches Church | 7pm – Listeners will journey through the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods with music written for wind instruments, in ”A History of Wind”. Tickets cost €5 per person and can be purchased via artisxxi.bol.pt. Entrance is free for children under 16.
December 16 | Estômbar Church | 7pm – Group B’rbicacho (featuring viola da gamba, adufe, guitar and vocals) will perform “De Maria em Maria”, a look at Marian devotion in traditional and popular music. It aims to spread the Portuguese musical heritage around the world and tell the tales hidden in this repertoire. Tickets cost €5 per person and can be purchased via artisxxi.bol.pt. Entrance is free for children under 16.
A new edition of Lagoa’s Christmas Living Statues has been announced, bringing performers who can remain stationary for several hours.
The event will bring 16 living statues to Lagoa on December 15 (Friday) from 2.30pm to 5.30pm and December 16 (Saturday) from 10am to 1pm.
A wide range of characters will be interpreted by the performers in Rua 25 de Abril and Largo 5 de Outubro, from scenes from the nativity to historical figures.
As part of the municipality’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the living statue of King Dom José I, who officially established Lagoa as a “vila” (village), will be a highlight this year.
During the event, visitors will vote for their favourite living state, and a jury will select the top performer.
“This pioneering event in the south of Portugal aims to promote and dignify artistic creation in this unique performative art form with the best artists at the national level, whilst simultaneously bringing life to the centre of Lagoa and boosting local commerce during the Christmas season,” says Lagoa Municipal Council in a statement to the press.
Article originally published by Michael Bruxo on Portugal Resident.
– October 14, 2023 | Text Marie Patterson | Photos Charlotte Cockayne/Open Media Group
As the holiday season starts to come to an end and the heat of the summer begins to die down, I decide to kick start a quiet Sunday indulging in a sumptuous treat for the taste buds by heading to Monte Carvoeiro for brunch.
Already a renowned fine-dining restaurant, The Square by Raquel Marques has taken the concept of brunch to a whole new level.
This establishment, well known for its impeccable culinary creations, now offers an exceptionally well-priced brunch that will tantalise your senses.
We opt for Eggs Benedict and a Full English Breakfast to start and follow with sautéed prawns with mango pico de gallo and sweet chili and a couple of Mimosas which turn out to be a perfect start to the day, and extraordinarily good value.
The atmosphere is casual and relaxing, with easily available parking, and the surrounding area is generally quiet, which I find particularly appealing after the busy summer months.
In search of some sunshine and fresh air, I decide to embark on the adventure that is the trail of the Seven Suspended Valleys.
This scenic route runs from Praia de Vale Centeanes to Praia da Marinha, widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches inEurope.
The Algarve region is renowned for its stunning coastal landscapes, and the Seven Suspended Valleys hike is a jewel in its crown.
I strap on my walking shoes and set off along the well-maintained trails. Throughout the hike, each valley unveils a new perspective, rewarding my efforts with breath-taking views of the Atlantic Ocean. An array of hidden coves, beaches, and captivating rock formations showcase the raw beauty of the Algarve’s coastline.
Whether you are an experienced hiker or someone looking for a moderate yet invigorating trek, this clifftop walk promises an immersive experience that connects you with the natural wonders of the region. The trail can be walked in either direction and took me about three hours to complete.
Combining the pleasures of a lavish brunch with the exhilaration of conquering Seven Suspended Valleys created a day that will linger in my heart and my mind, reminding me just how beautiful the Algarve is and all it has to offer.
Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo auditorium will celebrate Beto Kalulu’s life and career with “new arrangements and never-before-heard songs”
– November 13, 2023 | Photo Inês Lopes
A special concert will be held at Carlos do Carmo auditorium on December 9 (Saturday), to celebrate the life and career of Beto Kalulu, a famous local musician.
Beto has a long history in the Algarve’s music scene, having become one of the best known musicians in the Western Algarve, not only due to his talent behind a drum or percussion set but also his infectious upbeat personality.
With over 45 years of live performances under his belt in the region, the Portuguese-Angolan musician has prepared a “revitalised repertoire” for this special concert which will include “new arrangements and never-before-heard songs”. The show will also feature a musical chronology of his career.
“Accompanied by excellent musicians and distinguished international guests, dancers and multimedia resources, the concert will provide an emotional and engaging experience”, the event’s press release says, adding that a “narrator will guide the audience”, sharing interesting facts and providing introductions.
An exhibition by Filipa Brito will also be set up at the auditorium, featuring posters, photographs, videos, personal objects, and musical instruments that played a “fundamental role in his journey”.
Tickets cost €8 per person and can be purchased online, at the CTT, FNAC and Worten ticket offices or at the usual outlets in Lagoa, which include the auditorium, the São José convent’s cultural centre, and the Balcão Único.
The festival aims to promote not only the harp but its repertoire and performers as well
– October 12, 2023
A rich programme will be presented by Danielle Riegel on Harp, Helena Madeira on Voice and Harp, Leonor Maia on Harp, and Francisco Barbosa on Flute at the festival taking place in Albufeira on November 10, Lagoa on November 25 and Monchique on November 26.
The festival aims to promote not only the harp but its repertoire and performers as well.
Algarve Harp Festival is organized by Ideias do Levante association in partnership with the Municipalities of Lagoa, Albufeira, Monchique Parish Council, and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Monchique.
Guests have the opportunity to donate to non-profit organizations in the Algarve that provide social support: Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lagoa, SOS Oncológico and Espiral de Vontades.
Programme:
November 10, 2023 | 9.30pm Danielle Riegel (Harp) – Paderne Parish Church (Albufeira)
November 25, 2023 | 4pm Helena Madeira (Voice & Harp) – Chapel of St Joseph’s Convent (Lagoa)
November 26, 2023 | 4pm Leonor Maia (Harp) and Francisco Barbosa (Flute) – Misericórdia de Monchique Church
The municipality will host emblematic guitar performances next to monuments and cultural spaces, as well as outdoor concerts in Carvoeiro’s Main Square and Estômbar’s natural park
– August 31, 2023
It’s almost time for Lagoa’s International Guitar Festival, which will be held between September 9 and October 1 at a variety of venues in the municipality.
In addition to ensuring a quality artistic offer, from both national and international artists, the event promises to include a little bit of everything.
The public will have the opportunity to choose what performance suits them best each weekend, as the event will be presented along with emblematic venues, monuments, and infrastructures of Lagoa.
The Lagoa International Guitar Festival will host a total of eight different performances, all starting at 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
September 9, 5.30pm – 40 Fingers at Carvoeiro Beach Square (free entry)
40 Fingers is a well-known Italian guitar quartet “well-established on Italy’s music scene through their many individual projects”. The group will present original pieces and covers performed with a “fingerpicking technique and skillfully arranged for four guitars”.
September 10, 5.30pm – Sergio Fabian Lavia & Dilene Ferraz and Quartetto SE.GO.VI.O at Quinta dos Vales, Estômbar (€10)
Guitarist Sergio Fabian Lavia & singer Dilene Ferraz’s music “reflects the cultural richness of Argentina and Brazil, forming a set of experiences shaped by traditional sounds merged with more experimental aspects”. In 2011, the duo received the ”Premium Music Awards” for their significant work as composers and performers of Brazilian and Argentine music.
The SE.GO.VI.O quartet, distinguished by “their great international concert experience, as soloists, chamber musicians and orchestras”, and for their “commitment to teaching” in Italian state schools, will perform a “repertoire with emphasis on the expressive possibilities of each instrument: the timbre impact that comes from the encounter of the plucked strings with the bellows instrument and the wind instruments is the ideal terrain to give life to the biting dance sounds”.
September 16, 5.30pm – Diogo Carlos and Furia-Deiana Duo at Convento de S. José Cultural Centre (€10)
Diogo Carlos, an awarded Portuguese guitarist from London’s Royal Academy of Music, has ample experience playing solo, in duos, trios, quartets and with various ensembles, having performed at the London Guitar Festival, Cadogan Hall and many other emblematic stages.
The FURIA – DEIANA DUO is described as a “versatile and fascinating formation that combines the passionate sound of Fabio Furia’s bandoneon with the virtuosity of Alessandro Deiana’s guitar”.
September 17, 5.30pm – Marko Topchii and Ensemble Copain’s Cabana at Sítio das Fontes Municipal Park, Estômbar (€10)
Marko Topchii, a world-renowned classical guitarist of Ukrainian origin, achieved international recognition through his participation in prestigious guitar competitions across the globe. Marko has secured an impressive total of 55 first prizes in various renowned classical guitar contests. His list of accolades includes triumphs at esteemed events such as the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, Francisco Tarrega (Spain), Michele Pittaluga (Alessandria), two Andres Segovia competitions (Spain), JoAnn Falletta (Buffalo, NY), Maurizio Biasini (San Francisco, CA), and numerous others.
Copains’ Cabana is a musical ensemble “bringing together voices, mandolins, guitar, cuatro, double bass and percussion, around Latin American music”. All members have already had opportunities to perform in concerts in France and abroad, and now they are back together for the pleasure of interpreting this repertoire that is both rhythmic and gentle.
September 23, 5.30pm – Quitó de Sousa Antunes and Luciano & Giusy Pompilio Duo at Estômbar Parish Church (free entry)
Portugal’s revered guitarist, Quitó de Sousa Antunes studied music in Paris under Betho Davezac and has won the first prize of the City of Paris, as well as a gold medal at the National Conservatory of Meudon. He has been ”invited countless times to take part in concerts and festivals both in France, Europe, Morocco, and Quebec”.
Luciano Pompilio, also an esteemed guitarist, took 15 first prizes at guitar competitions, reaching the final rounds in over 25 guitar competitions, and has toured Europe, Asia and America. He is also the Artistic Director of the ”Città di Manfredonia” International Guitar Festival and Season Chamber Music ”In Concerto” in San Giovanni Rotondo.
GIUSY POMPILIO is a “young and passionate Opera Singer and student with strong academic background and multiple participation in public events and concerts. Currently studying to obtain a Bachelor of Music in Opera Singing”.
September 24, 5.30pm – Early Guitar Duo and Invisible Strings at Lagoa Parish Church (free entry)
The EARLY GUITAR DUO is a collaborative venture between Romolo Calandruccio and Antonio Aprile, dedicated exclusively to the study and performance of a 19th-century guitar repertoire on original instruments. These performances are based on in-depth research of the period’s performance practices and of the authors, through original sources.
In the recent years, the Early Guitar Duo has performed in the several Music Conservatories: Ottorino Respighi in Latina, Tchaikosky in Nocera Terinese, and at the Mauro Giuliani Birthplace Museum in Bisceglie.
The project Invisible Strings, created by two internationally renowned musicians – thereminist Thorwald Jørgensen and guitarists Josip Dragnić – has been presented in countries like Germany, Luxembourg, Croatia, Montenegro, and Italy. Theremin is the only instrument that is played without physical contact, producing sound on the basis of electromagnetic waves, using two antennas. It was invented in 1919 but it is still rarely played on the concert stages, so every concert with theremin is a real attraction. The project brings some of the most famous pieces by the great composers like De Falla, Ravel, Villa Lobos, and Piazzolla arranged for theremin and guitar, but also contemporary music pieces originally written for this duo.
These two instruments form together a beautiful and interesting combination of the harmonies played by the guitar on six strings and the melodic line played by theremin.
September 30, 5.30pm – Vladislav Bláha & Tanja Drobysh and Luís Coelho “STRING TALES” at Carlos do Carmo Auditorium (€10)
The Vladislav Bláha and Tanja Drobysh duo presents a repertoire that is both vibrant and diverse, incorporating elements from classical, folk, and jazz genres. Additionally, they present adaptations of folk music from South Moravia (Czech Republic), including modified compositions by the English composer John W. Duarte, as well as traditional melodies from Belarus.
Guitarist Luís Coelho has performed on several national and international stages, collaborating with several fadistas (Fado singers) and with contemporary music and dance projects.
October 1, 5.30pm – Noble at Carlos do Carmo Auditorium (€10)
Noble (Pedro Fidalgo) is one of the most prominent artists in Portugal, having reached “monumental success” with his radio hit “Honey”, which acted as a generic for the soap opera “Amar Depois de Amar”, as well as “Beautiful”, the opening track of the most recent album “Secrets”, a new stage in the artist’s career who aspired to show his gratitude for all those who always supported him during his journey to the top of the national sales charts.
For more information about the event, visit the event website or follow on Facebook.
The Lagoa Jazz Fest’2023 takes place in Estômbar’s Sítio das Fontes Municipal Park, between July 21-23
– July 18, 2023
From July 21 to 23, jazz nights are back to Lagoa, with the Lagoa Jazz Fest, now in its 18th edition, taking place at the Sítio das Fontes Park in Estômbar.
This year’s special guests include Camille Bertault, recognised by Vanity Fair as the ”new voice of jazz” and by Le Figaro as a “daring talent”. She comes to Lagoa alongside names such as Polly Gibbons, who will perform with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Hugo Alves.
Resuming Lagoa Jazz Fest’s commitment to the diversity of aesthetics and instrumentations, more or less conventional in jazz, this year’s programme features two unavoidable names of the accordion, João Barradas and Vincent Peirani, and Suite Nordeste, a trio of Brazilian musicians admittedly inspired by the mixture of styles and influences between Brazilian popular music, classical music and jazz.
As always, the Lagoa Jazz Fest’2023 presents high quality projects, with the best performers in harp, koto, harmonica, cimbalom, bandoneon, vibraphone, among others.
Between solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets, as well as big bands, this festival has it all.
Since 2003, more than 250 musicians from countries such as Portugal, Spain, the United States of America, France, Italy, Austria, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Colombia and India have played on the stage of the Lagoa Jazz Fest.
Tickets cost €12 and can be purchased online at Bol, or at the ticket offices of the municipality of Lagoa, at Convento de S. José, Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo Auditorium, Balcão Único or the usual places, such as CTT, Fnac and Worten.
Visitors with a Cultural Passport, Lagoa Social Card or Rota do Petisco 2022 Passport have a 20% discount.
The event venue opens at 7pm and closes at 1am, with performances in the lounge area starting at 8.30pm and on the main stage at 10pm.
In addition to the performance areas, there will also be a catering area and an exhibitions area.
Programme for the Lagoa Jazz Fest’23:
July 21
Main Stage: Algarve Jazz Orchestra with special guest Polly Gibbons;
Main Stage: ”De Acordeão para Acordeão” with Vincent Peirani and João Barradas, Suite Nordeste Trio with João Ventura (piano, keyboard and vocals), Júnior Maceió (alto, soprano and baritone saxophones, transverse flute and digital aerophone) and Rogério Pitomba (drums, percussion);
Lounge area: Allyson Garrido (vocals) and Fernando de Castro Neves (guitar).
July 23
Main Stage: Camille Bertault 5teto with Camille Bertault (vocals), Fady Farah (piano), Julien Alour (trumpet), Christophe Minck (bass and moog) and Minino Garay (drums and percussion);
Lounge area: Genoveva Faísca (vocals) and Carlos Santos (keyboards).
Additional information:
Lagoa Town Hall informs that it initially announced that singer Jane Monheit would be the guest artist performing with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra. However, due to a one-off health issue, Jane Monheit’s appearance had to be cancelled. The singer will be replaced by Polly Gibbons.
Tickets already purchased for July 21 will remain valid but you can request a refund.
Lady in Red, the art gallery located in the historic Adega Cooperative (wine cooperative) building in Lagoa, has announced it is moving to a new location.
With over nine years of existence, Lady in Red “has established itself as a benchmark in contemporary art“.
“While it is difficult to say goodbye to a space that has become so dear to all of us, we believe this move is essential for the continued renewal and growth of our gallery,” stated the art gallery.
“We are thrilled to embark on this new journey and invite you to join us in this transition. Our new space is being carefully planned to provide an even more enriching experience, where art will continue to take centre stage”.
The team at Lady in Red also says that the new location will allow them to “explore new creative possibilities” and “strengthen [their] commitment to showcasing the works of renowned and emerging artists from different styles and backgrounds”.
“We are excited about the new exhibitions we plan to offer soon and can’t wait to share all the details with you,” they add.
Visitors can visit the gallery for the last time before the end of this month, with opening hours being updated every week on its Google profile.
The festival celebrates a different culture every year with a unique theme. This year’s theme revolves around ‘Ibero-American Cultures and Rituals‘.
The event brings together around 60 artisans exhibiting their works throughout the town, and several musical and dance performances are expected.
Among the confirmed acts are Son de Cuba (Cuba), Mariachi Mezcal (Mexico), Lídia Brandão, Grupo Muzenza, Batucada Som Brasil (Brazil), Viento Nuevo (Ecuador), La Porteña Tango (Argentina), and musician José Luís Pastor.
Over 40 candlelit symbols will be displayed in seven areas, highlighting Ibero-American mythology, traditions, gastronomy, and religion.
According to organizers, the symbols will be placed at theentrances and throughout the market, creating a “visually stunning spectacle.”
Visitors will also be able to visit São José convent’s exhibition room, featuring a photography exhibition entitled ‘(En)cantos do Brasil’, as well as an altar representing Mexico’s ‘Dia de Muertos’ dedicated to Frida Khalo.
Meanwhile, the convent’s cloisters will become a ‘Carioca’ bar offering Brazilian cuisine. Outside the bar area, there will be picanha (Brazil’s popular cut of meat) on the grill and other culinary specialities.
The market area opens at 7pm and stays open until 12.30am, while the candles illuminating the symbols are lit at 8.30pm. Admission is free.
“Mercado de Culturas à Luz das Velas is an event of rare beauty that has attracted thousands of visitors in previous editions. I am convinced that this year will be the best edition ever, and I invite everyone to visit Lagoa during these days,” said Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação.
This year’s edition of the market, which has become one of Lagoa’s biggest summer events, is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors.
Located in Lagoa, the Vitra Clinic dentist office came up with an innovative idea that arose from the need both to increase the physical space and to give children a place of their own, where they feel comfortable and break the stigma associated with going to the dentist.
Not only do they have their own entrance, but also an unequalled waiting room full of joy and fun, making it difficult to leave.
Ana Pragosa & Sérgio Sousa
Vitra Clinic founders Ana Pragosa and Sérgio Tavares de Sousa opened their business two years ago in Lagoa as a result of a shared dream that became reality.
With the new Kids Space, they aim to reassure childrenthat going for a dental treatment can be a pleasant experience as well as to provide two further services – speech therapy and a general practitioner.
As paediatric dentist Carina Vida often referred patients to outside appointments, since jaw growth influences breathing, pronunciation and articulation, the three professionals together considered that having this specialty in the dental clinic was “essential”, thus providing “a complete follow-up, where all the information is concentrated, making the orthodontic treatment more effective”, explained Dr Ana Pragosa.
The feedback has been positive with children wanting to make the most of their time in the fun waiting room and the office where they are treated, which are full of toys and princess outfits. And when they finish their appointment, they don’t want to leave but to continue playing. Their enthusiasm is proof that the goal was achieved.
The founders of Vitra Clinic wanted to provide multiple services under one roof, thus ensuring an integrated clinic for the whole family, in a region that Ana and Sérgio feel lacks diverse services when compared to Portugal’s large metropolitan areas.
Therefore, with an “experienced, solid and united team” that has been working together for many years, they intend to create something bigger for their patients in multiple areas in a comfortable place, where proximity and trust are valued.
Currently, the clinic provides services such as dental implants, invisible aligners, fixed prostheses, oral hygiene, paediatric dentistry and orthodontics, endodontics, aesthetic dentistry and sleep dentistry, all conducted by eight dentists operating in six dental offices.
The founders believe that what sets them apart is the clinic’s comforting and welcoming space, where clients feel accompanied in a family environment, with advanced technology and high-quality materials. However, there is more.
Inspired by the Algarve, the beach and the warm climate, the gowns worn by the doctors also have a different and cheerful colour – one that doesn’t make adults and children associate the uniform with doctors or hospitals.
While Dr. Ana wears a strong salmon-coloured gown, her husband Sérgio and the rest of the team wear silver-coloured scrubs.
From the logo, where the lettering seems to replicate the sea waves, to the paintings by local international artists that decorate the hall and some of the offices, there are several features that make patients forget they are waiting for dental treatment and help them feel at ease.
“The healthy obsession for quality” is the priority, according to Dr Sérgio, as well as “the good ambience and the intention of offering the best health care”, always considering each individual or family needs, and adapting the treatment plan to their budgets.
Another successful ‘Lagoa Wine Show’ brought together 20 winemakers from Portugal and the Algarve
– June 19, 2023
This year’s Lagoa Wine Show, held between June 7 and 10, attracted thousands of wine lovers to Lagoa and was hailed as another success by Lagoa’s council.
A total of 6,000 wine tastings were held over the weekend, with 20 winemakers from Portugal and the Algarve.
In addition to show cooking and live music, the event also included ‘Fado à Janela‘ performances, which featured Fado singers performing from balconies.
“Despite the forecasts of bad weather for the first two days of the event, the Lagoa Wine Show attracted – aside from the usual Portuguese and foreign residents of Lagoa – thousands of visitors who are already on holiday in our region and got to know some of the best examples of winemaking from the country’s different region,” the council said in a statement to the press.
Several chefs also took part in the event, such as Nuno Martins (executive chef at Numa Restaurant in Portimão), Ricardo Luz (sous-chef at Al-Sud in Odiáxere), and chef Ricardo Sousa (chef at Golden Club Cabanas).
“The Lagoa Wine Show is one of the most emblematic wine shows in the south of Portugal, in which the most distinguished winemakers from several wine regions take part, with a special focus on Algarve wines,” said the council.
Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação also celebrated the event’s success, attributing it to the “huge commitment of council workers” and the winemakers who “believed in us”.
This article was originally written by Michael Bruxo for the Portugal Resident.
Celebrating the beginning of the summer season, Lagoa will bring together Fado music with delicious food and wine
– June 1, 2023
The Lagoa Wine Show is back from June 7 to 10 with live music performances, entertainment, wine tastings and great local gastronomy with show-cooking demonstrations during which renowned Portuguese chefs will prepare tasty dishes using local ingredients.
As the Algarve gradually gains notoriety as a wine-producing region, the event offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate the region’s distinctions in national and international wine competitions.
The event will take place in the heart of Lagoa, at the Rua Coronel Figueiredo, turning the town once again into the wine capital of the Algarve region.
The Lagoa Wine Show will feature local musicians as well as some of the biggest names in Portuguese contemporary music:
The inaugural concert of the 23rd Lagoa Choir Week opened to a full house, featuring the Pennsylvania State University Men’s Glee Club
– May 18, 2023
The event was held at the Carlos do Carmo auditorium on Sunday, May 14th, with spectators highlighting the “beautiful work” that was performed by the American choir, which included students of the university and members of the Penn State Glee Club.
The performers were directed by Christopher Kiver whilst the soloist was Jennifer Trost, a mezzo soprano, accompanied by Rachel Flicker on the piano.
The Choir Week, that is taking place until Saturday May 20, will also present three choirs on the last day of the festival, with theGrupo Coral Ossónoba (Faro), Coral Almira (Alcácer do Sal) and Coral Ideias do Levante, all set to perform at the Santo António church in Mexilhoeira da Carregação at 5pm.
The concert is free to attend but tickets must be booked in advance online.
The Lagoa Choir Week is organised by Ideias do Levante, a local association dedicated to promoting culture in the borough.
This year’s edition brings together solo piano, jazz piano, four-hand piano and orchestra
– May 4, 2023
Starting this May 7th, the 4th edition of the Lagoa Piano Festival comes to four different Lagoa boroughs.
The festival, organised by Artis XXI – Associação de Educação Artística de Lagoa, will take place each Sunday at 6.30pm throughout this month.
This year’s theme will be about reflecting on the piano in its various dimensions, with different musical interpretations, ranging from solo piano, jazz piano, four-hand piano, and piano concertos with orchestra.
Programme for the 4th Lagoa Piano Festival:
I Concert – Entrelaçamentos (Interlacings) | May 7 at 6.30pm | Lagoa’s Main Church
Piano Recital by Ingrid Sotolarova and José Pedro Ribeiro
II Concert – Encontros não imediatos (Non Immediate Encounters) | May 14 at 6.30pm | Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza
Piano Jazz by Paula Sousa and Beatriz Nunes
III Concert – Piano Recital by Diana Botelho Vieira | May 21 at 6.30pm | ADR – Quinta de S. Pedro | Mexilhoeira da Carregação
Piano Recital by Diana Botelho Vieira
IV Concert – ARTIS XXI Orchestra | May 28 at 6.30pm | Sala Carlos Paredes | ACD Ferragudo
To celebrate the special milestone, the Local Council has prepared a vast programme of events throughout the year
– April 11, 2023
In 1773, King D. José redefined the administrative areas of the Algarve and created the municipality of Lagoa.
“Throughout two and a halfcenturies, the people of Lagoa worked to maintain and develop their administrative territory. By linking the ocean with the river, they were able to secure a piece of land, enriching it socially, culturally and economically.
To celebrate Lagoa’s 250 years is to take pride in its past, to be mindful of the present and to dream about the future,” says Mayor Luís Encarnação, in a statement found on the Council’s website.
To celebrate the anniversary, the Council has organised a series of events and activities to highlight Lagoa’s cultural heritage and its people, including conferences, workshops and educational initiatives, along with art exhibitions and performances throughout the year.
To keep up to date on all events, you can visit the Município de Lagoa Facebook page.
German artist and businessman Karl Heinz Stock unveils impressive sculture with the help of 11 local artists
– April 11, 2023
German artist and businessman Karl Heinz Stock has unveiled an impressive and imposing sculpture created with the help of 11 local artists at the Nobel International School roundabout in Lagoa.
Entitled ‘Multifaceted Globes’, the sculpture features 15 painted globes, all interconnected by a complex metallic structure.
Karl Heinz Stock, known locally as the owner of the Quinta dos Vales wine and art estate in Estômbar, says the sculpture is a representation of the “diversity of the planet, nature and its people”.
The sculpture was designed and created by Stock, whilst the globes were painted by 11 local artists, each providing their own “interpretation and vision of the world”.
“Everyone sees the world differently, and none of us are right or wrong. By presenting such a diversified group of interpretations side by side, the project became more inclusive, and thus came closer to the reality of our world,” says Stock.
Among the artists invited to collaborate in the creation of the artwork was Franco Charais, a revolutionary who fought against Portugal’s ‘Estado Novo’ regime and later on became a member of Portugal’s Revolution Council, being hailed as “one of the founders of democracy” in the country.
The other 10 talented artists who also contributed were Toin Adams, Henryka Woerle, Stella Barreto, Elke Heiner, Jessica Dunn, Sofia Barreto, Jill Stott, Meinke Flesseman, Kasia Wrona and Vitalij Manich.
The sculpture has been strongly praised by local mayor Luís Encarnação, who said it is an accurate representation of the municipality.
“It would be hard to find an artistic project more in line with the representation of Lagoa and its role in the country and in the world – a cosmopolitan municipality, which is proud of being welcoming and where we believe that, with this beautiful artwork by Karl Heinz Stock, humanity’s progress is achieved through the exchange of many peoples and culture, without leaving anyone behind,” the mayor said.
Its placement at the roundabout near Nobel International School, attended by students of more than 50 nationalitiesfrom different continents, was also strategic, as it represent Lagoa’s diverse and cosmopolitan nature, the local council said in a statement to the press.
The local authority also said that the sculpture is part of the renovation project carried at the roundabout. “Besides creating an attraction in a central area in the borough, the renovation of public spaces through high-quality urban art is in line with our process of humanising the municipality’s urban environment and building more people-friendly public spaces,” the council added.
Carvoeiro’s main square to showcase local handicrafts, sweets, and regional products
– April 4, 2023
The annual Easter Fair returns to Lagoa and Carvoeiro with festivities taking place between April 7 and 9 in Carvoeiro’s main square.
The event is promoting and encouraging the consumption of local and regional products, so visitors can find everything from food to beverages to traditional and regional non-food items.
February brings back the annual Arab music festival Al-Mutamid
– February 6, 2023
February marks the return of the Al-Mutamid Music Festival, which will bring traditional Arab music to several towns in the Algarve and further north.
This year’s festival will feature performances by “different groups specialised in the sounds of Al-Andalus, but also the music and dances of the Middle East, Maghreb and Eastern Mediterranean”.
The performances will be held in Lagoa and Silves which were once part of the territory “formerly known as Al-Andalus during the time of Al-Mutamid”.
Carlos do Carmo auditorium
Lagoa will host a performance by the Sufi Soul Ensemble – which comprises performers from Tunisia, Morocco and Syria – at the Carlos do Carmo auditorium on February 25. Tickets can be purchased here (www.bol.pt) or at Fnac, Worten, Ctt, El Corte Inglés.
Mascarenhas Gregório Theatre in Silves
Monia Abdelali from Tunisia will perform at the Mascarenhas Gregório Theatre in Silves on March 11. Tickets can be purchased here (www.bol.pt) or at Fnac, Worten, Ctt, El Corte Inglés.
The event is described as a tribute to King Al-Mutamid, the son and successor to the King of Seville, Al Mutadid. Born as Muhammad Ibn Abbad in Beja in 1040, Al-Mutamid was named governor of Silves when he was just 12 years old, having ascended in 1069 to the throne of Seville, “the strongest kingdom among those that were created in Al-Andalus after the fall of the Cordoba caliphate”. In 1088, he was dethroned by the Almoravids and fled to Agmat, south of Marrakech, where he would die in 1095. His grave, which remains preserved until today, has become a “symbol of the most beautiful times of Al-Andalus,” organisers Ibérica Eventos say.
Algarve street artist Huariu (Stephen Jones) is currently in the running to win an international award for a mural he painted in Cambre, Spain in July 2022
– January 19, 2023
The impressive mural, which depicts a child with a butterfly on her shoulder, is nominated for the ‘Best of 2022’ award organised by online platform Street Art Cities.
The award aims to single out the best out of 100 graffiti nominated around the world.
“This piece serves as a reminder, a throwback to our childhood. The inocence, the eyes full of wonder, knowing nothing, having nothing, but feeling so whole, so connected with life. Those golden moments of wonder, joy, no tension, no worry, no anxiety, have to be regained, have to be rediscovered. The child looking at a butterfly on her shoulder may seem like a simple everyday scene, however, it hides one of the great reflections of our society, the lack of human presence. How much importance do we give to each moment? On what basis do we give it?”
‘Enraizado No Presente‘ (Rooted in the Present) speaks to us about the great importance of paying attention, with all our being, to the little magical moments that happen around us, all of them.
“It always fills us with pride to see the work of the people of Lagoa be recognised around the world, in many areas and in different ways, and this time is no exception,” said Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação. “Congratulations to Stephen, who is a great artist, and I am hoping for him to win with the help of everyone.”
Readers may recall Huariu as the artist who went viral after unveiling two giant paintings of F1 legends on a football pitch in Mexilhoeira Grande to celebrate the two F1 Grand Prix that were held in the Algarve in 2020 and 2021.
The mixed-media painting exhibition will be on display from December 2 to January 27
– December 9, 2022
German artist Anke Punt Bach has inaugurated a new exhibition, “Horizon”, at Lagoa’s Municipal Library. Although some pieces depict the horizon, the place where earth and sky meet, “it is not the only inspiration that came with the title”, reveals the artist. “To increase interest, skills or experience, you need to broaden your horizon,” she says.
Inspired by the Algarvian coastline, Anke uses materials she finds during her hikes to create her artwork. In the Horizon collection, her mixed media painting are also the horizons where “painting and life are projected and intertwined. Where time plays and reveals itself. Where the painter expresses herself metaphorically”, revealing what she feels.
“The exhibition will show you my work, my passion, my horizon”, says Anke. “More than a painter, I am a teacher who wants to inspire, share experience and broaden the horizon of my students”, explains Anke, who currently gives weekly workshops at the Papelaria Arco Íris in Alcantarilha.
The exhibition opened on December 2 is free of charge. The collection can also be viewed during the Lagoa Municipal Library’s regular opening hours (Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm) until January 27.
Lagoa is hoping to attract a new wave of investors and residents after being named the “best municipality to live in Portugal” in a study carried out by the Institute of Behavioural Technology (INTEC).
The study, entitled ‘A Qualidade de Vida nos Melhores Municípios para Viver’ (Quality of Life in the Best Municipalities to Live), was open to all municipalities in Portugal that wanted to take part. The participating municipalities (22 in total) were then judged according to 10 categories: tourism; well-being; safety, diversity and tolerance; environment; economy and employment; education and training; identity, culture and leisure; mobility and road safety; health; and urbanism and housing.
Estômbar Church
These criteria were set as a way of determining “quality of life” in the same way as the World Health Organisation (WHO), which defines it as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”.
Lagoa Municipal Auditorium (by Filipe Lima)
Lagoa received the highest score in three categories (‘Tourism’, ‘Wellbeing’ and ‘Safety, Diversity and Tolerance’), which secured first place for the Algarve borough ahead of Caminha, Bragança, Cascais and Pombal.
Ferragudo (by Inês Lopes)
“Those who know Lagoa and who live here are well aware of the reasons that led to this accolade of best municipality to live in Portugal,” said Luís Encarnação, mayor of Lagoa. “However, this distinction is not a point of arrival, but a point of departure.” The mayor believes there is still “much to improve” in Lagoa and assured that the local authority will continue working towards making Lagoa a better place to live, work, study or visit.
Lagoa, Mayor Luís Encarnação
These efforts will become all the more important as Luís Encarnação is expecting interest in Lagoa to grow following publication of this study. “Lagoa is already a highly sought-after borough for the purchase of first and second homes, and for being a territory with characteristics that set it apart from other municipalities,” said Encarnação. “However, I believe that more people will become interested in investing and living in the borough,” he added.
With the new attention that results from the study are expected to bring to Lagoa, we asked Luís Encarnação about some of the municipality’s biggest projects which have yet to move forward.
Parchal, Estádio da Bela Vista
Ferragudo Marina – a project which has been in the pipeline for over 15years – remains on the backburner but the outlook is brighter for Match Lagoa – a project to create a high-performance sports centre in Lagoa, complete with football pitches, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and rehabilitation and sports science areas and its own private hotel.
The long-awaited return of Lagoa’s FATACIL begins this Friday 19th with daily concerts by some of the biggest names in Portuguese music, as well as Equestrian daily shows, entertainment and much more!
– August 19, 2022
The municipality of Lagoa is ready for the return of the Handicraft, Tourism, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Fair (FATACIL) and has once again invested heavily in the equestrian sector “to attract visitors to the fair”, with organisers promising the “best edition ever”.
Economy minister António Costa Silva will attend the event’s opening ceremony on Friday at 7pm and make a speech at the fairground’s main entrance.
The last edition of FATACIL held in 2019 – the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic – was hailed by the local council at the time as the best ever in its 40-year history, having attracted over 195,000 people, a 10% increase compared to 2018.
FATACIL, which has established itself as “an internationally-renowned equestrian fair”, will present an extensive programme with a headlining act from Spain with equestrian showman Paco Martos. There will be a daily performance by Polish act La Pattat Stunt Show, as well as displays with several national champions, an Olympic duo, and many more.
Daily concerts by the biggest names in Portuguese music and the Gipsy Kings
FATACIL is renowned for its concerts with some of the biggest names in Portuguese music, and this year is no different: Expensive Soul, João Pedro Pais, Quim Barreiros, Bárbara Bandeira, Resistência, Tony Carreira, and Gipsy Kings from Spain, are the headliners that will take the main stage.
Entertainment in the restaurant area will include DJ sets, fado moments, folkloric groups and popular music, and lots of typical Portuguese food, such as bifanas.
The long list of entertainment is accompanied by dozens of stalls, showcasing businesses from a wide range of sectors as well as craftspeople, who sometimes perform their craft live for visitors to see up close. There will also be plenty of traditional food and drinks to enjoy.
Main stage
August 19 – Expensive Soul
August 20 – Gipsy Kings by Diego Baliardo
August 21 – João Pedro Pais
August 22 – PROFJAM
August 23 – Quim Barreiros
August 24 – Plutónio
August 25 – Bárbara Bandeira
August 26 – Resistência
August 27 – Fernando Daniel
August 28 – Tony Carreira
Lagoa Stage (Restaurant area)
August 19
6pm-7pm– Sunset DJ Alexandre Ramos Feat Luís Raposo (sax)
7pm-10pm – Folkloric Ranch from Calvário and Faro
August 20
6pm-7pm – Sunset DJ Alexandre Ramos Feat Luís Raposo (sax)
7pm-10pm – Brasa Doirada
August 21
7pm-10pm – Xico Barata
August 22
7pm-10pm – 5EX Band
August 23
7pm-10pm – 1001 noites of accordion with accordionist Luís Mira
August 24
7pm-10pm – Beto Kalulu Band
August 25
7pm-10pm – Fado with Pedro Viola & Adriana Marques
August 26
6pm-7pm – Sunset DJ Alexandre Ramos Feat Luís Raposo (sax)
19h00-22h00 – US2
August 27
6pm-7pm – Sunset DJ Alexandre Ramos Feat Luís Raposo (sax)
7pm-10pm – Ricardo Sousa
August 28
7pm-10pm – Sounds of Gadanha and Group Cantares Fonte Nova de Estômbar
Equestrian Programme:
August 20 (Saturday) | 21:20 – Equestrian opening show
August 21 (Sunday) | 18:00 – Working Equitation – Teaching trial
August 22 (Monday)
18:00 – Ease of Handling trial
21:30 – Speed trial
August 23 (Tuesday) | 21:00 – Inauguration of the Fernando Oliveira arena, by Bruno Cavalinhos
August 24 (Wednesday) | 21:30 – Cavalgarve Equestrian Show, with Paco Martos (Spain) and Portuguese riders
August 25 (Thursday) | 21:30 – Iberian Night with Spanish Doma Vaquera champion, RafaelArcos, Portuguese champion of working equestrianism, Miguel da Fonseca and Portuguese Dressage champion, Manuel Veiga
August 26 (Friday) | 21:00 – Masterclass with the Olympic duo João Torrão and Coralie Baldrey
August 26 (Saturday):
18:00 – Portuguese Riding Event
21:30 – Cavalgarve Show
August 28 (Sunday) | 21:30 – Cavalgarve Show
Tickets are already on sale with daily tickets costing 4€, daily family tickets 14€, and the 10-day pass 25€. Children up to 12 years of age (inclusive) do not pay entry upon presentation of the Citizen Card.
Tickets can be purchased at Fnac and Worten, online on BOL, at the Centro Cultural Convento de São José, the Balcão Único (in Lagoa) and at the entrance of the fair.
Internationally acclaimed Lagoa Jazz Fest returns to Estômbar this July
– July 1, 2022
The intimistic Lagoa Jazz Festival returns once again to Estômbar for a set of jazz performances in a unique place, Sítio das Fontes, in Estômbar (part of Lagoa’s borough).
For the past 16 editions, the Lagoa Jazz Festival has had positive critics from the press and national and international artists.
The festival will feature a lounge space, street food and an art exhibition by the artist Margarida Freire “Legends on Canvas”.
Doors will open at 7pm and the main concerts will start at 10pm.
Lagoa Jazz Fest’22 Lineup
July 1
VEIN Trio (CHE)
with Michael Arbenz (piano), Thomas Lähns (double bass), Florian Arbenz (drums)
Desidério Lázaro’s Fourtet (PT)
with Desidério Lázaro (saxophones), Mário Delgado (electric guitar), Cícero Lee (electric bass), Carlos Miguel (drums)
July 2
Motion Trio (POL) with Janusz Wojtarowicz (accordion), Pawel Baranek (accordion), Marcin Galazyn (accordion)
July 3
Jose Luis Kaele Trio (SPA) with Jose Luis Kaele (piano), Cesar Diez (double bass), Diego Martin (drums)
Antonio Lizana Quintet (SPA) with António Lizana (saxophones and voice), Daniel Garcia Diego (acoustic piano/keyboards and back vocals), Jesús Caparrós (electric bass), Shayan Fathi (drums/percussions), Mawi de Cádiz (dance and back vocals)
The lounge area will showcase the following performances:
July 1 – “Road 31” Ana Rodrigues (voice) and Pablo Banazol (guitar and voice)
July 2 – Tércio Nanook (guitar/voice and percussion)
July 3 – Carlos Santos (piano) e Matt Lester (saxophone/clarinet)
Additional information
How to get to the Festival? Once in Estômbar (Lagoa’s borough), follow the GPS to the location of Fontes de Estômbar (Google Maps).
First session of Lagoa Wine Experiences 2022 will happen this weekend
– May 27, 2022
Lagoa Wine Experiences, an event held for the first time in 2021 which opened the doors of local wine estates to wine lovers, is returning this year with its first session taking place on Saturday, May 28, between 10.30am and 6pm.
Tickets cost €45 per person and include the wine tasting experiences, lunch and transport. They can be purchased online at www.ticketline.sapo.pt or at Lagoa’s usual outlets (Carlos do Carmo auditorium, São José convent and Balcão Único).
Says the local council, which organises the event, the 2022 edition has been improved and includes “more winemakers, more sessions, and many novelties”.
Last year, the council said that public interest in the event was “massive with demand strongly outweighing availability”. A total of 223 people took part in the six sessions, which were held at Quinta dos Santos, Única – Adega Cooperativa do Algarve, Morgado do Quintão, Quinta da Palmeirinha, Dona Niza Wines, Arvad Wines, Monte de Salicos and Quinta dos Vales.
Lagoa Swimrun will take place throughout the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
– May 3, 2022
On May 8, Swimrun Portugal is returning to the Algarve for its second year, this time in Lagoa, kickstarting the sports season.
The global phenomenon of Swimrun already counts more than 700 races in various European countries, with more than 8,000 “finishers”. The sport started in Sweden in 2006 with the “Otillo” race (meaning Island to Island), which started off as a bet between friends who embraced the challenge of racing between the islands of Stockholm’s archipelago, swimming between them in a total distance of 75km, including 10km in open waters.
Portugal soon caught up with the new sport along with other countries around the world, and in June 2017 hosted the “Arrábida Swimrun” – the first Swimrun competition in Portugal, where more than 200 athletesparticipated.
Lagoa Swimrun will have a standard distance of around 27km, starting at the Ermida da Senhora da Rocha, and a Sprint distance of around 12km, starting in Carvoeiro. Both will end in Ferragudo.
The following formats are available for anyone interested in participating:
– Team participation (duos), which accounts for the Swimrun National Circuit qualifications
– Individual participation.
The Sprint distance is solely for individual participation.
For those interested in participating, visit Swimrun Portugal‘s website.
Renowned Singer Vânia Fernandes will be joining the Algarve Jazz Orchestra in celebration of the International Jazz Day
– April 8, 2022
After two sold-out concerts to start off the year, the Algarve Jazz Orchestra (Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve) is preparing to celebrate International Jazz Day (April 30) with a concert in Lagoa this Thursday, April 14 at Lagoa’s Municipal Auditorium at 7pm.
“We never limit ourselves to just one day and prefer to make the month of April a celebration of this (genre of) music,” the orchestra says in statement to the press. And for this year’s celebrations, the orchestra invited Vânia Fernandes, a very “versatile, musical and powerful voice”.
This year’s programme will celebrate the classic jazz voices and players from the 20th century, such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, whose songs stood through time along with the classic orchestras of Count Basie, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington and Thad Jones.
The Algarve Jazz Orchestra and singer Vânia Fernandes will perform under the musical direction of Hugo Alves, in a celebration of more than 100 years of jazz music, universally recognized by UNESCO.
Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased online here (www.ticketline.sapo.pt).
Albufeira, Lagoa, Lagos and Silves present ‘Algarve Golden Terroir’
From left: Lagoa’s Mayor Luís Encarnação, Albufeira’s Mayor José Carlos Rolo and Silves’s Mayor Rosa Palma
– April 7, 2022
The Algarve boroughs of Albufeira, Lagoa, Lagos and Silves presented a joint bid for the title of European Wine City 2023 at the BTL tourism fair in Lisbon in March. The title is awarded by the European Network of Wine Cities (RECEVIN). The boroughs, which are applying as part of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPB), say their ‘Algarve Golden Terroir’ bid will represent “the wholeAlgarve, from the mountains to the sea”. The idea for these four boroughs to team up had been in the pipeline for two years.
Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação said the goal of the bid is to “pay tribute to the extraordinary work that is being done by our winemakers” to elevate the quality of Algarve wines.
“We want to bring to the Algarve a distinction that RECEVIN awards to emerging regions, those that truly want to develop such an important product like wine tourism,” said Encarnação.
“We believe it is a product that can be valued year-round and will help mitigate the effects of seasonality. I feel confident that we will be able to bring this important distinction to the Algarve, thanks to everything that Lagoa, Albufeira, Lagos and Silves, and the whole Algarve, have to offer — excellent wines, unique gastronomy, our beaches, a tradition for knowing how to make visitors feel welcome and a great capacity to organise events such as this one,” Encarnação said.
Lagoa Council will host a free course for anyone interested in learning about wine and how to identify their main characteristics
– March 16, 2022
Lagoa Council has teamed up with the Hotel and Tourism School of Portimão (EHTP) and the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA) to host a free course focusing on Algarve wines.
The course is part of the ‘Formação + Próxima’ programme and will begin at the Lagoa municipal library at 3pm on March 22. There will be four sessions taking place until the end of April.
The initiative is open to everyone, but prior registration is mandatory, and spaces are limited to just 25 participants.
Says Lagoa Council, “the course was carefully structured by CVA to give participants the ability to identify the main characteristics of Algarve wines as part of a training programme marked by different dynamics, rhythms and environments.”
Participants will be able to learn more about the region’s wines by taking part in masterclasses led by Lagoa wine producers, visiting local wineries and tasting several wines.
The council says that this is the second initiative of its kind that it is carrying out as part of a partnership signed with the national tourism board Turismo de Portugal to improve the skills of locals in the tourism sector.
Those interested in taking part must be registered on the Academia Digital website.
The Mestre Fernando Rodrigues Art School in Lagoa is starting its series of classes every third Saturday of the month, from 3pm to 6pm
– February 17, 2022
Working with clay is like touching the earth – it has therapeutic properties, and, starting this Saturday, February 19, everyone is invited to learn to sculpt with this material.
Leading the classes will be teacher Sandra Afonso, with a degree in Plastic Arts and Sculpture from the Fine Arts School of Porto University, who will focus on the exploration of form, as well as deconstructing the images of the world and of ourselves, deconstructing stereotypes and allowing the students to rejoice in the pleasure of creating and working with clay.
To begin, students will be introduced to sculpting and later gain new knowledge and sculpting skills.
Details
These classes are for all adults interested in plastic arts in general or with some previous artistic knowledge.
Participation in the classes will have an associated cost, with all necessary materials included, and it is subject to online confirmation through this email: escola.artes@lagoa.pt (there is a limit of 8 students)
Concert in honour of the iconic jazz musician Toots Thielemans with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra, Gonçalo Sousa and Luanda Cozetti this Saturday, February 19
– February 14, 2022
This February 19, enjoy the show “100’s Toots & Ellis” with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra, Gonçalo Sousa (harmonica) and Luanda Cozetti (singer).
The Algarve Jazz Orchestra (Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve) will perform this Saturday at the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium at 7pm, accompanied by guests Gonçalo Sousa and Luanda Cozetti, in a show that pays homage to the iconic Belgian jazz harmonica player Toots Thielemans, who would celebrate his centenary this year.
The ‘60s were the prime years of the Bossa Nova genre, and many jazz musicians accompanied the trend. Toots Thielman was not far behind, having done one of his major collaborations with one of the biggest Bossa Nova singers of the time, Ellis Regina.
Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve (Algarve Jazz Orchestra)
To recreate this incredible collaboration and many others, “100’s Toots & Ellis” will pay a tribute to the Bossa Nova era, with singer Luanda Cozetti giving voice to Brazil and other fusions. Songs like Desafinado, Corcovado, Bluesette, Stardustou Chega de Saudadewill be amongst the repertoire played on February 19.
Details
Tickets cost €8 (a 20% discount is available for holders of Lagoa’s cultural passport, social card and the Rota do Petisco 2021 passport) and can be purchased here, or at Fnac or Worten stores, and also at the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium.
The Algarve Wind Orchestra and Singer Sofia Escobar will perform in Lagoa’s Auditorium this Saturday at 7pm
– February 2, 2022
Sofia Escobar – a Portuguese actress and singer who has become a starring member of West End musicals in London – will perform alongside the Algarve Wind Orchestra (Orquestrade Sopros do Algarve) at Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo auditorium on Saturday, February 5 at 7pm.
The orchestra will be led by maestro João Rocha and will interpret Jorge Salgueiro’s second Symphony ‘Mare Nostrum’.
The symphony is inspired by the Portuguese Discoveries and follows the “Portuguese symphonic tradition that started with the symphonies of Luís de Freitas Branco and continued with Joly Braga Santos which features a narrative with four tempos: Vocatorius, Sirenis, De Profundis, and Adventus.”
Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased online at www.ticketline.sapo.pt or at Fnac, Worten and the ticket offices at the auditorium and Lagoa’s Balcão Único. A 20% discount is available for holders of Lagoa’s cultural passport, social card and the Rota do Petisco 2021 passport.
“Elas e o Jazz” singing trio will bring New York style Jazz to Lagoa this Saturday, 29th
– January 26, 2022
The talented singing trio of Joana Machado, Marta Hugon and Mariana Norton will be bringing their ‘Elas e o Jazz’ show to Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo auditorium on Saturday (January29) at 9.30pm.
The three singers met at Hot Clube de Portugal – a jazz school in Lisbon – when they were students. They eventually became teachers together at the same school, each pursuing their own musical endeavours and collaborating with each other occasionally before joining forces to perform tunes by some of their favourite jazz artists, such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Richard Rogers, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen.
The trio will be accompanied in Lagoa by pianist João Pedro Coelho, contrabass player Bernardo Moreira and drummer André SousaMachado, who will help “recreate the always contemporary universe of Broadway musicals and New York jazz clubs”.
Additional information
With a running time of 75 minutes (without intervals), show tickets cost €10 and can be purchased here, at Auditorium Carlos do Carmo, Balcão Único ticket offices, or at Fnac or Worten stores. You can also get 20% off with the cultural passport (Passaporte Cultural), Lagoa Social Card or the Rota dos Petiscos 2021 Passport, available at the ticket lines in Lagoa). Children under 6 years of age are notadmitted.
Follow “Elas e o Jazz” on Instagram and Facebook for up to date information about new concerts.
Ocean Restaurant, Best Luxury Restaurant in the World 2021, wins Michelin Star for the 11th consecutive year
– December 15, 2021
Chef Hans Neuner’s Ocean Restaurant in Vila Vita Parc Resort (Porches, Lagoa) has retained its two Michelin stars, adding yet another victory to the team’s portfolio after having received two international awards in October this year for Best Luxury Restaurant in the World (2021) and Best Locally Sourced Produce Menu by The World Luxury Awards.
“We are happy and always honoured to be part of the @michelin world, seeing our Michelin stars maintained. It’s 11 years of Michelin stars now! Thank you fantastic team!” was posted on the restaurant’s Instagram account.
Created under the strategic vision of Kurt Gillig, Managing Director at Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, in Porches, who has put the region on the world gastronomy map, restaurant Ocean, whose cuisine has been led by Chef Hans Neuner since 2007, offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the perfect combination of sublime cuisine, impeccable service and an elegant atmosphere, but stripped.
Bon Bon Restaurant in Carvoeiro Wins Michelin Star for the 7th consecutive year
Nuno Diogo and Chef José Lopes from Bon Bon, Carvoeiro, which retained its one star
Bon Bonowner Nuno Diogo has celebrated the restaurant’s accomplishment which has come after a change in kitchen leadership and at the end of an “atypical and very difficult year on every level for the restaurant sector.”
As Nuno Diogo pointed out, this was the seventh straight year that Bon Bon has received a Michelin star.
“This is a distinction that honours us greatly in a particularly difficult year, one of many sacrifices and uncertainty,” he said, adding that receiving the Michelin star comes as a “prize for all the difficulties we overcame this year”.
“It is an award that leaves us proud, but that should also leave Lagoa proud for having a restaurant of unmatched quality,” he said.
“I also want to thank chef José Lopes, our whole team at Bon Bon and those who contributed to its success with commitment, creativity and sacrifice,” the owner added.
Here’s the full list of awarded restaurants in Portugal
Two stars:
• Alma (Lisbon, chef Henrique Sá Pessoa)
• Belcanto (Lisbon, chef José Avillez)
• Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Leça da Palmeira, chef Rui Paula)
• Il Gallo d’Oro (Funchal, chef Benoît Sinthon)
• Ocean (Alporchinhos, chef Hans Neuner)
• The Yeatman (Vila Nova de Gaia, chef Ricardo Costa)
• Vila Joya (Albufeira, chef Dieter Koschina)
One star:
• 100 Maneiras (Lisbon, chef Ljubomir Stanisic)
• A Cozinha (Guimarães, chef António Loureiro)
• Antiqvvm (Porto, chef Vítor Matos)
• Al Sud (Lagos, chef Louis Anjos) – newcomer
• A Ver Tavira (Tavira, chef Luís Brito) – newcomer
• Bon Bon (Carvoeiro, chef José Lopes)
• CURA (Lisbon, chef Pedro Pena Bastos) – newcomer
• Eleven (Lisbon, chef Joachim Koerper)
• Eneko Lisboa (Lisbon, chef Eneko Atxa e Lucas Bernardes)
• Epur (Lisbon, chef Vincent Farges)
• Esporão (Reguengos de Monsaraz, chef Carlos Teixeira) – newcomer
• Feitoria (Lisbon, chef João Rodrigues)
• Fifty Seconds by Martín Berasategui (Lisbon, chef Filipe Carvalho)
• Fortaleza do Guincho (Cascais, chef Gil Fernandes)
• G Pousada (Bragança, chef Óscar Gonçalves)
• Gusto by Heinz Beck (Almancil, chef Libório Buonocore)
• LAB by Sergi Arola (Sintra, chef Sergi Arola e Vladimir Veiga)
• Largo do Paço (Amarante, chef Tiago Bonito)
• Loco (Lisbon, chef Alexandre Silva)
• Mesa de Lemos (Viseu, chef Diogo Rocha)
• Midori (Sintra, chef Pedro Almeida)
• Pedro Lemos (Porto, chef Pedro Lemos)
• Vila Foz (Porto, chef Arnaldo Azevedo) – newcomer
• Vista (Portimão, chef João Oliveira)
• Vistas (Vila Nova de Cacela, chef Rui Silvestre)
• William (Funchal, chef Luís Pestana)
Experience the magic of Christmas this Saturday, December 18, with “A Warm Christmas” Concert
– December 14, 2021
On December 18, at 9.30 pm, the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium, in Lagoa, receives the Algarve Jazz Orchestra and Jazz singer Marta Hugon for the concert “A Warm Christmas”.
Marta Hugon, one of the current Portuguese jazz singers with well-established credits, joins the Algarve Jazz Orchestra for “A Warm Christmas” where we will be able to listen to some of the most emblematic season standards, such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, but also others like “Time After Time”, “Misty” or “Embraceble You”. Songs immortalized by the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and many, many other voices.
The “Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve” (Algarve Jazz Orchestra), a Big Band comprised of 18 musicians, was created after the edition of “Lagos Jazz 2004”, and was formally established in 2005 under the name of “Associação Músicas no Sul” (Music in the South Association), and currently under the name of “OJA – Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve” (Algarve Jazz Orchestra). The project is an idea of Hugo Alves, who was immediately supported by the Municipality of Lagos.
Since 2009/2010, the project has had the direct support of DGArtes, and is now a nationwide project. OJA has held hundreds of concerts to date, with highlights to the invitation by the Assembly of the Republic (2008) to perform in the Senate Room, or the ones that took place in the Teatro São Luíz and in Praça do Rossio, in Lisbon or the participation at the International Festival of Loulé Jazz.
OJA is a unique and recognized project at a national level, due to the importance it has had in promoting music and jazz in the country, in the training of musicians, and above all, for the high-quality musical shows it has provided.
Tickets cost €8 (20% discount with cultural passport, Lagoa Social card or Rota do Petisco Passport 2021, available at ticket offices in the Municipality of Lagoa) and are already on sale here and also at Fnac, Worten and at the ticket offices of the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium and Balcão Único of Lagoa City Hall.
Under the artistic direction of Lagoa magician Paulo Cabrita, the event will be held over two days (September 3 and 4) and feature famous Portuguese, Spanish and Argentinian magicians who will perform several shows in the borough
As part of Lagoa’s “A Cultura Sai À Rua” (Culture Out in the Street) initiative, the Lagoa Magic Fest 2021 will see artists Arkadio & Solange Kardinaly (Spain), José de Lemos (Portugal), Salguery (Portugal), Mr Daba (Argentina), Manuel Barata (Portugal) and Lagoa magician Paulo Cabrita entertain people passing by on the street with magic tricks and illusions during “popup events” on September 3.
A Gala Night will be held on September 4 at the Carlos do Carmo Municipal Auditorium at 8.30pm.
The free “popup events” start at 11am in Porches (church square), Estômbar (garden) and Parchal (Rua do Município/Largo da Che Lagoense). From 6pm, the magic will move to Carvoeiro (beach square), Lagoa (Jardim 5 de Outubro) and Ferragudo (Largo Rainha D. Leonor). Shows follow all DGS health authority recommendations.
Tickets to the Gala Night cost €8 per person and can be purchased at Ticketline, Worten, Fnac, Auditório Carlos do Carmos (282 380 452), Convento de S. José in Lagoa (282 380 434) and the local Balcão Único (282 380 400).
Pastry shops in Lagoa will be serving ‘Florados de Lagoa’, an almond and egg-based sweet which has been a staple of local confectionery for years but has remained something of a secret to the general population.
The initiative has been organised by the local council, which revealed in 2019 that the original recipe for making the Florados de Lagoa had been kept at the local convent for centuries before finally being revealed recently.
Now, the goal is to show locals and visitors how delicious this sweet treat is.
Says the council, local pastry shops will be baking the ‘Florados de Lagoa’ throughout the coming weeks, “staying true to the original recipe, and respecting the technique and secrets handed down from generation to generation”.
“The Florado de Lagoa is here to stay. Everyone should try this convent sweet. We are very proud of it,” said Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação.
‘Florados de Lagoa’ can be enjoyed at the following establishments from 9.15am to 11.15am and from 5pm to 6pm:
• Pastelaria Quente Quentinho (Ferragudo) – Friday, August 20
• Pastelaria Crocante (Parchal) – Tuesday, August 24
• Pastelaria Algarve (Lagoa) – Thursday, August 26
Florados de Lagoa are also available at local restaurants, such as Restaurante O Charneco and Restaurante O Ciclo.
The 32-year-old athlete arrived in the town on August 6 accompanied by her coach José Uva
Her goal is to recover from her silver medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics and prepare for the World Athletics Championships next year.
Patrícia Mamona and coach José Uva
“The good condition of our facilities played a role in the athlete’s choice (to come to Lagoa),” the local council said in a statement to the press.
Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação invited Mamona and her coach to the town hall on Monday (August 9) to “congratulate them personally on their achievement at the Olympics, thank them for choosing Lagoa” and to inform them of the council’s plans for the Bela Vista stadium, where it will replace the current running pitch and install new ramps and stairs with a synthetic pitch – “an innovative project that does not exist in Portugal at the moment,” says the council.
“It is a huge honour for us to have Patrícia Mamona, a current Olympic silver medal winner, training in Lagoa,” said Encarnação.
Patrícia Mamona with Lagoa mayor Luis Encarnação
“It is a sign that the strategy of sports development created by the current administration is bearing fruit and that Lagoa is strengthening its status as a top sports destination.”
The project is set to honour the life and work of local painter Manuel Gamboa
On May 24, the day master Manuel Gamboa would turn 96 years old, the Municipality of Lagoa publicly presented the project for the creation of a space dedicated to the life and work of the painter.
The “museum” will contribute to the recognition of a renowned figure in Lagoa, inserted in a cultural policy of continuity, promoted by the Municipality, focused on protecting and valuing the council’s cultural heritage, as well as being a living testimony of the history and identity of this population.
The ceremony featured videos and personal testimonies from friends, mayor Luís Encarnação and former mayors, who had the privilege of dealing with Master Manuel Gamboa, retelling several episodes of the painter’s life and work, his life path, legacy and works scattered around the world. During the ceremony, the work team presented the Architecture, Museology and Museography projects, showing the space that will come to life at the Cultural Centre of the Convento de S. José, in Lagoa.
Espaço Gamboa will host a vast number of Manuel Gamboa’s well-known works of art, and the council hopes that this space will also include works from private collections that are not public knowledge. The space will be made up of three rooms corresponding to the three distinct moments of the painter’s life — one with his early works; a classic exhibition room with the most important pieces that can be found in the collection of Lagoa council and interaction areas for visitors; as well as a room dedicated to educational services, which are essential in any museum space in modern times.
“This is a major moment for the population of Lagoa. This space has long been desired by all and honours a painter of the world, an unavoidable figure of our history and our identity,” stated Luís Encarnação.
The Promenade Concert Cycle continues on June 13, with the concert Histórias D’Encantar, at 4.30pm at the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium, in Lagoa.
The OCS Algarve orchestra will be joined by maestro Élio Leal and Rui Baeta as presenter and interpreter. Together they will perform works by Johann Strauss, Carl Nielsen, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Gioacchino Rossini.
Starting at 4.30pm, with limited seating as per the guidelines of the health authorities, tickets are €6 for adults and €3 for children under 12 (age limit for attending the show is +3). There is also a family ticket (2 adults + 1 child) for €12. Click here to purchase.
You can also buy tickets for the concert “From the Screen to the Stage” that will close the Promenade Concert Cycle on July 4 here.
Lagoa’s Sand City, described as the “largest sand sculpture theme park in the world”, opened its doors to the public in late May and is promising another season of impressive sand sculptures, this year themed around ‘Mythological Creatures and Monsters’.
Located on the EN125 opposite the Nobel International School Algarve, the exhibition is still being put together. In other words, visitors will have the opportunity to not only see the existing sculptures but also witness the creation of new ones.
Tickets cost €11.90 for adults, €9.50 for seniors (+65) and €5.90 for children aged six to 12. To celebrate the opening of the sand sculpture season, Sand City is offering a 15% discount on tickets purchased online.
Sand City was previously known as Fiesa when it was located in Pêra, before undergoing a rebrand and moving to Lagoa. It is just two years away from celebrating its 20th anniversary and is considered one of the main summer attractions in the Algarve.
The theme park opens at 10am and closes at 6pm until June 7 and at 7pm until July 9. Between July 10 and September 10, it will stay open until 10pm.
On February 26, Local artist Inna Hawker inaugurated an exhibition of several paintings at Lagoa’s Convent’bio store.
The exhibition will run until the end of April and will be open for individual viewings only due to the Covid-19 pandemic. An opening ceremony with food and drinks is planned for when the ongoing lockdown is lifted.
Inna is a self-taught artist who was born in Ukraine in 1981 and moved to Portugal over 10 years ago. Her paintings tend to reflect her love of nature and explore the connections between it, the cosmos and the soul.
“I have loved art since I was young and when I later became a school teacher, I found art very helpful in my work with children,” she says.
Over time, she developed a strong feeling that she had to start painting, simply because she had “so much to say to the world”.
“Painting is a wonderful way to express myself. My work is about true love and the energetic connection between man and woman. There is a deep connection between nature, the cosmos and the soul, and they bond together to tell the story about who we are deep inside ourselves.”
Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm, Convent’Bio is located on the EN125 road in the building of the former Carmo convent in Sítio do Carmo.
The Algarve municipality of Lagoa has been named one of the safest destinations to visit in Europe in 2021, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to online portal European Best Destinations (EBD).
Carvoeiro Beach, Lagoa Photo: INÊS LOPES/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
Destinations were selected based on criteria such as “the number of active cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, the number of deaths, health measures, recommendations put in place by the authorities to welcome you in hotels, tourist accommodations, shops and restaurants in compliance with health standards”.
“Almost untouched by Covid-19 in recent months, the Algarve is one of the safest destinations in Europe with 10 times fewer severe cases per million inhabitants than hard-hit countries like Belgium,” says the online travel portal.
“If we take the population of the Algarve and the number of serious cases (deaths), the region is even half as affected by Covid-19 than certain regions of Greece, which are already seen as a safe destination.”
The website also stresses that the municipality put measures in place “very early” to protect the local population and reduce the spread of Covid-19.
“Bringing together some of the most beautiful jewels of the Algarve such as the beaches of Cova Redonda or the beach of Praia Nova and its famous chapel, the beach of Marinha, the villages of Carvoeiro, Ferragudo, Porches … Lagoa is probably one of the most beautiful Algarve destinations and one of the safest,” it also says.
Albandeira beach, Lagoa
Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação has celebrated the borough’s inclusion on the list.
“It is with great pride and satisfaction that I see Lagoa picked as one of the safest destinations in Europe by the prestigious European Best Destinations. This distinction brings us even more responsibility, but it is a sign of the work we have all carried out since the start of the pandemic,” he said in a press statement.
Other Portuguese destinations on the list are Madeira and Azores islands, and the Alentejo region.
Other European destinations include Martinique (Lesser Antilles), Tahiti (French Polynesia) and several regions in Greece.
Lagoa Wine Experiences is the name of a new initiative that aims to shine the spotlight on locally produced wines.
Launched in celebration of Wine Tourism Day, the initiative will start with a tour of three wine estates on Saturday, November 7.
The tour will begin at 10.30am at the wine cellars of the Adega Cooperativa do Algarve, one of the oldest in Portugal, followed by a tuk-tuk ride to the historic Quinta da Palmeirinha estate where participants can enjoy a welcome drink and lunch.
In the afternoon, the tour will move onto Morgado do Quintão, a winery that uses 300-year-old winemaking techniques to create its own original wines.
There will be wine tasting and other wine-related experiences taking place at all three estates, organisers say.
Tickets cost €36.90 and can be purchased on ticketline.pt, Worten, Fnac, the São José Convent and Lagoa’s Balcão Único.
The event is open to a maximum of 34 participants.
It’s official – Lagoa has been selected to host Portugal’s first Wine Cities Competition, which will take place between November 26 and 29 at the town’s São José Convent.
Around 600 Portuguese wines are to be judged, all of which will automatically enter the European wine competition ‘Città del Vino’ to be held in Italy between May 20 and 23 next year.
From left: Sara Silva, president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), José Calixto, president of the European Wine Cities Network, Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação and Pedro Ribeiro, president of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV) – Photo: MARIA SIMIRIS/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
“The Wine Cities Competition is the only such initiative in the world that associates wines and municipalities. Both here and in Italy, the municipality where the winning wine is produced will receive a prize as will the winemakers,” José Arruda, the secretary-general of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV), said at the presentation of the event at the Quinta dos Vales wine estate in Estômbar on Friday (October 16).
The competition will begin with a tasting of Algarvian wines on the first day, followed by eight visits to some of the region’s top wineries the following two days. Said Arruda, around 40 wine connoisseurs from all over Portugal as well as Spain and Italy will be travelling to the Algarve to discover local wines.
The competition has also been honoured with the ‘High Support of His Excellency the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic’. “It is the only wine contest so far to receive this honour,” said Arruda. Every participating wine will also compete for awards at the Italian ‘Città del Vino’, which could bring even more international attention to the national and regional winemaking sectors.
“Last year, 230 Portuguese wines took part in the contest. This year, 600 are expected to participate. The hosting country will enter 1,100 wines, which means we could be very close to the number of wines that Italy will be showcasing,” he said. Arruda also stressed that the Algarve is the “third region with the most wines signed up” for the competition. And Lagoa stands out as the Algarve municipality with the most locally-made wines (22) participating. “It is a very significant number,” Arruda said.
Meanwhile, Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação says he is delighted that the Wine Cities Competition will be taking place in the borough and that so many of its wines are participating. After stressing Lagoa’s “great winemaking tradition”, the mayor said that wine tourism could be a solution to the Algarve’s chronic seasonality – the word so often used to describe the region’s tourism activity, the bulk of which takes place during summer. “There’s a business opportunity here that we cannot ignore,” he said.
José Calixto, president of the European Wine Cities Network and a member of the competition’s Honorary Committee, agrees that there is untapped potential in the Algarve’s wine sector as the quality of local wines has been growing remarkably. At first, he said, there was some doubt about the wines produced in the Algarve. “The path they have treaded is remarkable, both in terms of quality and value,” he said.
António Ventura, a reputable oenologist and the president of the competition’s jury, also highlighted the “extremely laudable work” that has been done in order to improve the quality of Algarve wines. “And this is probably the Portuguese region with the most potential to explore wine tourism,” he said. “In the future, the region will be even more successful, and I believe this competition could be great for the Algarve,” he said.
Wine sector forced to “reinvent itself”
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced virtually every sector of society to adapt to these new strange times, and the wine sector is no exception. “All winemakers have reacted and reinvented themselves digitally with new consumer profiles, new markets and other distribution channels,” said Pedro Ribeiro, president of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV). He added that the Algarve has also “responded very well” to the challenge and that, despite the losses it has sustained, it is “on the right path” and will have “more to offer in future”.
Joint bid to become European Wine City
Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação also announced that Albufeira, Lagoa, Lagos and Silves are partnering in a joint bid to be named the European Wine City in 2022.
Original article written by Maria Simiris for Barlavento newspaper.
The Lagoa gallery introduces some of its new artists
When you pass the Adega Cooperativa de Lagoa, you could easily not realise that there’s a fascinating art gallery housed inside the working wine co-op. The space is vast, with an industrial-urban vibe that would be more common in a big city than opposite the bus station in Lagoa.
The Lady in Red (LiR) gallery hosts a fabulous range of local, national and international artists, all year round, from large installations as well as smaller, take-home pieces (they can also arrange shipping and delivery). The exhibition centre is perched above the bottling and processing part of the co-op, its runways and corridors giving a bird’s-eye view of the action below, making for a unique ambience. There’s a mixture of sculptures, paintings and ceramics in spacious displays with excellent lighting to show everything at its very best.
The industrial and distressed walls give a dramatic background for the art, with some pieces almost appearing to float in mid-air. This is a venue that is well worth a visit, so allow yourself some time to take it all in, as there’s a lot to see. Entering the main gallery area, there’s a welcoming Lounge Bar area with comfy sofas to relax on, as well as a sunny terrace at the front. As you might have gathered, this is not your usual Lagoa hangout; here you can enjoy Teapigs teas, Caffe Praego or Surf Brewing craft beer — brands that exhibit sustainability, charity and flavour and match their ethos.
As an events venue, LiR is quite different. The artwork mixed with the industrial surroundings of the co-op, which has a long tradition in the region, create a very distinct ambience, as unique as the art itself. This is a vast space with a stage and seating area for live or streamed performances and presentations. Live music and productions also take place throughout the year. For 2020, LiR has welcomed a series of new artists into their fold, with the most varied background and style.
Born and raised in the quiet fishing village of Olhão, painter and sculptor Pedro Águas has an academic background in Visual Arts from the University of the Algarve. His work seeks freedom from the demands of logic and dives beyond everyday consciousness. Águas attempts to overcome the contradiction between objectivity and subjectivity, providing a poetic hallucination, an expansion of consciousness. With his clay head sculptures, he explores our unconscious and dreams, where anything is possible.
Pedro Águas
British painter Jessica Dunn has lived and worked in the Algarve for over 20 years. Following her Art studies at Kingston Polytechnic, in London, she moved to southern Portugal, where she loves taking advantage of the ever-present sunlight. Through the layering of tones, colours and texture, our eyes are drawn into a world of reflection, tranquillity and timelessness featured in her work.
Jessican Dunn
With a degree in Painting from the College of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, Inês Barracha is a visual artist who combines her fine-arts skills with various fields of design and multimedia. After three years in England studying and working in the area of 3D digital animation, she was invited to teach several subjects in higher and technical courses in Design, Multimedia, Animated Image and Illustration, which brought her back to Portugal. She now works with the MODO project — a neo-rural space that promotes artistic experimentation and training in various creative areas. Barracha has been developing community projects, partnerships, collaborations and other works that have been expanding the MODO concept nationally and internationally.
Inês Barracha
Lisbon-based artist Bebeko is originally from Montreal, Canada. Born Kenya Saint-Lôt and of Portuguese and African descent, she moved to Portugal last year to pursue her dream to be a full-time artist. The self-taught painter decided to use the pseudonym Bebeko for her artwork as a tribute to the childhood nickname that her father gave her. Her abstract painting style reflects her compulsive energy — when she paints, she trusts the guidance of her intuition; it’s her way to listen to her own inner voice.
Bebeko
Born in Porto, Helena de Medeiros graduated from London Fashion School and the ESAD School of Arts and Design, in Matosinhos. Her work as a costume designer is dedicated mainly to contemporary ballet but also cinema, theatre and opera. She has collaborated with great choreographers such as Gradimir Pankov, Iracity Cardoso, Mauro Bigonzetti, or Xin Peng Wang. She also has a parallel career as a painter, having displayed her work since 1990 in solo exhibitions around the world. Helena’s paintings establish an essential dialogue with her work as a costume designer.
Helena de Medeiros
Finally, Rita Pereira is a Portuguese artist based in Lagos, where she is a resident artist at Laboratório de Atividades Criativas (LAC). In 2009, she began her studies in Sculpture at Lisbon’s Fine Arts School and, in 2010, she also pursued Equipment Design, graduating in 2013, followed by a master’s degree in Product Design at the School of Arts and Design in Caldas da Rainha. The pieces on display in the Lady in Red Gallery are smaller than her usual large and often imposing works. Here, you’ll find a selection of small, one-of-a-kind stone carvings with blown glass decanters.
Rita Pereira
LiR is currently open Monday to Sunday from 12pm-5pm but times may vary (mask is mandatory). Entry is free.
A series of outdoor events entitled “A Cultura Sai à Rua” (Culture Out in the Street) has been launched by Lagoa council and will last until September 5, “following all health authority (DGS) recommendations”.
On July 23, there will be jazz music by Mistura Fina at Fontes de Estombar; on July 24, Mónica Pereira and Fad’nu will perform a dance and music show outside Lagoa’s main church; and on July 28, Carlos Guilherme (tenor) will celebrate his 40-year singing career at the Carvoeiro amphitheatre.
All performances start at 9pm. Tickets cost from €2 and can be bought from Ticketline or at the door.
The 46th Volta ao Algarve will kick off from Portimão to Lagos on February 19
The second day will see competitors travel from Sagres to Alto da Fóia, in what is billed as one of the most demanding stages ever — cyclists must first take on Pomba, a 3.9km uphill trail with 7.1% inclination, and reach Fóia through an 8km track with 6.3% inclination. On February 21, there is a 200km journey from Faro to Tavira, while the fourth leg will connect Albufeira to Malhão, with yet another challenging trail (2.5km and 9.9% inclination). The final stage will come to Lagoa with a 20.3km individual time trial. On that same day, the town will also host the Algarve Granfondo, a cycling challenge for participants in top physical condition, which is expect to receive around 1,000 contenders.
Getting around the parish of Lagoa has never been easier
The comfortable, flexible hop-on, hop-off Rota das Falésias (cliffs’ route) minibus service is a great way to see the sights of Carvoeiro, Ferragudo and Lagoa. The 20-seater, air-conditioned Mercedes Benz minibus runs every half hour, seven days a week, with passengers able to hop on and off as many times as they like, buying either a 24- or 48-hour ticket.
So, for an interesting day out, you could catch the morning bus from Clube Atlântico, have breakfast by the beach in Carvoeiro or Centianes, then head inland to Lagoa. Perhaps pop into the Convento de São José and check out an exhibition or visit the fabulous art gallery, Galeria de Arte, in the old winery beside the EN125, enjoying some fair trade coffee with your art or maybe a spot of people-watching at one of the many roadside cafes. Hop back on and take the coastal road to beautiful Caneiros beach, home of the stylish fish restaurant, Rei das Praias. Near Canerios bus stop you will also find Saluki, a brilliant Moroccan-inspired restaurant, with lounge bar, roof terrace and swimming pool open to patrons.
If you head to Praia Grande beach, you’ll find four very different beach bars and a Kayak/Stand-up Paddleboarding kiosk; Club Nau has a delicious new sushi menu, live music several days a week and an outstanding wine/cocktail selection. Back on the bus, you could pop into the sleepy fishing village of Ferragudo, walk through the tiny cobbled streets, browse the shops and lunch at one of the many decent restaurants, such as Borda do Cais on the harbour front – a real treat for fish lovers. Nearby is a great marine biologist-run excursion company, Wildwatch, which has an excellent success rate finding wild dolphins.
This fabulous service has stops at Clube Atlântico, Rocha Brava, Palm Gardens, Tivoli Carvoeiro, Algar Seco, Carvoeiro square, Monte Carvoeiro, Sesmarias, Caneiros, Vila Castelo, Ferragudo centre and Lagoa library.The Spring/Summer schedule is 9am until 11pm. Tickets cost €10 for 24 hours and €15 for 48 hours. In a first for Portugal, electric bikes can now be rented in Carvoeiro’s
main square. The network includes 20 state-of-the-art e-bikes, all equipped with GPS and 3G communications, as well as alarms and other anti-theft and anti-vandalism devices. With bikes and charging points based in Carvoeiro, Ferragudo and Senhora da Rocha (Porches), the bikes can be rented automatically with a membership card or by downloading the Bewegen Lagoa app on iPhone and Android smart phones. Membership cards or occasional user passes can be bought at docking station, with prices ranging from €5 to €80. Residents can buy six-monthly or annual subscriptions for €72 and €108 respectively (a Portuguese tax number and address are needed for the residents’ subscription). Smart bikes are exactly that: they know where they are, and where they’ve been. Using the website and mobile app, you can track your previous bike routes, see how far you have travelled, check the time of your trips, and much more. The great news is that they can be ridden for a full day and still have battery life remaining.
Created by the Portuguese company bikeemotion, the bikes are yet another great, home-grown product designed to make the most of this beautiful country. The bike network was a top-voted idea in Lagoa’s 2014 citizens’ budget, which allows locals to suggest and vote for their own projects. It cost €125,000 to bring to life, €65,000 of which was funded by Lagoa council and the rest by Wegoshare Lda, one of the project’s partners.
Council president Francisco Martins thanked the project’s partners for “the idea and the fact that they contributed a functional, alternative option that should help combat the difficultly of traffic congestion in the summer months”. Thanks to these two new local transport options, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a safe and stress-free summer.
The Tivoli Almansor hotel is undergoing major refurbishment this winter and aims to be open at the beginning of April 2017.
Having been open for 25 years, the four-star hotel was showing signs of aging when the new owners, Minor International, closed its doors in November 2016. The new and improved plans will no doubt boost the hotel’s status to five stars, which are certainly more fitting to its frontline location.
A totally new, bold façade will change the entrance, which will open up to a whole new outlook. The number of rooms will be reduced, from 293 to 246, in a bid to offer more spacious and comfortable accommodation, including family rooms and a presidential suite. Three restaurants will be available: a Portuguese gourmet eatery, an Italian trattoria and one other offering international cuisine.
The new Grotto bar will offer a modern and relaxed setting with amazing views where visitors will be able to enjoy cocktails designed by the hotel’s mixologists, whilst the Sky Bar, located on the top of the hotel, will bring a luxurious and cosmopolitan meeting place to Carvoeiro, boasting lounge areas, a comprehensive drinks menu and best of all, uninterrupted sea views.
The hotel will also have a new spa, a fitness training centre, seven meeting rooms and a special venue for wedding receptions plus a range of activities designed for the younger guests.
River House meets river retreat, a holiday haven for foodies and nature lovers
Heading inland from Silves, you might get the impression that you’re venturing into no man’s land but that is far from the case. There are many rural retreats hidden in wonderfully peaceful and stunningly beautiful locations dotted around the Algarve, so Inside Magazine took a drive out to meet Cheryl and Graham Smith and find out what makes their place special.
They bought a traditional Portuguese farmhouse with stables and a barn, which was converted into Figs on the Funcho, and there are now two main buildings within the property boundaries, River House and River Lodge.
The River House is now a modern, stylish and spacious villa with five roomy double bedrooms, an infinity pool overlooking the Funcho River, and decking areas designed for dining, entertaining and, most importantly, relaxing under the Carob trees enjoying a gorgeous uninterrupted view over the idyllic countryside. It’s a place of privacy and undisturbed tranquility, ideal for guests who appreciate the splendid location and its air of sophistication.
The River Lodge is currently a barn and stables with big plans for the future and will be converted over the coming years into individual double rooms with social areas and more fabulous outdoor spaces. Figs on the Funcho is a destination venue where the Smiths pride themselves on giving their guests the very best of what’s on offer in the local area. With specialty welcome baskets, private arrangements with local suppliers, your own SUP trips on the river, the Via Algarviana walking route directly past the driveway and a “can do attitude” from the owners, just about anything is possible here.
A real foodie, Cheryl told us about the various experiences that are on offer at Figs on the Funcho. “We offer various cookery classes and retreats from a four-hour Portuguese Holiday Cooking Master Class to a five-day Culinary Extravaganza. Under the guidance of a local chef, guests get to create a bespoke menu using ingredients of their choice to suit their preferences and we also offer a three-hour Indian cookery class, which is proving very popular. The five-day extravaganza combines a discovery tour of the local culinary dishes with a holiday cooking course where guests will discover the passion of Portuguese cooking, how to create local specialties and which seasonal ingredients will add that extra something to your dish.”
Cooking together is a great way to understand Portuguese ingredients and methods and even more so in their highly sociable and bright kitchen which is ideal for cookery classes. Portugal is rich in fabulous, seasonal produce and cuisine which is becoming a tourist attraction in itself while some of the country’s biggest gastronomic events are now taking place here in the Algarve.
Guests can enjoy early morning yoga sessions on the Waterfront Deck and Cheryl works closely with a number of yoga and detox experts who host their own workshops at Figs on the Funcho every year. Through the workshops, guests find out how to increase their energy and cleanse their system, leaving them feeling renewed by the end of their stay. For example, The Raw Truth, including yoga by popular regular visitor Stephanie Jeffs, is a detox retreat that will take place in the first two weeks of August 2017.
Individuals can join detox expert Stephanie for a week-long break in the Algarve whilst gaining an understanding of how super foods can reinvigorate your body and mind. The retreat includes demonstrations on how to prepare healthy, detoxifying meals and raw food dishes while also offering rest and the prospect of losing some weight.
The layout of the River House is just lovely and suitable for families, friends, and groups and has enough space to accommodate up to 70 people for weddings or other events such as family holiday or organized retreats.
Cheryl told us: “I’m passionate about Portugal; holidaying, exploring, enjoying good food and wine and sharing my discoveries with others so that they can experience the luxurious offerings of the Algarve. Our dream for the future is to settle in the south of Portugal which we chose as our ‘living the dream destination’. I love to explore the area, find new beaches, restaurants, and activities, sample new wines and visit nearby towns and villages. And so, you can trust that all recommendations on our blog and in our resources have been tried, tested and given the Cheryl stamp of approval.”
Honuhele SUP boards, bringing manufacturing back to Portugal
indsurfer Guilherme Martins welcomed Inside Magazine to his surf shop, overlooking the sprawling beach of Praia da Rocha, to find out more about his stand up paddle- boards business. Born in northern Portugal, Guilherme came back to his parents’ hometown, Portimão, and began to search for a beach concession where he could rent Stand Up Paddle- boards (SUP). In 2012 he found a spot in Alvor and after a wonderful year hanging out on the beach and renting the boards to tourists, it was time to replace the boards.
If you’ve never bought a SUP board before you may be surprised to know how much a good one costs and, with this in mind, he began to think about branching out and making his own boards. Being a former teacher with no technical background whatsoever didn’t really help but this was something that Guilherme was passionate about. He decided to investigate what was involved in making a board and find out if it would be practicable. His cousin Tiago was in the mannequin production business and had some manufacturing connections in China, so the cousins went off to China to get the ball rolling. Guilherme told us: “We were so excited and began brainstorming on the plane for a brand name. I was sure that it needed to have something to do with SUPs origins.”
And so Honuhele was born, a name derived from combining Hawaiian names that are related to the sea and movement, Honu meaning Turtle, and Hele meaning move, go and travel. With Hawaii being the birthplace of windsurfing and SUP the cousins decided this was a fitting tribute.
Although the first shipment of boards that arrived in Portugal soon sold out, Guilherme was not fully comfortable with the idea that the boards were being produced in China and thus had a big carbon footprint. “Something was always niggling inside me because I want these boards to be 100% Portuguese,” he told us. “I went to a trade show in Madrid and met someone who could help to bring the production back to Europe but it wasn’t until 2015, when I met a surfboard manufacturer in Munich, that the last piece of the puzzle was in place and I could proceed.”
The cousins found a factory with perfect conditions in Guilherme’s birth town of Figueira da Foz, as well as a skilled board maker and more eco-friendly materials for construction. “The current factory is great as it’s centrally located for supplies and also by the sea which is perfect for sea trials and quality control. I would, of course, love to bring everything down to the Algarve in time but, for now, this is the best solution,” explained Guilherme.
Many of the components that are used to make the boards are not particularly eco-friendly and Honuhele are working on ways to develop much more environmentally-friendly options, including cork.
“We have made a few cork boards with the help of Amorim who are the biggest manufacturer of cork products in Portugal and often run campaigns for designers who are involved in sustainable projects using cork. The cork boards are amazing; I love them and we are working on the technology and hope to be able to create more and more affordable boards with cork. This is my new goal, to eradicate the plastic components and make a SUP that is at one with its home, the sea.” Guilherme smiled. “I am very keen to explore new techniques and take the brand to the next level.”
Production costs in Portugal are around 15% higher than in China but Honuhele are happy to absorb this for the peace of mind of having everything made in Portugal and the environmental impact of production and shipping far outweigh the cost.
For now, you can’t buy the boards online so you will have to go to the surf shop and see them in person.
Water, soap and the pressure of Maria Custódio’s hands compress the wool to felt. A simple, ancient technique that, coupled with Maria’s imagination, allows for an infinite number of design possibilities.
Unlike in Germany or France, the art of felting is not well known in Portugal where only a handful of artisans practise the art of wet or dry felt. Maria Custódio is one of these artists. Although she lived for the first 22 years of her life in Paris, and then another 22 in Hamburg, she first discovered this technique in the Algarve, settling here in 2005. “When I looked through a German magazine I noticed a bag whose shape and colours were extraordinary. Just different from what you are used to in the fashion industry,” she recalls.
Maria’s curiosity was aroused. She did some research and discovered different felting techniques, finding that this natural material offers infinite possibilities. She soon tried wet felting and has never looked back. Initially, it was a hobby but, after enthusiastic friends kept buying her pieces, she decided to see if her creations would trigger interest in others, and so she offered some pieces to place on sale at a boutique in Monchique. “Customers were fascinated and always looked for new designs,” says Maria. “That gave me the courage to continue and open my own studio.” The focus, she soon decided, should not be on sales, but on her workplace. Maria is naturally sociable and this, coupled with a desire to make her work more widely known, led her to open up her studio to the outside world. “When you enter my studio, you have the opportunity to watch me felting, to feel the sheep wool and try it out yourself,” explains Maria.
Maria has now been felting for five years. She uses wool from Merino sheep, which is particularly soft and does not smell or scratch; it heats when it’s cold and cools when it’s warm. The wool which Maria processes is also dyed according to guidelines that mean it is pollutant-tested and poses no health risk.
To make felt Maria pulls off tufts of wool and lays them on top of the other. Then she sprinkles water over the wool and gently rubs it with soap-soaked hands. The individual fibers of the wool are thereby matted and the wool forms a solid, textile surface structure.
“What fascinates me when it comes to felting is that you start your pieces practically at zero,” explains Maria. “The raw material can be designed according to our imagination. I choose the colours, the nuances, the patterns and the shape. It is a pure creative work.”
Whether it’s a dress, a jacket, a hat, a shawl, a bag or a bedspread, all her creations are easily distinguished by their fascinating colours and original design. The combination of Merino wool with silk, cotton or linen – in technical language referred to as Nuno-felting – lends her pieces even more originality. The fusion – colour, texture and design – is a feast for the senses and each of Maria’s creations is unique.
Maria also creates decorative objects such as pictures, fairy lights or mobiles, as well as brooches and coasters. When Maria talks about the art of felting and the material, you sense she has discovered her passion. “Wool is a living natural product that also lives on when it is a finished piece hanging in the studio,” she says. “Wool changes and you have to feel it and get to know how it will change after it has been matted.” As one of the few felt artisans, Maria also feels a responsibility to pass on her knowledge so that the craft is not forgotten. Therefore she regularly offers workshops. In December the workshops will offer visitors the opportunity to make Christmas presents for family and friends.
She also plans to launch a network in which felt artisans can share their knowledge and experience, because “together we are stronger,” she says, smiling. She has already found 12 other felt artisans in Portugal. She would also like to organise a felt festival to introduce the craft in Portugal to wider audiences. Until then you can find Maria in her studio right on the main square in Monchique where she warmly welcomes everyone interested in the ancient technique of wool processing.
www.mariacustodio.com
TEXT ANABELA GASPAR PHOTOS ANABELA GASPAR AND MARIA CUSTÓDIO
A new multi-functional events venue is rising from the shadows of the old Adega building in Lagoa. The massive venue, spanning about 3000sqm on top of the bottling and warehouse space of the wine cellar, and complemented by a huge parking area that’s ripe for development, has now been taken over by Liz and Peter Roberts who have injected a new lease of life into the previously underused space and also created some distinguished enclaves.
When you enter the aging building you’ll find a spacious and bright coffee lounge that serves a selection of wines, made in the Adega, and local craft beer, Marafada plus soft drinks, along with fabulous teas and coffees that you won’t find elsewhere along the Algarve coast.
Liz explained: “Teapigs and Caffe Praego are great companies with ethical morals and beliefs and we are happy to be associated with them and introduce them to the local market on our big comfy sofas. Coffee and the arts have always been historically linked and, in line with our orphanage and community projects, we also support a 22-year-old art student, Frank Xavier Setto, who grew up in the Noel Orphanage. Frank is in his second year of university in Kigali, on the only art and graphic design course available in Rwanda. He is sponsored through the Point Foundation and artwork commissions from Caffe Praego who are supporting him to feed his brothers and sisters and we hope to have Frank’s art on display during 2017.”
The lounge is a perfect place to hook up with friends and a great meeting point for art lovers to engage with like-minded people in an area that would also lend itself very well to book clubs and other casual social groups.
Where the lounge is a mixture of modern, shabby chic styles and reminiscent of an American loft, the entrance into the main art gallery – “The Red Room” – is strategically lit to showcase the new art exhibits at their very best.
Art curator Pablo Malter told us about some of the new artists that we can expect in coming months. “We are very excited to be welcoming the highly acclaimed Antonio Franchini, Por- tuguese painter, sculptor and administrator of Ap’arte Galería in Porto, who will be joining us on the third leg of his tour which will culminate in a national exhibition in the Algarve. We also have local artists, including painter Gervásio from Monchique, multi-award winning photographer Alexandre Manuel and popular Swiss sculptor Sylvain Bongard and, cur- rently, we have the fabulous Marie Sulac’s paintings that have just arrived from her exhibition in Le Louvre.”
Pablo explained: “Here, we are really blessed to have the opportunity to allow ourselves a luxury that smaller galleries cannot. We can place an undiscovered artist next to someone who has just returned from an exhibition in Le Louvre in Paris, and it really doesn’t look out of place while, in the main gallery, we have black and white photography alongside huge, colourful abstract oil paintings and sculpture. This space is organic and lends itself to anything.”
It’s in the main Art Gallery where you feel the real scale of this project with its massive central hall that can easily accommodate 200 people for a sit-down event with the main stage and all of the art still in situ.
The couple has ambitious ideas for the whole space, exciting developments for the local community that include an indoor and outdoor cinema in 2017. “We are planning to have events and cinema indoors in the cooler months and outdoor screenings the rest of the year, showing classic films such as Casablanca, Pulp Fiction, Grease, The Shawshank Redemption and Breakfast at Tiffany’s etc. We are really open to suggestions from the locals on titles that they would like us to show and we can get most titles three months after they’ve been released,” Liz told us.
The future plans are nearly as big as the venue itself, embracing fashion shows, product launches, trade events, private art viewings and parties, street food events, bazaars, markets, Christmas fairs and many more weird and wonderful things.
What many people would treat as a handicap, Liz and Peter see as an adventure and are excited about the endless oppor- tunities that this fabulous building and outside space offer.
The Roberts have invested heavily, both financially and professionally, to get the gallery to its present state and if their plans and enthusiasm are anything to go by, the Galeria de Arte is somewhere that truly fits the idiom “watch this space”.
Next to the bee-eater and hoopoe, the flamingo, also referred to as the greater flamingo, is one of the exotic birds visitors to the Algarve would most like to see
Until the 1980s, there were hardly any flamingos in the western part of the Algarve. Nowadays, this somewhat grotesque, but also elegant-looking large bird, can be observed at various locations.
Since this species prefers brackish water or salt water, larger groups are most likely to be found in the saltwater lagoons or salt production fields of the Ria Formosa Nature Park. Yet, for much of the year, flamingos can also be seen in the large Lagoa dos Salgados lagoon, with numbers sometimes reaching up to three hundred birds. Sometimes you can spot flamingos resting in the Arade estuary, when you cross the large bridge over the River Arade.
The Camargue, in the South of France, the Coto Doñana Nature Park, in Southern Spain, and the Po Delta, in Northern Italy, are home to the best-known breeding colonies in Southern Europe. Flamingos mostly breed in dense colonies, building thirty-centimetre-high nests out of mud, with room for one to two eggs.
The greater flamingo’s special filter bill is of particular interest, which is equipped with lamellae, which, together with the tongue, form a filter apparatus. The bill is moved, with the top facing down, over the ground, filtering plankton and small crustaceans, mosquito larvae, molluscs and annelids from the water.
The pink colouring of the plumage is due to the carotenoids contained in their food. These create pigments which accumulate in the skin and feathers of adult flamingos. These large birds provide a great show when flying, but their courtship behaviour is also worth mentioning. Their back feathers bristle up demonstratively as they make threatening gestures. Flamingos often crane their necks up and jerkily lift their wings, with the intense red on shoulders and under-wings showing.
Inside visited the new Macdonald Monchique Resort & Spa, a luxury haven away from the busy coastline
Anyone hoping to escape the scorching Algarve heat and its bustling beaches can now enjoy a luxurious holiday in the foothills of the beautiful Monchique Mountains. The former Longevity Wellness Resort, which had been closed for several months, has been taken over by leading UK hotel group MacDonald Hotels & Resorts and converted into the brand new MacDonald Monchique Resort & Spa.
Opened on June 1, the five-star resort has 185 suites, a stunning 900-sqm spa and four restaurants, all in keeping with the resort’s slogan of “Pure Algarve”. According to Magdalena Osmola, the development’s sales and marketing director, “the location of the property is fantastic and fits very well with MacDonald Hotels & Resorts ethos”. She added: “The property is distinctive, original and by all means simply exceptional. It forms a perfect, idyllic spot for a holiday retreat.”
While the resort’s elegant suites offer impressive mountain and coastal views and include a king-size bed and a living room with kitchenette, as well as two bathrooms, one of Macdonald Monchique’s highlights is undoubtedly its state-of-the-art spa. Dubbed by Magdalena Osmola as “the best in the Algarve”, it comprises a high-tech thermal area equipped with an aromatherapy cabin, ice chamber, indoor pool with hydro massage, foot spa, a Himalayan pink salt sauna and eight treatment rooms, including a VIP Spa Suite with private sauna and Jacuzzi. Offering a range of individually-tailored treatments from the international luxury spa brand ESPA – MacDonald Monchique’s is ESPA’s sixth spa in Portugal -, this pampering haven also uses products from local brand Monchique Cosmetics, which makes the most of the benefits of Monchique water to create a glowing, radiant-looking skin.
Another strong point for the resort is its great choice of food options: with four restaurants (Mon-Chic, A Petiscaria, O Mercado Culinário and Pizzaria da Serra), an elegant cocktail bar and two pool bars, there is something for everybody, ranging from a fine-dining restaurant and informal tapas bar to a gourmet food market and pizzeria. Holding the reins as executive chef is the highly-regarded Louis Anjos, who left his mark at Lagoa’s Suites Alba Resort and Lisbon’s fine-dining restaurant Largo.
Located in an idyllic setting and with a wide range of activities, not only at the resort (yoga, pilates), but also in its surrounding area (cycling, hiking), MacDonald Monchique has been attracting Portuguese guests for shorter breaks, as well as visitors from the UK, Germany and Scandinavia. “We have a lot of actions planned in these key markets over the next months and are hoping to attract international interest,” Magdalena Osmola assured us.
JOURNALIST ANABELA GASPAR TAKES US ON A GUIDED WALK ALONG ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR STRETCHES OF COASTLINE IN THE AREA
Awalk along Lagoa’s coastline is a thrill, no matter how many times you do it. For this issue, we discovered the stretch between Praia do Paraíso and Praia do Vale da Lapa – an un-signposted section.
No matter how many times I walk above Lagoa’s cliffs, I am always left speechless by its stunning scenery. The entire coastline is shaped by an array of rugged golden cliffs, dotted with sinkholes, arches, caves, evergreen pine trees and mastic shrubs, and washed by the shimmering vast Atlantic Ocean. And yet, along the coast’s various sections nature offers ever-new perspectives, and always appears different to the viewer. When we took these photos in early spring, the cliffs were at their greenest with Bermuda buttercup blossoms here and there. Our starting point is Praia do Paraíso (paradise beach) west of the well-known beach of Carvoeiro. This small, sheltered bay, boasting fine sand and clear water, more than deserves its name. As the beach is only accessible via a long, steep staircase there will always be a little spot for your towel here, even in the height of summer. But the beach is not our destination today, despite clear skies and sunshine. In the car park we take some pictures of the bay, and down the white cobblestone stairs nestling in the slope, before passing the restaurant, and joining the trail above the cliffs. From here the white houses above the bay shine in the spring sunlight and you can spot a small cave on the beach’s eastern side. Soon Vale Currais beach extends before us, to the west. Fine sand is nowhere to be seen. Instead black rocks protrude from the water. Red cliffs protrude skyward, in a distant nod to America’s magnificent Grand Canyon. This isn’t the work of the sea’s erosive powers, surely, rather that of a talented sculptor? These natural sculptures also remind us that these rocks won’t be here forever. So be careful, especially where the path passes close to the edge and also when descending into the valley to the west of this beach.
The fence along the path is a great support in this respect, preventing walkers from slipping. The path heading up the other side of the valley proves just as steep. This stretch of coastline doesn’t require the height of fitness, we just managed it after all, but it isn’t suitable for people with walking difficulties or children. A magnificent view from the headland at Praia Salgadeira will reward you for your efforts shortly after, stretching to Lagos and Ponta da Piedade in the west and on a clear day you can even make out Sagres on the horizon. The sandy Padre Vicente beach extends west of the headland. Girdled by a group of caves, this bay is one of Lagoa’s many wild beaches that can only be reached by boat. Even though there’s a ladder at the western end, down which you can climb to the beach, the fence above the rocks blocks any access to driveable tracks. The path leads slightly below the cliff line at this point, around the cleft in the valley and then along a property fence back to the edge. Here we find one of the largest sinkholes along Lagoa’s coastline. We had been looking forward to peering down into the depths, onto the turquoise water below, but soon realise that the land is private and therefore fenced in. Slightly disappointed, we continue down into the valley of Cama da Vaca beach. At this point we lose our bearings and end up on a tennis court far from the cliffs. It is best to stay as close as you can to the edge, we learn. The path bends round the rock and then descends steeply. The Cama da Vaca beach, the strange name of which (cow bed) I will make no comment, is allegedly one of Lagoa’s best kept secrets. It is a small space – where you could only fit a cow, hence the name, perhaps – below a cliff, of which not a single centimetre remains dry at high tide. Like most beaches in this coastal section, it is only accessible by boat.
Then we head up the steep track, onto the cliffs again. Half way up my slightly out of breath walking partner remarks: “This is almost like on Kilimanjaro!” A slight exaggeration of course, but I must admit that the ascent is quite a challenge and I reach the top in a sweat. The last part however is pretty simple and flat. To the east we can see the whitewashed houses of our starting point (Carvoeiro) in the distance and not far away to the west lies our destination, Vale da Lapa beach. Shortly before Vale da Lapa I find myself standing on a rock jutting out into the sea, from which the view over the coast is incredibly beautiful. I take a deep breath of the fresh salty air,
enjoying the views in all directions. In my mind I see the scene in which Leonardo Di Caprio stands with open arms at the bow of the Titanic and I’m tempted to scream out “I’m the King of the World”. But the dizzy height I find myself at stops me. After all, I am standing on a rock just a metre and a half wide, about twenty metres above the shimmering waters below. Shortly after this quick little detour we reach our destination, one and a half hours after setting off. This beach is also very small and entirely flooded at high tide, but it is accessible by land, over a wide, driveable dirt road at first, followed by a rocky track.
The return trip is a little quicker, not least because we’ve already taken so many amazing pictures on the way there. But we still come to a halt now and then, in contemplative admiration. There are always new things to see, even the way the light falls makes the rocks seem different now.

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE YEARNING SOUND OF FADO, THERE IS A NEW LOCALE IN LAGOA
Lagoa de Fado is the brainchild of Ondina Santos and Carlos Tapadinhas. Ondina worked as an art teacher and is known for her poetry books and music CDs for children, as well as for her voice. Carlos studied business management in Coimbra, where he discovered the Portuguese guitar, but the 45-year-old only started accompanying Fado singers
five years ago. “It’s never too late to dis-cover Fado,” he says cheerfully. They have
been performing together for several years in various venues. During their performances they were repeatedly approached by guests, who felt disturbed by the clattering of dishes, waiters rushing past or louder diners. That set them thinking about given small-scale, intimate Fado concerts, away from the hustle and bustle. “In addition to the concerts we also wanted to tell our guests about the history of Fado, as well as offering a stage to other Fado singers and aficionados,” explains multi-talented Ondina, who not only her show-cases her voice, but also her acting abilities at Lagoa de Fado. The one-hour “History of Fado” show tells, as the name suggests, the story of the Portuguese music style, which was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, in 2011. It reveals the roots of Fado, its development, its composers, its most-sung subject matter, as well as the first famous singer and esteemed Fado Divas, who followed her and took Fado out into the wider world. Ondina not only sings the respective fadistas’ most popular songs, but also imitates their voices and gestures. In a room with 30 seats, decorated with paintings by local artists, including Patico and Clara Andrade, she sings with the same melancholy as Maria Severa, a prostitute from Lisbon, who is considered Portugal’s first well-known Fado singer. Using actress and singer Hermínia Silva, who was popular in the 1930s and 40s, as an example, Ondina shows that Fado can also be very cheerful. She also reinterprets the the dramatic gestures of Fado queen Amália Rodrigues, who died in 1999 and who contributed undeniably to the
international fame of Fado. A talent to have contributed to the worldwide fame of Fado in more recent times is Mariza, who is undoubtedly the most famous representative of contemporary Fado. Between each interpretation, Ondina disappears behind a screen, changing clothes and wig, while guests listen to the sounds of Carlos Tapadinhas’ Portuguese guitar. There are translations into English wherever necessary. Those who aren’t shy and feel like having a go at Fado themselves after the concert can do so at “Fado Vadio”, where spectators provide the vocals. “Just like Fado, which orginally was sung in taverns and on the streets of Lisbon’s slums,” Ondina explains. Everyone, who would like to express their feelings, can sing. “Not everyone can really sing,” Ondina says, smiling, “you will hear one or the other note out of tune, but often you also get goose bumps, when all of a sudden an inconspicuous-looking lady expresses her feelings with a mournful, pervasive voice.” A cook, a lawyer, a street sweeper and a businessman might share the stage, as virtually every Portuguese person considers themselves to be a Fado talent and in fact many of Portugal’s most celebrated fadistas have been discovered in Lisbon’s taverns at such “Fado Vadio” nights.
Every Wednesday there are also themed Fado concerts. “Sometimes it’s all about love and passion, sometimes about yearning, wine or bullfights or about certain fadistas and authors,” says Ondina. On every third Sunday of the month the stage belongs to known fadistas and new Fado talents from the region.
This month Ondina and Carlos will also perform at the Centro de Congressos do Arade, in Parchal. The Fado concert on July 08 features singers Isa Brito, César Matoso, Sérgio Gonçalves and ten-year-old Luana Velasques. Carlos Tapadinhas (Portuguese guitar), João Aroube (guitar) and Tó Correia (bass), will accompany the fadistas.


LAGOA DE FADO
Rua Município de São Domingos, Lote 2, R/C Esq, Lagoa (behind the Health Centre)
Reservation needed (24 hours in advance)
919 887 265 / 966 720 909 | lagoadefado@gmail.com
Every Wednesday
Themed Fado concerts, 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Every Thursday
The history of Fado, 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm, 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm Every second Saturday
Fado Vadio, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
3rd Sunday of the month
Lagoa de Fado invites …, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Concerts will depend on the number of reservations. For groups of 10 people and above,
concert dates can be booked on request.
08/07 Fado night
Centro de Congressos do Arade, 7.30 pm, €15 (€12 when bought in advance)
Tickets at the GaleRio art gallery
(in the Centro de Congressos do Arade) Mob. 968 067 607 | galerio.arade@gmail.com
THE ALGARVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA MAKES LAGOA ITS NEW HOME
W hen the PS party took power of Lagoa Câmara, one of their promises was to place more importance on culture, not least because president Francisco Martins was once the city hall’s councillor of culture and sports. True to its word, the local government has been promoting various cultural events and providing much-needed support for a number of cultural entities.
The OJA – Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve (the Algarve Jazz Orchestra) is one such entity, and now, with the backing of the local Câmara, Lagoa has become its new home. While it has always had a regional character, the orchestra has its roots in Lagos, the hometown of founder and acclaimed musician Hugo Alves who produced the Lagos Jazz Fest for nine years. But it was the 2004 edition of the event, which received more funding from the Ministry of Culture, that sowed the seed of what was to become the region’s first jazz orchestra. “It was the biggest workshop to date and I managed to put together an orchestra of pupils, within what was possible in four or five days, but it was enough to give a taster that caught the attention of Lagos Câmara.” Just a few months later, the orchestra was born with the name Orquestra de Jazz de Lagos, later becoming Associação Músicas no Sul.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, the OJA, as it is now known, comprises around 17 musicians – four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones and a rhythm section of piano, guitar, contrabass and drums, with two singers on hand should they be needed – with mostly Portuguese members aged 17 to 81. The orchestra has a vast and versatile selection of repertoires, including Big Band numbers (interpreting the likes of Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington), the classics of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, the improvisation style of New Orleans, golden Hollywood hits and even Latin jazz and bossa nova, as well as special Christmas concerts.
Performing across the region, OJA also travels countrywide, with notable concerts including the Assembly of the Republic in 2008, A Arte de Big Band in Lisbon and Douro Jazz 2014. But although logistical issues limit their reach, they are nothing if not flexible. The orchestra also has smaller formations with different repertoires to suit each occasion, a versatility that was showcased in Lagoa to mark the International Jazz Day on April 30 and at the Carvoeiro Black & White Night in June: OJA Redux, a reduced version of the orchestra comprising between six and eight musicians; The Messy Band, a more traditional jazz band with more improv; a saxophone quartet called 4tet; and a quintet that’s more linked to the teaching side of the organisation.
Another branch of OJA is of course the music school, which is currently based at the São José Convent. With 25 to 30 pupils of all ages and between five and seven teachers, the school is aimed at all levels, from those who wish to learn an instrument because they never got the chance, to those who are serious about becoming professional musicians and go on to Higher Education. This year, the courses are part of the official programme at ETIC, the image and communication school based in Faro, although lessons and workshops will continue as usual in Lagoa. In fact, this educational side of music is of a huge importance to Hugo Alves, who also teaches at the Superior School of Music in Oporto. “Besides our music school, we also have an educational programme that takes jazz to schools, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. At the time [2006], it was very innovative and it had a huge impact. Today, the music being taught in schools is well-thought-out and far more interesting,” notes the musical director, who began studying music aged seven, developed his studies further aged 12 and is now an internationally acclaimed trumpet player with 25 years of experience, four albums under his belt and another on the way. “Improvisation in particular is more appealing to children and it’s amazing for their development.
Traditional classes don’t work for everyone.” Introduced to jazz at a young age, thanks to the strong jazz community in Lagos at that time, Hugo sings the praises of this genre, whose “languages are never lost and which is always renewing itself ”, but emphasises the funding and support needed to keep orchestras like this one alive. “We can only exist if there is funding, and Lagoa Câmara believed we should be and deserved to be here. We also need people to support us; there is plenty of culture around, they just need to come find it!”
For upcoming performances and further information, please find OJA Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve on Facebook.
