Western Algarve's largest mall unveiled.

The largest shopping centre in the Western Algarve has officially been unveiled. Members of the media, regional dignitaries and future shop owners were all present at the recent press conference where plans for the 35 000 square meter centre were presented.

'Aqua Portimão' will comprise 0f 132 shops, 20 restaurants, 1800 parking spaces and 7 key stores including a 12 000 square meter ‘Jumbo’. Portimão is the Algarve’s second largest city and will therefore cater to around 188 000 residents from the surrounding towns and villages such as Silves, Lagos and Albufeira.

With completion due for early 2011, there will be yet another reason to visit the Algarve.

By Dylan Herholdt

New High Speed Rail between Faro and Lisbon

In addition to the new airport, hospitals and motorways, the Portuguese government will be spending over 10 billion Euros on a high speed rail network throughout Portugal and linking with parts of Spain.

We all know about the high speed rail linking Lisbon and Madrid but the new development may surprise you. This week the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates unveiled plans for a high speed rail link between Faro and Lisbon, cutting 1 hour off regular travel time.

People in the Algarve, more specifically the Eastern Algarve, in Tavira or Fuzeta will now be able to take advantage of cheap, time efficient and regular trips between Faro and the Portuguese capital.

By Dylan Herholdt

'Daisy pulls it off’ premiers in the Algarve,

The much awaited production ‘Daisy pulls it off’ is finally here. The show has its Portuguese premier on the 29th of October at the Lagoa Auditorium in the Western Algarve. The lead role is played by the talented 16 year old Sarah Winstanley who goes to school in the Algarve.

The cast includes 20 people varying in age from 13 to 70. Audiences from surrounding areas like Lagos and Portimão will be treated to song and dance and an exquisite set as the state of the art auditorium has been transformed into a 1928 school hall.

The Algarve. . . where the show will always go on

By Dylan Herholdt

British artist displays paintings in Western Algarve

British born artist Shirley French has brought her vibrant display of oil paintings to the Eastern Algarve. Art lovers from places like Tavira and Albufeira still have the opportunity to see her solo exhibition on display at ‘Cha d’Arte tearoom and gallery’ in the art district of Loule.

The theme to the exhibition is ‘Impact creates reaction and reaction fires emotion’ and guests will have a chance to interpret the work of this talented artist while enjoying a range of eats, teas and cocktails.

By Dylan Herholdt

Nature celebrated in the Algarve

Two world renowned authors will be showcasing the amazing natural beauty that the Algarve has to offer.

First of all bestselling author Clive Viney teams up with wildlife photographer Ray Tipper for the book ‘Algarve Wildlife – The Natural Year’. This book is a closer look at the wildlife found in the region, ranging from wild flowers, butterflies, birds, mongoose and even chameleon, featuring 200 amazing color photos.

After years of study Sue Parker presents her latest book ‘Wild Orchids in the Algarve’. Readers are invited to share in Sue’s lifelong passion, few places match the Algarve for the range and diversity of wild orchids and Sue’s latest book is a detailed and beautifully illustrated guide of all the various types of wild orchid and places to find them.

By Dylan Herholdt

SBK final round in the Algarve

The Algarve International Autodrome will be alive this weekend, cheering fans, loud engines and burnt rubber. The Western Algarve race track will play host to one of the biggest motor sport events of the year as the World Superbike and Supersport championships draw to a close.

Motor sport fans in Lagos, Portimão and Silves will only need to travel a few minutes to see the final round of both competitions over the weekend as qualifying begins on Friday the 24th of October with the competition ending on the Sunday.

The heat is on . . .

By Dylan Herholdt

Algarve X-factor

Barbara Fruish is a local Algarve resident with a dream. She teaches at an international school in São Lourenço in the Eastern Algarve and wants to provide children with the opportunity to shine.

So, from the 26th to the 30th of October children between the ages of eight and sixteen will have the chance to attend workshops and courses in acting, singing, audition techniques, script writing and directing. Workshops will be conducted by the brilliant Carol Godby. Carol runs the biggest independent theatre workshops in the UK and even boasts a child star that has progressed to the final 12 in the latest X-factor.

Children from surrounding areas such as Tavira, Faro and even as far as the Central Algarve will be attending the workshops held in Quarteira, and who knows . . . maybe there is an Algarve star on the horizon.

By Dylan Herholdt

Olhanense keep fighting

Olhanense currently lie 13th on the log in the top flight of Portuguese football. With 6 points from 7 matches, the young team from the Eastern Algarve has produced some spirited performances and boasts 3 draws and 1 win at this early stage of the season, including a very creditable draw to Nacional who lie in 5th and a narrow 3-2 loss away to Sporting who lie in 4th.

Olhanense, the only team representing the Algarve region in Liga Sagres have received amazing support from local fans in Olhão as well as other Eastern Algarve towns like Tavira and even towns further along the coast like Albufeira. There is a lively atmosphere at all the home games and this team will fight until the end.

Olhanense were well beaten recently by FC Porto but with the spirit and talent in this team it is believed by many that they will stay up this season.

By Dylan Herholdt

Algarve Motor Park goes retro

248 drivers took to the Algarve Motor Park in Portimão in the Western Algarve this last weekend in celebration of the classic cars that defined racing. Races and Parades were held showcasing classic cars like the Mini, Maserati and Osca.

The Algarve Historic Festival also brought together some of the most famous drivers in the history of motor racing like Sir Stirling Moss, Charles McCabe and Bobby Rahal. Thousands of spectators from coming from as far as Albufeira and Tavira were treated as these race legends took to the track.

Money from the event was also donated to Children’s Welfare demonstrating the wonderful spirit that surrounded the event.

By Dylan Herholdt

Running for cancer in the Algarve

Portimãos riverfront will be packed with 2,500 runners on the 25th of October.

The fun run on the Western Algarve has been arranged to raise funds for cancer awareness. Participants will set off from the exhibition and trade grounds in Portimão at 10am and will cross the finish line at Praia da Rocha.

Profits from the race will be donated to ‘Casa Flor das Dunas’ which is a temporary residence for people treated at Faro’s radiotherapy unit.

By Dylan Herholdt

Portugal Masters starts today in Vilamoura.

Following the Madeira Island Open and the Portuguese Open, some of the biggest names in golf will be coming to the Central Algarve to take part in the Portugal Masters held in Vilamoura.

Big prize money brings big names with Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Robert Karlsson part of a star studded field trying to stake their claim on the 3 million euro prize money.

Golf in the Algarve . . . the real sunshine tour

By Ricardo Santos

Brad Pitt coming to the Algarve . . . again!

Brad Pitt, Al Pacino and Penelope Cruz are coming to the Algarve to shoot a re-make of ‘Le Mans’ the well known classic from Steve McQueen.

Pre-production will begin in February of 2010 and Brad and his co-stars obviously want to catch the best of the Algarve summer with filming beginning in August. Some of the filming will take place in Lisbon, Porto and Aveiro but the majority of the filming will be done in Portimão, Western Algarve.

Once again the Algarve proves its star quality.

By Dylan Herholdt

Award winning ballet company comes to the Algarve

Choreographer and dancer Daniel Cordoso founded the Quorum Dance Company in an effort to merge contemporary dance with classic ballet and in February this year Quorum formed a partnership with the world famous Vaganova academy from St. Petersburg in Russia.

In addition the Quorum Dance Company was awarded with the prize for best contemporary dance at the prestigious Portugal Dance awards in 2009.

Therefore, it was not surprise when the ballet company wowed audiences over the as the presented the show ‘From classical to contemporary ballet’ on the 10th of October at the municipal auditorium in Olhão, Eastern Algarve.

By Dylan Herholdt

Samuel Eto comes to the Algarve

Samuel Eto, coached by Jose Mourinho, aka “The Special One”, arrives in Faro, Eastern Algarve, on the 13th of October joined by some of Angolan players to promote a new line of sports equipment from Puma.

According to the brand, an autograph session is scheduled, open to the public at 17:30. The promotion also coincides with international friendlies played between Angola and Cameroon, as well as Angola against Malta.

The Algarve, where the stars meet!

By Ricardo Santo

Tavira, the perfect 'World Peace March' setting

On Friday the 2nd of March the beautiful town of Tavira in the Eastern Algarve joined the World March for Peace. The marchers were lead by ‘Espirito do Tambor’, a local Djembe percussion group who kept everyone in high spirits and performed a recital of African Rhythms.

It is believed that the musical note of the earth’s vibrations is ‘C sharp’ and to this end musicians performed and entertained the crowd with songs and melodies in ‘C sharp’. The evening ended with an amazing jazz performance from the accomplished trio ‘Chips, Salsa and Jazz’.

By Dylan Herholdt

Latest addition to the Prestige team

Congratulations to our colleague Colm and his better half Tanya as they gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Wednesday the 7th of October.

Colm described his new son as healthy, happy and pink.

Welcome to the world Shane.

Brand new 4 star hotel in Praia da Rocha, Algarve

103 years ago a hotel was opened on the beach front of Praia da Rocha, then called Pensão Viola it was recognized for its class and referred to as a ‘small Biarritz’. Over the years the hotel tried to keep up with the growing tourist demand, changing to the Hotel Viola in 1932 and then re-opening 3 years later as the Grande Hotel da Rocha.

In the end the Hotel could not keep up with the boom in the Algarve and the demand for quality coastal hotels. In 2006 the entire hotel was demolished and now 3 years and €25 million later the transformation is complete, a brand new 4 star hotel stands proudly, forming part of an overall goal to upgrade the main avenue of Praia da Rocha.

The brand new Hotel da Rocha in the Western Algarve catches the eye with its modern design and large glass façade at the front of the building.

Visitors can now enjoy great comfort and service accompanied by glorious sea views.

By Dylan Herholdt

Opera season to start in Portimao

The opera season commences this week with the Mozart masterpiece ‘As Bodas de Figaro’ presented on the 10th of October at the municipal auditorium in Portimao, Western Algarve.

This performance is then followed by the Giuseppe Verdi classic ‘Otello’ on the 16th and finally ‘Samson and Delilah’ by Camille Saint-Saens presented on the 23rd.

There is also something just for the kids with ‘The Super Shop’ and adaptation of ‘The Barber of Seville’ presented on the 13th and 20th of October.

Another exciting element of this year’s festival is the street opera where performers walk the streets, past restaurants and apartments filling the night air with beautiful operatic melodies.

Tickets for all 3 nights will cost 35 Euros and single tickets will cost 15 Euros.

The opera festival will bring beautiful sounds to a beautiful place

By Ricardo Santo