THE ALGARVE

A Pousada is a hotel that is owned and partly managed by the state. Many Pousadas are interesting historic buildings such as castles or monasteries that have been restored. Many have prime locations and excellent views and they generally offer 4-5 star accommodation and associated facilities.

The first regional Pousada was created in Portugal in 1940 when the state owned Portugal Pousadas Group began- the concept was to restore and preserve national heritage and to increase the supply of first class accommodation. The Pousadas are classified into 4 groups being Historic, Historic Design, Nature and Charm.

The Hotel Pousada de Sao Bras de Alportel has magnificent views of the surrounding Algarve mountains and is near the Atlantic Ocean and the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. This Pousada offers the best of both worlds. It is set in peaceful countryside away from the crowded Algarve resorts and only thirty minute drive from the coastal resorts.Click here for properties for sale in Sao Bras

The Alentejo area is commonly known as the “bread basket” of Portugal. A fitting title for this vast open countryside with undulating plains and rich fertile soil. With very few exceptions all the major towns are mainly reliant on agriculture, livestock and wood. Typical products from this area are grain, sunflower, carthame, fruit, vegetables, olives, wines, cork, eucalyptus, lamb, pigs, kid, granite, schist and marble. This richness of produce has been taken from the land for thousands of years as visitors may encounter throughout most of the region signs of human existence from thousands of years ago

Topographically the countryside varies considerably, from the open rolling plains of the south of the Alentejo to the granite hills that border Spain in the north-east. To feed the water needs of this considerable area a number of public dams have been constructed. In the heart of the productive agriculture zone of Moura, there is the largest dam in Portugal named “Alqueva”, and also and one of the largest water surface areas in Europe.

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Beja

This city is the capital of the Baixa Alentejo District and maintains attractive visible evidence of its historic background. It is recorded as existing in 48 AC after the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar gave it the name of Pax Julia and declared it as a regional capital. However, there is evidence that the location was inhabited since the Bronze Age. The Town Square was originally the site of its Roman Forum. The Moors renamed the town when they occupied it, and but for a brief time in 715, they were firmly entrenched from 711 to 1162.

The city with about 22.000 population has a number of ancient buildings and the name Beja as used today was given to it by the occupying Moors in the 6th Century. The Convento da Nossa Senhora da Conceição dating from 1459 is both visually interesting and enjoys international fame from the 1669 French publication of the celebrated “Lettres Portugaises”. These were five lyric love letters by a 26 year-old nun named Mariana Alcoforado to her lover the Comte de Saint-Léger after he deserted her.

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If you are considering a permanent move to Portugal and want to bring your dog or cat with you, there are certain procedures to follow. ‘PETS’ (Pet Travel Scheme) is the system that allows pet dogs and cats to travel amongst EU and certain non-EU countries. To enter EU countries with pets from the UK you should get your pet micro chipped, (although some countries accept tattoos) and vaccinated against rabies. You should then obtain an EU pet passport. This will allow you to import your pet into most other EU countries.

A non-commercial pet importer may bring up to 5 pets into Portugal. If you have more, contact the Portuguese DGV (Direcção-Geral Veterinária) for advice. Animals under three months old can only enter Portugal from an EU country if the owner can prove that an animal not yet weaned is accompanied by its mother. If the rabies vaccination was the pet’s first vaccine then 21 days must pass before the pet may enter Portugal. There is no time delay with booster injections providing there is proof that the booster was given before the last vaccine had expired.

 Step by step procedures for importing your pet into Portugal:

 1.      Have your pet micro-chipped.

2.      Have your pet vaccinated against rabies after the micro-chipping,     even if the last vaccine is still current.

3.      Arrange a blood test to confirm satisfactory level of protection against rabies.

4.      Arrange ‘PETS’ documentation. For animals travelling to countries within the EU, such as Portugal, an EU passport is required.

5.      Arrange for your pet to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

6.      If you intend to return to the UK with your pet, he/she must be treated against ticks and tape worms no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours before he/she is checked in with an approved company for the journey into the UK.

Not all transport companies are registered as animal transporters. If you want to bring your pets from the UK to Portugal by air you can use one of the following companies:

Thomsonfly; GB Airways; Monarch Airlines; My Travel; British Airways World Cargo.

They fly to and from the below airports:

 To                      From

 Faro Airport   Doncaster

                          Gatwick

                          Heathrow

                          Manchester

Lisbon Airport  Gatwick

                           Heathrow

                          Manchester

Funchal Airport           Gatwick

(Madeira)                 Manchester

If you choose to travel by sea, Brittany Ferries sail to Santander, Spain, from Portsmouth and Plymouth.

And if you prefer rail travel, the Euro Tunnel Shuttle Service allows pets to travel from Folkestone to Calais.

There are of course many issues to consider before putting your pet through an overseas journey, such as the state of the pet’s health, whether or not it will take to its new life in a foreign land with different temperatures, and if your pet will be able to learn a new language to fit in with the locals!

Click here to see a selection of properties for sale in Portugal

Many of those who discover this up-and-coming coastal region go on to fall in love with it. The Silver Coast is rapidly becoming the most desirable part of Portugal for discerning property investors, and the price movements are beginning to reflect this growth in popularity. For those seeking property for sale in the Silver Coast (Costa Prata as it’s known), the advice would be to act sooner rather than later, before the prices soar to match the properties for sale in the Algarve.

The Silver Coast stretches from north of Lisbon up the west coast to Porto. The most popular areas of the Silver Coast are currently the areas from Lourinhã up to Peniche, on to São Martinho do Porto and Nazaré on the coast, and a little inland to the town of Caldas da Rainha and the medieval walled city of Óbidos.

Property on the Silver Coast is currently in hot demand, and provides a fashionable alternative for those seeking an option away from the hustle and bustle of the Algarve. Of course, there are differences between the two regions. In the Silver Coast not so much English is spoken and in some inland areas it will be almost non-existent. One should be prepared for the adventure that comes with choosing a region, like the Silver Coast, that is untarnished by tourism. In fact, the Silver Coast remains the real Portugal, where traditions and culture abound. The beaches are incredibly popular in July and August with Portuguese holiday makers, thus maintaining a distinct Portuguese feel to the area, even since its recent discovery by foreign tourists searching for their bargain holiday beach home. There is also a marginal difference between the weather fronts of the Silver Coast and the Algarve. More marked though is the huge difference in weather fronts between anywhere in Portugal and the U.K! Central and Northern Portugal boast beautifully hot summers, blue skies and sunshine throughout the winter, and what maybe even be considered a bonus is that they don’t experience the fierce dry heat of the Algarve. However one looks at it, the weather will always be a joy compared to that of the U.K.

Another reason to choose the Silver Coast is that property prices are still a lot less than most other destinations in Southern Europe. However, with the recent trend to buy in this region, investors are hoping that the Silver Coast will see the sort of price hikes that the early investors of the Algarve enjoyed. Most are also hoping that further development will be controlled as the local authorities are promising so that the peaceful charm of the area won’t be swamped. But can there be hope for a rise in prices and yet coasts and towns remain unspoilt? Some say yes as the Portuguese have watched and learned from the rate of progresss in neighbouring Spain.

If you have not yet discovered this delightful region of Portugal, put it on the top of your list of destinations before you consider investing anywhere else. You won’t be disappointed.

For examples of properties for sale on the Silver Coast, go here.