Villa Natal in Obidos from 28th of November to the 3rd of January

Obidos Christmas Town is an event that will surprise for its originality. More details here: www.obidosvillanatal.pt

Every year it is dedicated to a different theme pertaining to the holiday season. Traditional fairy tales are brought to life and recreated in a unique environment, offering a different outlook of the Christmas period without ever forgetting its traditional characters, especially Santa Claus. The colorful houses and entertainment program are the highpoint of the event, along with the ice skating rink.

 

Posted via email from TOPcasas

The Lagoon Sailing School - Foz do Arelho - Portugal

Come to Escola de Vela da Lagoa, relax and leave all the worries behind.

About 100km north of Lisbon - Portugal you find Escola de Vela da Lagoa.

With a wonderful lagoon, Lagoa de Óbidos, this is the right place to practise water sports. At your disposal there is gear for rental so that you can sail all by yourself in the calm waters of the lagoon and also a group of certificated professionals that you help your initiation on any of our activities which are: windsurf, kitesurf, catamaran, optimist, canoeing, wakeboard and water ski.
Wind, water and lovely landscapes.

In the Lagoon of Óbidos - Portugal you’ll find great conditions to practice different water sports. Escola de Vela da Lagoa takes advantage on the best that the lagoon has to offer and provides you a diverse set of activities.

You can learn comfortably with one of our monitors or in case you have experience rent the gear and sail all by yourself.

Take a chance, you won’t possibility regret it!

Text supplied by http://www.escoladeveladalagoa.com/

What to do in the Silver Coast? - 12 Months / 12 Ideas Silver Coast

Silver Coast Portugal - Activities - What to do!?

Some activities & festivities happening on the Silver Coast!

If you are visiting the Silver Coast and you are not sure what to do then please consider the following possibilities...!

January
Caldas da Rainha
Exponoivos
Region offer regarding to weding events;

February
Óbidos
Chocolate Festival
Festival where the chocolate is the main attraction!

March
Rio Maior
Feira das Tasquinhas
The best place to meet with the best Gastronomy that the Silver Coast haves to offer!
Based with snacks with all traditional portuguese plates, the visitor can simply sit down and try the best food with the bestb regional wine!

April
Alenquer
Festival das Sopas
A festival were the visitors can try the best home made soups of the Silver Coast... and of course of the WORLD!

May
Arruda dos Vinhos
Gastronomy Month
A contest, where the local restaurants show the best they can offer!!

June
Peniche
Flavours of the Sea Festival
The best place to enjoy the flavours that the Atlantic ocean has to offer!

July
Lourinhã
Sea food & shell fish Festival
The best place to enjoy the best shell fish!

Óbidos
Medieval Festival in Óbidos

Óbidos
International Piano Masterclasses

August
Óbidos
International Piano Masterclasses

Bombarral
National Fair of the "Rocha" Pear!

Óbidos
Opera Festival

September
Paúl
Festival of the Sweet Rice

October
Cadaval
Grapes Festival

November
Arruda dos vinhos
Wine & Vineyards Festival

December
Torres Vedras
Torres on Ice

Obidos
Villa Natal

What to in and around Óbidos area!

Here you can find some important phone contacts on places to visit or activities to do in Caldas da Rainha!

Golf:
Golden Eagle Golf Course - Rio Maior - +351 243 940 040
Praia D'El Rey Golf Course - +351 262 905 005

Caldas da Rainha - Main Beaches
Praia da Foz do Arelho
Praia de Salir do Porto

Caldas da Rainha - Museums
Centro de Artes +351 262 840 540
Museum of Bicycles & Museum of Ceramics
+351 262 840 280 - http://www.ipmuseus.pt/
Museum of Factory of Bordalo Pinheiro - http://www.fabordalopinheiro.pt/
Museum of the Hospital of Caldas da Rainha +351 262 830 300
Museum João Fragoso +351 262 840 540
Museum São Rafael +351 262 839 384
Museum José Malhoa +351 262 831 984http://www.ipmuseus.pt/
Museum and Studio of António Duarte

Caldas da Rainha - Theatre
Teatro Praça de Touros +351 262 831 007

Town Tourist Office - Information
Caldas da Rainha +351 262 831 007

Bank Hollidays in Portugal

1st of January New Year

5th of February Carnival

21st of March - Holly Friday

23rd of March - Easter

25th of April - Day of Freedom

1st of May - Labours Day

22nd of May - Corpo de Deus

10th of June - Day of Portugal

15th of August - Assunção de Nossa Senhora

5th of October - Republic day

1st of November - Day of all Saints

1st of December - Independece Day

8th of December - Saint Holliday

25th December - Christmas Day

The Airport: Ota vs Alcochete

Hi to all!

Considering we received some emails from clients asking about the issue regarding to the new Lisbon Airport being built in Alcochete instead of Ota, we consider it is a good moment to pass this info to all our clients and potential clients.

Background:
- The project for the Lisbon airport location was taken 20/30 years ago! And at that time the Government bought most of the properties in that area and blocked all construction possibilities in a huge area around the OTA region;
In the past 15 years the country spent millions of euros in studies of all kinds to proof it would be the best location.
Since the last government (5 years ago) was elected they gave many conferences, seminars and press conferences saying that the decision was taken and that all options were studied and that OTA would be the best!
They gave clear instructions to all council to take structural decisions considering that the airport would be built there… councils like: Alcobaça, Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Lourinhã, Nazaré, Óbidos, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sobral de Monte Agraço e Torres Vedras, Santarém, Azambuja & Alenquer have taken many decisions in the last years counting with the Ota airport.
All residents with land in the Ota area were forbidden for all this time to build house in their on lands for the Airport sake… and nothing!
The government them selves made all expanding works on the A8 (to Lisbon) e A1 (Porto/Lisbon), new motorway A15 (Rio Maior), IP6 (A8 – Peniche – in the future will be connected with a motorway coming from Madrid);

The decision:
The Government made the PERLIMINARY decision to move to Alcochete after a Lobby of Investors bringing to discussion a Military training area located at Alcochete (30 kms south of Lisbon) that was basically de-activated for some years…
Please note that this was taken to decision only 6 months ago and that it simply passed over the 15 years of studies turning the millions invested to a waist of time and money…
The decision says that the area is more spacious to future expand projects, as OTA would only last for 30 years and that this one has space for more than 50 years!

The new location in facts:
- The new airport will be located 30 kms south of Lisbon, in a town called Alcochete;
- Near to the Freeport Outlet Center - www.freeport.pt
- How to get there: coming from the A8, just catch the A2-Algarve, cross bridge Vasco da Gama and then follow signs to Alcochete;

- 2 and 1/2 hours from the Algarve;
- Extra 15 minutes journey comparing to Portela Airport (actual);
- Starting construction in 2010 and being finished in 2017!;

Click on the Link to see the area: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=pt-PT&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=campo+de+tiro+de+alcochete&sll=38.748728,-8.927422&sspn=0.059174,0.1157&ie=UTF8&ll=38.799049,-8.899612&spn=0.23653,0.462799&z=11&iwloc=addr&om=0


The effects of the decision:
The Association of the Council located in West Portugal Councils made a huge pressure for the Government to understand that the “simple” decision of changing the Airport from one place to the other would put down all people expectation regarding to the boom of the local economy…. the government recognizes that it was a huge mistake to be keeping ideas to all the councils around OTA that the project was going ahead... so the government is going to compensate with millions of new public investments!

Doubts:
There’s still a general doubt that if the actual airport will be totally de-activated, and that eventually it would be a good possibility to leave operating with low cost flights;
The Lisbon mayor doesn’t want the de-activation of the city’s airport… as per the negative effect in the city’s tourism (short break tourists);

New Public Investments Coming:
- A brand new hospital to be built in Caldas - with a staff of 2.000 people;
- A new motor way from the A8 to the A2 - putting the difference of 15 minutes travel to the new airport to something close to 5 minutes;
- A new motor way from the A8 to the Lourinha area (IC11) - shorting the travel from Lisbon around 10 minutes Lisbon/Lourinha;
- Easier approval to all new big projects including Golf Resorts;
- Confirmation of TGV trains to pass thru the West train line (from Lisbon to Leiria) serving the Alcochete Airport and giving access to Madrid-Spain;
http://www.regiaodeleiria.pt/index.php?lop=conteudo&op=9cfdf10e8fc047a44b08ed031e1f0ed1&id=d1e834301845e56e8b88e17a0107157b&drops[drop_edicao]=436

New Private Investments Coming:
- Rainha Golf & Spa – Foz do Arelho & S. Martinho Spa & Golf Resort: Waiting for classification as National Interest Project (PIN) that will give all licenses for the works to start;
- Confirmed 3 billion euros investments in Resort projects;
- New golf courses operating in 2009:
o Bom Sucesso Resort – Acordo Group;
o Royal Óbidos – Oceanico Group;
o Falésia del rey – Beltico Group;
o Perola da Lagoa – London Investments;
o Golden Eagle (second golf course) – Camin Global Group;

- More than 10 new 4 and 5 stars hotel starting to be built in the Silver Coast;

All this to say that… we believe:
- The extra travel is irrelevant and will not be a central issue (although off-course it would be best if the airport was only 35 minutes from here instead of 55 minutes);
- The effects on the tourism industry will also be irrelevant considering that the local resorts are looking for a higher market and that the offer that is being created is for quality resorts mainly composed by investors with high economical capacity;
- The region will have more services, facilities and amenities to offer and off-course less pollution!!!

We hope that all this information clarifies any doubt about this issue, in case you need any further info or details please go ahead and email us at: topcasas@netvisao.pt

Created by Richard Gomes, from TOPcasas.
All details were taken from national newspapers & government sources. Only complimentary details are personnal opinions!

Whats all about the Silver Coast??

Many people have chosen Portugal Silver Coast as the location for their second home, or even moved here permanently.

The heavy demand and consequent rise in property prices in the South are leading to increased interest in the Silver Coast, where tourism is not yet as developed as it is in other well known holiday destinations, and it’s still possible to find your dream property.

As yet, the Silver Coast is largely untouched by the overseas property market.

Consequently, prices are below Portugal’s average. Capital growth is expected to be some of the highest in Portugal.

Portugal's Silver Coast is located in central Portugal between Porto & Lisbon in a privileged location, 45 minutes from the Lisbon Airport and surrounded by several motorways to all country’ regions.

The Silver Coast is one of the most beautiful areas in Europe, not only for its beautiful beaches and countryside but also for its history. It is not just a place to invest, but a place to live and enjoy! Silver Coast is a beautiful region consisting of quaint fishing towns, stunning coastlines and traditional villages.

The mild temperatures and white sandy beaches offer one the choice between practising water sports and the calm life of the seaside. The curative springs and the lush vegetation of secular forests have preserved all the rewards of their unspoilt nature.

The monasteries, convents, castles, churches, and museums witness the priceless historic and artistic heritage of renowned universal value. As one of the most economically developed regions in the country, Silver Coast is also home for famous traditional art treasures, such as its porcelain and crystal, as well as its gastronomy, strongly influenced by the sea. In the fishing villages or urban historic centres, the kindness of the people is but another asset to add to this bountiful area's vast list of qualities.

The Silver Coast is privileged in several aspects, one of those is its wonderful seaside, where the exceptional beaches of delicate sand, cliffs and places of rare beauty. It’s a territory full of intense luminosity where the seacoast and the countryside make a special double par to offer a pleasant climate along all year.

Portugal Silver Coast property for sale is now hotly in demand for those seeking an alternative to the hustle and bustle of the Algarve and for those who want to get closer to the true nature of this fascinating and historic country.

Channel Four’s popular program, A Place in the Sun series featured Portugal’s Silver Coast, tipped by Amanda Lamb to be an up and coming property hot spot so it would be good to feature some of the major new development property happening in the area.

The wealth of property available for sale along Portugal’s Silver Coast is incredibly broad. With its rapidly developing tourism market there has been a fair amount of development of seafront apartment complexes and also private villa residences with pools.

An alternative is to buy a farmhouse, town house, fisherman’s cottage or even a piece of land - so those looking for Portugal Silver Coast property for sale will likely find something that suits both their requirements and their budget.

The Silver Coast is rapidly becoming the most desirable part of Portugal for discerning property purchasers and travellers – property price movements are beginning to reflect the region’s growing popularity and therefore those seeking Portugal Silver Coast property for sale should consider acting sooner rather than later before they are priced out of the market!

I invite you to experience a new feeling!

P.S. - Advertise

In order to find your dream property in Silver Coast, get in touch with TOPcasas, Government Licensed Real Estate Agent (AMI 6305) located in Foz do Arelho, which has one of the greatest and most well known beaches of the Silver Coast and one of the most beautiful natural Lagoon of Europe.

In TOPcasas, people feel welcome to Silver Coast region.

TOPCasas not only sales properties, the focus is in your good adaptation to our country.

All the assistance you need is provided, so don't mind to ask for any extra help in any matter you need.

But first of all we invite you to visit the area and see what you feel about it!

See you soon!!!

Welcome to the Silver Coast first REAL blog!

Following our policy of providing independent and honest information to all our clients, we decided to create a blog that can be accesible to everyone!

In this blog we will post all kinds of informations about public or private investments occuring in the Silver Coast and off course Investment Oportunities that we receive!

We hope that this can be usefull to everyone!

With kindest regards,

Richard Gomes
Managing Director

richard.gomes@netvisao.pt