2010 - 02 - Sports Illustrated Photo Shoot Locations in Portugal

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 00:00

• Sidecar trip to Cascais and back going through downtown Lisbon, and the coast road and Cascais Bay - 2 Night stay - Buffet Breakfast - massage for 2 people - Upgrade to superior room with view of the River Tejo, when available.
  

++ Hotel Memmo Baleeira Algarve Escape
The Hotel Memmo Baleeira in Sagres, Algarve, invites you for a special fishing trip, a unique and new experience. Special Fishing Trip Package for 2 Nights from 76.83 EUR per person per night with fishing excursion in a Double Room with Sea View. Valid until the end of June, 2010. The Memmo Baleeira was built in Sagres, in the Southwestern Algarve, as the renovation of the former Hotel da Baleeira. The color white and the original lines from the 60s were kept, making the most of the superb view over the ocean, the exterior spaces and the natural light.

++ Hotel Astoria Relaxation Package
The spa Hotel Astoria in Monfortinho, a spa town in the Centro region has a great winter deal with 2 days with full board for as little as 271 euros. Package includes the indoor swimming-pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and  steam bath,  one general massage with specific cream, one hydro press therapy, one scotch shower, one application of peloids, one air bubbles bath and one Vichy shower. The Hotel Astória opened in 1948. It is a work by architect Vasco Lacerda Marques. Besides the living-rooms  the complex is completed by conference rooms, games rooms (snooker, table tennis), club, inside and outside swimming-pools, located in an idyllic garden that contrasts with the majestic severity of the landscape.

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4. EVENTS: The festive, fun, and exciting Sanjoaninas takes place from June 19 to 22, 2010 on Terceira island in the Azores attracting thousands. The Sanjoaninas festivities date back to the XVI century and have always played a key role in the culture of the islands. They begin with the opening procession and march of the queen and continue for several days, encompassing cultural, recreational, craft and musical activities.  One of the highpoints of the festivities is the Sanjoaninas Bullfighting Festival. This is one of the most important events of its kind in the Iberian peninsular and includes bullfights, and a massive running of the bulls that is unparalleled.
http://www.sanjoaninas.com


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5. EATS:

This month, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is focused on Lisbon, and the shoot even stopped at some local wineries – not surprising as the Lisbon region (which was known as Estremadura until the 2008 vintage) has more DOCs than any other Region of Portugal: a total of nine. The Colares region begins around Cascais, beyond the surfing beach of Guincho, inland from Cabo da Roca point. The vines of Colares are planted deep into the sand dunes, and the star grape of Colares is the Ramisco, hardly found elsewhere in Portugal, while Colares whites are based on Malvasia grapes.

DOC Bucelas is just 12 miles north of Lisbon, producing some of Portugal’s best white wines. Bucelas (white only, both still and sparkling) is fresh, dry and crisp, based on the Arinto variety grape.  

Just north of Bucelas, on the banks of the River Tejo, is the small region of Arruda. This is a charming land of hills, an ancient ruined castle, old Roman roads, historic windmills aside modern wind turbines, and vineyards, growing mostly red grapes.

North of Arruda is the rolling countryside around the town of Alenquer, protected from the Atlantic winds by the hills of the Serra de Montejunto. It’s cooler to the seaward side of Montejunto, in DOC Torres Vedras region. This is a home of light, dry, white wines, including a lower alcohol white known as Vinho Leve. North of Alenquer, is the DOC Óbidos area, with the famed, walled medieval town of Óbidos on its north-western edge. The region’s north-eastern tip is the bright fishing city of Peniche and the Cabo Carvoeiro cliffs. Northwards beyond the cape, is the vast pine forest, the Pinhal de Leiria and the vineyards of Encostas de Aire, Lisbon’s largest DOC. This is hilly country, where pears, apples, peaches and figs grow alongside vineyards. The region surrounds the castle-crowned city of Leiria, and the monumental monasteries at Batalha and Alcobaça (UNESCO World Heritage sites).

Wine routes: Choose from the Rota dos Vinhos de Bucelas, or the Rota da Vinha, or the Vinho do Oeste. The latter offers three possibilities: Quintas de Alenquer, Linhas de Torres, and Óbidos.