Porto e Norte Region

Grande Hotel do Porto reopens

Friday, 03 September 2010 00:00

The Grande Hotel do Porto has been renovated and reopened maintaining the classic lines of the original model. Each of its 94 rooms is fully equipped with direct dial telephone, individually controlled air-conditioning, safe-deposit box, mini-bar, electronic wake-up alarm call and satellite TV. Hotel amenities also include a bar and reference rooms, as well as Renascença Restaurant, which specializes in traditional Portuguese dishes and international cuisine.

Braga: European Youth Capital 2012

Saturday, 28 August 2010 00:00

Braga will be the new European Youth Capital (EYC), replacing this year’s EYC Torino and Antwerp in 2011.The European Youth Capital is a title granted to a European city for a year and is awarded by the European Youth Forum. Over this period the chosen city will have the opportunity to showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development and to host a number of corresponding events.

Ryanair to launch 7 new routes to Porto

Friday, 27 August 2010 00:00

Low cost airline Ryanair announced that it would open seven new routes departing from Porto Airport (OPO) in November 2010. New services include flights from Porto to Barcelona, Bologna, Bremen, Maastricht, Marrakesh, Munich West (Memmingen) and Valencia. Ryanair will also increase the frequency of its popular St. Etienne (Lyon) and Tour routes from twice weekly to 3 flights per week. Ryanair also launched new airfare sales with low fares starting at €8. The lowest fares are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Camilo Castelo Branco inspires network of 11 tourist cities

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 00:00

The works of Camilo Castelo Branco will lead to a cultural and tourist route that will link 11 national cities. Coimbra, Fafe, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Povoa de Varzim, Ribeira de Pena, Viana do Castelo, Vila do Conde, Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila Real, Viseu and Vila Nova de Famalicão will promote joint tourism activities around the figure of the writer.

The announcement was made yesterday by the chairman of the Regional Tourism Organization of Porto, Northern Portugal, Melchior Moreira, during the First Meeting of Lands Camillians held in Famalicão. "It will be a tourist to the country and the world," stressed the official, for whom "Camilo holds a vast and rich cultural heritage that should be promoted and disseminated."

The 11 cities, which in 2004 had formed the joint Camillians Lands, will now create a sightseeing tour that will raise awareness of the most striking areas of the life of the writer, the chain of the Porto's house Seide, and pass by some of his most memorable premises. This network of cities under the sign of Camilo Castelo Branco will also promote joint cultural events to publicize the impact of copyright in each city.

Aldeia de Cidadelhe to get 5-star hotel

Monday, 16 August 2010 00:00

The village of Cidadelhe in Mesão Frio will get an investment of six million euros for the restoration of a fort and the building of a five-star hotel. Work starts this June on the 44 room hotel. The hotel will keep the original outline of a seventeenth century manor house, the Quinta do Paço de Cidadelhe and include a spa, restaurant, bar and museum. The ruins of the fort will be restored, and the area will become a park with species native to the surrounding area.