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Lisbon Shopping Guide: Where to Shop in Lisbon?

Lara Silva
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Lisbon Shopping Guide: Where to Shop in Lisbon?

While not as famous as Paris or London, Lisbon is a fashion capital in Europe to watch out for. From luxury brands to affordable vintage clothing, Lisbon has a store for everyone’s taste. Lisbon has a variety of shopping options, so many that it could get overwhelming. From shopping centers to typical Portuguese streets with smaller family-owned stores, as well as a main luxury brand avenue, you will find stores worth entering all over the Portuguese capital. Luckily, our Lisbon Shopping Guide is here to help you out!

Best Shopping Malls in Lisbon

Colombo

The largest shopping mall in Portugal and one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, Colombo has over 340 stores, including 60 restaurants, and 8 movie theaters, as well as a massive food court. You can find a variety of stores at Colombo from affordable to more expensive such as Bershka, Adidas, Bimba Y Lola, Brownie, Brandy Melville, Footlocker, and more.

Photo by Vitor Oliveira (Flickr)

Amoreiras

Inaugurated in 1985, Amoreiras was Lisbon’s largest commercial complex at the time. The shopping center has a total area of 45 thousand square meters, including more than 200 stores from fashion, health and beauty, decoration, and more. Around 12.5 million people visit Amoreiras every year. You can find stores such as Bimba Y Lola, Boss Store, Fnac, Guess, Lacoste, and more at Amoreiras.

Photo by Vitor Oliveira (Flickr)

El Corte Ingles

Opened in 2001, an upscale department store, El Corte Ingles has 9 floors divided into multiple areas such as men, women, home, cosmetics, and more, as well as a supermarket and 14-screen cinema. The department store features a panoramic restaurant on the top floor, as well as several restaurants. You can find high-end stores such as Jimmy Choo, Bottega Veneta, Carolina Herrera, and more at El Corte Ingles.

Armazens do Chiado

Located in Rua do Carmo, in the heart of Chiado, the foundations of the building housing Armazens do Chiado date back to the 12th century. The shopping center features 55 stores, 6 retail floors with a food court with 15 restaurants. You can find stores such as Mango, Brownie, Women’s Secret, Kicks, and more.

Best Shopping Streets in Lisbon

Rua Garrett

Located in the center of Chiado, Rua Garrett is one of the most iconic streets in Lisbon that is constantly filled with tourists and features several stores. From Portuguese family-run businesses to multinational clothing shows, the street has a variety of options. You can find stores such as Happy Socks, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti, as well as Bertrand, the oldest operating bookshop in the world.

Principe Real

Probably the trendiest neighborhood in Lisbon, Principe Real is a fashion-forward that has some of the coolest stores in the capital. You can actually visit the workshops of iconic fashion designers such as Lidija Kolovrat, a Bosnian designer who opened Kolovrat79 in 2010, as well as Nuno Gama’s store called Maison Nuno Gama which opened in 2014. We also recommend visiting Embaixada in Principe Real, a department store selling trendy designer items and art which also features two restaurants and a bar.

Avenida da Liberdade

If you’re looking to shop in some luxury brands, Avenida da Liberdade should be your first spot. 1,100 meters long, the avenue is known for being one of the most expensive shopping streets in all of Europe. You can find major luxury brands here such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Prada, as well as mid-priced brands such as Guess and Massimo Dutti.

Photo by Alice Kotlyarenko (Unsplash)

LxFactory

One of the country’s most popular creative hubs, LxFactory feels like an independent city filled with small businesses and creative professionals. You will find start-ups, coffee shops, bars, and stores at LxFactory. You can find stores such as Saudade Design, Bairro Arte, Coqueta, and India That Wears You at this location.

LxFactory. Photo by Alex Lehner (Flickr)

Second-Hand Shopping in Lisbon

3 Best Vintage Stores in Lisbon

1. Retro City

Retro City is an affordable vintage store that is known for its quality leather, military, faux fur, and retro bomber jackets. The store offers all types of brands with pieces from the 50s to the 90s.

2. As de Espadas

An eccentric vintage store, As de Espadas, features all types of brands, including luxury fashion. This store is a bit pricier than other vintage stores in Lisbon, but the pieces tend to be of higher quality. You can find pieces from the 20s to the 80s here, so you’re bound to find some real gems.

3. A Outra Face da Lua

Founded over 10 years ago, A Outra Face da Lua is a vintage clothing shop that features a coffee shop and an outdoor terrace. The store sells vintage clothing, as well as accessories and wallpapers. This store is the perfect location for an afternoon of vintage shopping, followed by a delicious cappuccino.

3 Best Second-Hand Markets in Lisbon

1. Feira da Ladra

Feira da Ladra is Lisbon’s flea market, a tradition in Lisbon since the 12th century. You can find everything from useless products to unexpected gems such as clothes, accessories, and more, the key is to look through everything you can. The market happens every Tuesday and Saturday from dawn to early afternoon.

2. LX Market

Lx Market happens every Sunday at LxFactory from 10 am to 6 pm. You can find handmade and vintage items that have been carefully selected. For a relaxing Saturday, have brunch at a restaurant in LxFactory and then head to the market for a unique shopping experience.

3. Anjos70 Flea Market

Anjos 70 is an art and flea market that happens on the first weekend of each month and functions as an urban market. There are over 100 stalls selling arts and crafts, workshops, teas, and more, as well as multiple handmade and vintage clothing items.

Photo by Manuel Palmeira (Unsplash)

Guide to Lisbon

⬇️Please share your favorite places for shopping in Lisbon in the comments below ⬇️

Ex-banker João Rendeiro found dead in prison

Lara Silva
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Ex-banker João Rendeiro found dead in prison

The ex-banker João Rendeiro was found dead a few hours ago in his cell in Westville Prison, South Africa, reports CNN Portugal. The circumstances of the death are still under investigation, but it is known that he was in an 80m2 prison cell with around 50 inmates. However, Observador has reported that the South African authorities have suggested that Rendeiro committed suicide. The Portuguese ex-banker was captured on December 11 of this year in South Africa after escaping Portugal to not be imprisoned for the BPP case.

Rendeiro had been in prison in South Africa for 6 months while opposing the process of the extradition request by Portugal. He was sentenced in three distinct cases in 2013 related to the collapse of the Private Portuguese Bank (BPP), where it was proven in court that the ex-banker took 13.61 million euros from the bank. He was facing 19 years and 2 months in prison for his crime. He had been sentenced for fiscal fraud, money laundering, forgery, and more.

In September of 2021, Rendeiro announced in his blog that he would not be returning to Portugal for the trial and international arrest warrants were issued. In December of 2021, Rendeiro was arrested in South Africa by Interpol’s National Crime Bureau.

In April, Rendeiro’s lawyer June Marks had visited him in imprisonment and said that the ex-banker was well and “anxious” for the start of the trial. He was set to return to court next week on May 20 for the preparatory session, with the trial set for June 13 and 30.

Law Professor André Thomashausen told Observador radio that Rendeiro was in the “worst prison in South Africa” and maybe “even the worst in all of Africa” with 40,000 inmates in overcrowded conditions, with a lack of security and budget, as well as “managed by groups of organized crime”.

The collapse of the BPP in 2010 financially burdened thousands of clients and caused a 450 million euro loss to the state.

200,000 gather in Fatima for miracle celebrations

Lara Silva
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200,000 gather in Fatima for miracle celebrations

Over 200,000 people have gathered in Cova da Iria in Fátima for the first celebration of the 13th of May without Covid-19 restrictions, on Thursday night for the candle procession. The ceremony was led by D. Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute of the Secretary of State of the Vatican. May 13 is known as the Day of Our Lady of Fátima, celebrating the day of the first apparition of Fátima.

During the prayer, a request for peace in Ukraine was brought up and three children prayed in Ukrainian, wearing the typical outfits of the country. Carlos Cabecinhas, a priest, said during the press conference, “We will pray that the Queen of Peace brings peace to Ukraine”.

While the procession occurs the night before the 13th of May, there are plenty of other celebrations happening on May 13, most of them in Portuguese. The international celebrations for today are the following:

  • “Rosario” celebration at 9 a.m in Capelinha
  • Mass at 9.am in “Recinto de Oracao”
  • “Rosario + Prec. Velas” at 9:30 p.m in Capelinha

A hot stop for religious tourism, Fátima, a city in Santarém receives around 8 million pilgrims a year due to the Miracle of Fátima.

What happened at the Miracle of Fátima?

In 1917, three shepherd children witnessed the apparition of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, six times over six months. The first apparition occurred on May 13, 1917 – this is why this day is so widely celebrated in Fátima.

The children said that Mary, also known as Fátima told the children the “Three Secrets of Fátima”. These were apocalyptic prophecies that according to Catholic interpretations mentioned events such as World War II, the rise and fall of communism, and the assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II. The children were told to spread these ideas and convert sinners as they were allegedly the main cause of these future events.

These three apparitions and the spread of the messages throughout the city culminated in the Miracle of the Sun, allegedly witnessed by over 70,000 people. There are many accounts of what this miracle consisted of but most say that after a period of rain, the skies cleared and the sun appeared as a spinning disc in the sky with radiant colors.

The Catholic Church declared these events miracles in 1930 when religious buildings were built to honor them, leading to the Sanctuary of Fátima. The Sanctuary of Fátima in the city of Fátima is a group of Catholic religious buildings that includes the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Chapel of the Apparitions which was built in the place where the three shepherd children were visited by Mary. The most common day to visit is May 13th, the day of the first apparition where thousands gather at the sanctuary to celebrate the Day of Our Lady of Fátima.

For a full overview of the miracle take a look at this article.

Guide to Fátima

Apartment in Portugal sells for 3 Bitcoin

Lara Silva
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Apartment in Portugal sells for 3 Bitcoin

A two-bedroom apartment in Braga was purchased for 3 bitcoin on May 5, 2022, the first crypto-only transaction for a property purchase in the history of Portugal. At the time, the 3 bitcoin were worth around €110,000. The purchase happened without having to convert the crypto into euros, making it not only the first property transaction in Portugal but all of Europe.

Real estate company Zome participated in the deal, as well as the law firm Antas da Cunha Ecija and Crypto Valley. Zome said on Facebook that “the deed represents a historic mark, the transference of digital crypto to a physical asset – a house – without converting it to euros. We believe today a new world of possibilities is open for the real estate sector!”.

A change to the rules last month made it so that one can purchase property with crypto alone, without any currency conversion necessary. Zome has said they are open to including other crypto tokens in the future such as dogecoin.

 

According to Idealista, in order to combat money laundering, there are additional requirements for a deed of a property purchased with cryptocurrency. The following requirements are necessary to purchase property with crypto in Portugal:

  • Necessary to show where the money came from (bank account)
  • Understand the route of the money until it reached its digital function (bitcoin)
  • The number of the digital wallet
  • Identify those involved in the transaction (name, profession, address)
  • Prove that the money leaves a wallet to the other in the moment of the transaction

International Guide to Real Estate in Portugal: Buying a House in Portugal

4 Best Clubs in Funchal, Madeira

Lara Silva
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4 Best Clubs in Funchal, Madeira

For an authentic island vacation in Madeira, you must explore the nightlife in Funchal. With clubs that have been gracing the island for decades, Madeira’s nightlife scene is welcoming to a diverse age group. From tracks from the 80s to pop and techno, Funchal club nights satisfy every music lover out there. But before we get into the best clubs in Funchal for an unforgettable night out, let’s get into the nightlife culture and what to expect. In Madeira, you start off at a bar until around at least 1 am and then you head out to your favorite club for some dancing. If you decide to go to the club earlier, chances are it could be empty. Clubs usually close anywhere between 7 and 8 am so you can literally party all night long.

If you’re overwhelmed by the endless nightlife options, we have selected our 4 favorite clubs – your very own guide to clubs in Funchal, Madeira.

Book Funchal Nightlife Tour

1. Vespas Club

Founded 36 years ago, Vespas is a known club for locals and tourists alike, offering nights out of various musical genres with a good environment and positive energy. The large venue includes seven bars, as well as three famous rooms called Vespas, Jam, and Marginal. The resident DJ of the Vespas room is Romano Faria, also known as OXY, a DJ with over 20 years of experience. DJ Ricardo Campos is the resident of Jam, an iconic figure of Madeira nightlife with over 30 years of experience. The room marginal welcomes DJ Miguel Rodrigues, also known as Migs, specializing in electronic music from Chill Out to techno.

2. Copacabana

Located in the Madeira Casino, Copacabana is one of the most iconic clubs in Madeira, welcoming guests of all generations. The main DJ Luis Goncalves plays a variety of music genres, from classics to tracks topping the charts today. Copacabana features a high-quality sound system and 12 video screens for an elevated nightlife experience. Along with welcoming various DJs, Copacabana hosts live concerts of national and international artists.

Photo provided by establishment.
Photo provided by establishment.

3. Mini Eco Bar

Located in Funchal, Mini Eco Bar is an eco-friendly bar and club for a guilt-free night out. The place’s furniture has been sourced through Fresh Home, where the pieces displayed have been made out of waste. All the waste produced at the bar is recycled, the LEDs lighting the space are low consumption, and all the appliances are classed A for energy efficiency. Along with hosting incredible nights out, Mini Eco Bar welcomes new artists and regularly displays groundbreaking art and performances. Portuguese DJs such as Joao Garcia, Rodrigo Portugal, and Maria Branco have played at Mini Eco Bar.

Photo provided by establishment.
Photo provided by establishment.

4. Dubaï Club

Dubaï club offers three floors of entertainment and fun. The first floor features the club and dance floor for those seeking to dance the night away. The second floor is a lounge with a comfortable seating area for those in need of a break from the commotion. Last but not least, the third floor features an outdoor terrace where guests can appreciate the view and enjoy some delicious shisha. This club is actually one of the first on the island to sell shisha and make it a large part of the nightlife in Madeira. From Brazilian music to tracks topping the charts, Dubaï club’s music scene is diverse so that anyone can find a night out for them.

Guide to Madeira

⬇️Please share your favorite clubs in Funchal in the comments below⬇️

17 Fun Facts About Portugal That Will Shock You

Lara Silva
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17 Fun Facts About Portugal That Will Shock You

Portugal is famous for its culturally rich history, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fado, as well as delicious wine and food, but there’s so much most don’t know about the country. So let’s get straight to it, here are 17 fun facts about Portugal that will blow your mind!

1. Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe

The borders of the nation of Portugal were defined in 1139, making it not only one of the oldest nations in the world but arguably in all of Europe. Portugal appointed King Afonso Henriques as its king that year. Fun fact: Lisbon is actually four centuries older than Rome. Before it was known as Portugal, the territory had been settled by various empires and civilizations such as by the Phoenicians in 1200 BC.

2. The oldest operating bookstore in the world is located in Lisbon

Located in Chiado, Livraria Bertrand holds the Guinness world record for the world’s oldest bookstore still in operation, founded in 1732. With over 250 years of history, Bertrand was opened by Peter Faure as a small shop and was once a hotspot for Portuguese intellectuals across the decades. In 2010, the bookstore became part of the Porto Editora group and branches opened all over the country. However, the Lisbon bookstore remains a historical and cultural landmark for book lovers.

3. Portugal is one of the most peaceful countries

In 2021, Portugal came in 4th place on the Global Peace Index (GPI), making it one of the most peaceful countries in the world, behind Iceland, New Zealand, and Denmark. Portugal is thus one of the safest countries in the world with little violence.

4. There are over 250 million Portuguese speakers around the globe

Portuguese is one of the 10 most spoken languages in the world, with over 250 million Portuguese speakers around the globe. Portuguese is the official language in 9 countries including Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Macau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Therefore it’s not that surprising that only 5% of Portuguese speakers live in Portugal.

Guide to Learning Portuguese

5. Portugal is home to the world’s largest cork forest

After bacalhau and the Barcelos rooster, an iconic Portuguese symbol is cork. Portugal is the biggest cork producer in the world and produces more than 50% of the world’s cork supply. It is also home to the world’s largest cork forests, making up 34% of the world’s area of cork forests. The Amorim Family of Portuguese billionaire Américo Amorim made their multi-billion-dollar fortune in the cork industry.

6. Lisbon suffered one of the world’s largest natural disasters in world history

On November 1st, 1755 an earthquake hit Lisbon, destroying almost the entirety of the city. Seismologists estimate the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 or more. The earthquake generated a 6-meter-high tsunami that caused many to drown. The death toll in Lisbon was between 12,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

7. Portugal lived under a fascist dictatorship for over 40 years

Not many know this outside of Portugal, but for over 40 years, the Portuguese lived under a fascist dictatorship under the rule of Antonio Salazar. On the 25 of April 1974 the “Carnation Revolution”, a peaceful military coup, overthrew the dictatorship. This day signifies the end of decades of oppression, torture by PIDE (Salazar’s police), and the beginning of the end of Portuguese colonization. It’s a day of freedom, “Liberdade”.

8. The maximum prison sentence in Portugal is 25 years

The Portuguese Penal Code states that a person must not be sentenced to a prison sentence longer than 25 years. This means that even if multiple crimes such as homicides are committed, no one will serve more than 25 years in prison. Naturally, the death penalty is also not present in Portugal.

9. Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, the first country in the world to do so

On July 1, 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize all drugs, including meth and heroin. The law made drug possession for personal use legally prohibited, while drug trafficking remains a criminal offense. The change in law was applied as a measure to fight the heightened drug epidemic of the 90s and the rise of HIV cases. Portugal now has some of the lowest drug usage rates in the European Union (EU), where most countries hold criminalization models.

Portugal Drug Laws under Decriminalization

10. The biggest waves ever surfed are in Portugal

Nazaré is the go-to for surfing huge waves as it has set world records, making it a permanent spot on the World Surg League Big Wave Tour. In 2013, McNamara broke his own world record by serving an estimated 30-meter wave off the coast of Nazaré. However, the official Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed is currently held by Brazil’s Rodrigo Koxa, who caught an almost 25-meter wave at Praia do Norte, Nazaré in Portugal in 2017.

11. Around 8 million travel to the site of the miracle of Fatima every year

In 1917, three shepherd children witnessed the apparition of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, six times over six months. These three apparitions and the spread of the messages throughout the city culminated in the Miracle of the Sun, allegedly witnessed by over 70,000 people. There are many accounts of what this miracle consisted of but most say that after a period of rain, the skies cleared and the sun appeared as a spinning disc in the sky with radiant colors. Over 100 years later, around 8 million pilgrims travel to the Sanctuary of Fatima every year to visit the site of the apparitions and of the Miracle of the Sun. Take a look at our guide to Fatima so you can plan your visit.

Guide to Fatima

12. Europe’s most westernmost point is located in Portugal

Cabo da Roca, located on the western end of the Sintra mountains on the coast of the Atlantic ocean, is in fact the westernmost point in Europe. Also known as Cape Roca, this point is a narrow granite cliff that is 144 meters high and boasts views of the Atlantic ocean, once known to the Romans as Promonotorium Magnum.

13. Portugal is a European leader in sustainable energy

In March of 2018, Portugal generated 100% of its energy through renewable sources such as hydro, wind, and solar power. In 2020, Portugal ranked as the 4th green country in the European Union across six categories, including waste, energy, greenhouse gases, air quality, fresh water, and natural land. Portugal was also among the first countries in the world to set 2050 carbon neutrality goals.

14. Portugal is one of the best places in the world to retire

Portugal is one of the best places in the world to retire, according to the International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index and Forbes. With a low cost of living and tax incentives, retirees come from all over the world to settle down in Portugal. Retirees can make use of the NHR regime, a quality healthcare system, and an all-around high standard of living. Take a look at our guide to retiring in Portugal.

Expat Guide to Retiring in Portugal

15. The Vasco da Gama bridge was the longest in Europe (when it opened)

The Vasco da Gama bridge crosses 17 kilometers over the River Tagus in Lisbon and opened in 1998, at the time, making it the longest bridge in Europe. The bridge was named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route from Europe to India. Today, it is the second-longest bridge in Europe, after the Crimean Bridge, but it remains the longest bridge in the European Union.

16. Portugal is known as the “country of tiles”

Since 2013, it’s been forbidden to demolish buildings with tile-covered façades in Lisbon to protect their cultural heritage. These glazed blue ceramic tiles from the 14th century decorate the streets, buildings, and monuments of Portuguese cities. The azulejo is also commonly displayed in Portuguese homes, as well as train stations, restaurants, and fountains.  Tiles were originally created to protect the walls of houses from low temperatures, not for aesthetic purposes.

Portugal, The Country of Azulejo Tiles

17. The birth rate in Portugal is below the EU average

Portugal has one of the lowest birth rates in the EU, standing at 7.7% in 2021. The birth rate has been decreasing exponentially since the 1950s. The Socialist Party (PS) has included major measures to tackle the low birth rate in the proposed state budget for 2022/2023, such as providing free childcare for kids up to 1 years old. 

Guide to Having a Baby in Portugal

Portuguese doctors could be penalized for abortions

Lara Silva
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Portuguese doctors could be penalized for abortions

Family doctors with patients that carry out voluntary abortions could be penalized if the Portuguese government accepts a proposal with new evaluation criteria for the Family Health Unit model B (USF-B), reports Publico. Proposed by the Central Health System Administration (ACSS) and validated by the Directorate‑General of Health of Portugal (DGS), the new criteria were sent to the Ministry of Health last year and are being analyzed.

The criteria include not only penalization of doctors for the voluntary abortions of their patient list, but also for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in women. The argument for the criteria is that these are caused by a failure in adequate “family planning”.

Under the Family Health Unit model B (USF-B) for specific activities, if certain goals are achieved, doctors and their teams can receive an extra amount of money added to their salary. This measure would mean they would be penalized if their patients undergo voluntary abortions and have STDs. Under the new criteria, if there is proof that a woman has had an STD or abortion in the 12 months prior, the doctor and tram would not receive this extra amount.

The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) has criticized the criteria and sent a complaint to the Commission of Citizenship and Gender Equality, saying that “the monitorization of STDs in women – a monitorization that is not the same for men – configures gender discrimination” and is a “sign of civilization regression”.

Similarly, the President of the Portuguese Order of Doctors Miguel Guimaraes is worried that the measure “is using a right of women, fundamental to them, as an indicator of failure, which makes no sense”. He says that this “is a totally unacceptable situation and it surprises me that the Directorate‑General of Health of Portugal (DGS) has approved this”.

Maria Joao Tiago, from the Labor Union of Independent Doctors, has said it is unacceptable that a patient who has undergone an abortion is considered a failure of a family doctor for lack of family planning.

It is unclear whether the Ministry of Health will approve the new criteria. However, in parliament on Tuesday, Marta Temido, the Minister of Health said that abortion rights will be guaranteed in Portugal. When questioned by Catarina Martins, the coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE), Temido explained that the measure considers voluntary abortions “as a failure in the follow-up of family planning conducted by health professionals. All of them know that an abortion penalizes women physically and mentally”.

Catarina Martins disliked this explanation, saying that “the simple consideration that an abortion is a failure in family planning is an unacceptable moral judgment”. She said that even with adequate family planning, an accident can happen where someone needs to have an abortion, and “it is not up to us to judge the reasons why”.

Is abortion legal in Portugal?

Abortion only became legal in Portugal in 2007, with a national referendum where 59% of voters chose to legalize abortion. Prior to 2007, those undergoing abortions faced up to three years in prison, except in cases of rape and danger to health. However, abortions can only be performed if the pregnancy has not exceeded 10 weeks. Abortions at later stages are only allowed for particular reasons such as rape.

In 2015 Portugal tightened its abortion laws after religious groups led to changes in the law. A mandatory three-day waiting period is now enforced called a “reflection period”. Psychological counseling before ending a pregnancy became recommended.

Abortions are free in Portugal. However, they are not carried out in private hospitals, only in official public hospitals and establishments. Only the pregnant person can request an abortion. However, if they are mentally incapable or under 16 years old, a legal representative will need to request an abortion.

Portugal qualifies for Eurovision 2022

Lara Silva
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Portugal qualifies for Eurovision 2022

Portugal has qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Final in Turin, Italy on Tuesday night with Maro’s “Saudade, Saudade”. Mariana Secca, also known as Maro, will perform in the Grand Final’s first half on Saturday, May 14. Her song “Saudade, Saudade” is an indie-pop track released via Universal music that peaked in the top 5 in the charts in Portugal and reflects missing someone that has passed. She was accompanied by the voices of Beatriz Fonseca, Beatriz Pessoa, Carolina Leite, Diana Castro and Milhanas.

The following countries also qualified for the final in yesterday’s first semi-final: Armenia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Iceland, Lithuania, Greece, and Moldova. The seven acts that did not qualify were Albania, Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, and Austria.

The first semi-final result was determined through a combination of jury and televoters, the latter of which took place during the live broadcast of the show. Those of the 17 countries participating in the first semi-final plus France and Italy were allowed to vote. The detailed results with the voting points will be revealed after the Grand Final on Saturday.

The second semi-final happens on Thursday where 18 other countries will compete for a spot in Saturday’s final. This includes Finland, Israel, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, North Macedonia, Estonia, Romania, Poland, Montenegro, Belgium, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

The Grand Final will include 10 winners from each semi-final and the “big five” who automatically qualify: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest once in 2017, with Salvador Sobral’s song
Amar Pelos Dois”. The first time Portugal participated in Eurovision was in 1964, missing five editions in 1970, 2000, 2002, 2013, and 2016.

⬇️Who do you think will win this year’s Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below⬇️

Setúbal Wine

Goncalo Costa
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Setúbal Wine

In the amazing Setúbal and Tróia peninsula, sits a wine region that has a long history and importance to Portugal and has been getting more and more prestige recently.

The Setúbal region is divided among the DOC Setúbal, reserved for the Moscatel wines, and the DOC Palmela, as well as the Geographical Indication (IG) of Península de Setúbal.

This region is starting to become a very looked-after tourist destination, namely because of the amazing natural places it has, such as the National Parks of Arrábida and Marinho D. Luís Saldanha (the first one, being considered for recognition as a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Mankind), the Natural Reserve of the Sado Estuary, the Protected Landscape of Arriba Fóssil da Caparica. Besides this, the region is also known for its diversity and history, filled with amazing historic buildings and great tourist infrastructures.

The touristic importance of the place is complemented by the importance of its wine, with a lot of people doing wine tourism in the region. The region is known for its wonderful wines that have played a leading role in the history of wine in Portugal.

Its main variety would probably be the Moscatel de Setúbal, one of Portugal’s most known and renowned wines! This is a Portuguese muscatel wine produced in this region, around the actual municipality of Setúbal. Its history dates back a long time and its impact still lingers on Portuguese history.

Portuguese Wine

History of Setúbal Wine

The wine production in this region goes back a long way, with the probability of this being the first wine-producing region in what is now Portugal.

Firstly, it was thought that it was brought to the region by the Phoenicians, around 2400 years ago, who used to trade in the region, namely on the estuaries of the rivers Sado and Tejo. The trade would usually consist of the Phoenicians trying to get metals and exchanging this for products such as wine and olive oil vases.

Then, it was thought that maybe it was the Tartessians that started planting vineyards and producing wine in the region, entering through the Sado river around the year 2000 BC.

However, more recently, there were grape seeds found in the Setúbal peninsula dating back to the 8th century BC. This shows that there was an ancient culture of grapes in the region! Nonetheless, it is not known if these grapes were used for wine-making.

But what is known is that, from the arrival of wine to the region until now, this has been a well-known production of Setúbal from then on. The other cultures that have passed through there have consumed and produced the Setúbal wine, such as the Greeks, the Romans, and even the Muslims, who let the Christians living in the land produce, consume and trade the wine.

Finally, Portugal, as we know it now, was created, and wine has still been cultivated in the region. The Setúbal Peninsula became a well-known wine-producing region both in Portugal and the surroundings. From the 12th until the 15th centuries, the region also became a main wine-exporting place, especially due to the advances made by the religious order that had taken the wine production for themselves.

The Muscatel wine, produced in Setúbal from times immemorial, became known throughout Europe. Its fame started when, in the 14th century, the English king Richard II started to regularly import the ‘Moscatel de Setúbal’.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Portuguese expansionist period, the wine would travel with the Portuguese sailors to India, Brazil, Angola, and the other colonies. Sometimes, the wine would be exposed to the hot sun of these regions or immersed in the heated water that would flood the bottom of the ships. This, surprisingly, increased the already great quality of this fortified wine, creating the ‘Vinho da Roda’ or ‘Torna Viagem’ (Wheel Wine or Round Trip). This happened too with other fortified wines, like the Madeira wine.

Then, in the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV of France, its prestige only grew, with the king being known to have this wine always present at his parties in Versailles. Léon Douarche, a French wine connoisseur, refered to the Moscatel de Setúbal as “The Sun in a bottle”.

The region was also known, in the 19th century for having the largest continuous vineyard in the world, with around 4000 hectares of vineyards in a single farm, all belonging to one producer.

Nowadays, this region’s farms have been known for making very good and prestigious wines and winning multiple international competitions, with the vineyards overall occupying an area of around 8000 hectares.

Setubal. Photo by Edward Goody (Unsplash)

Guide to Setubal

The Moscatel de Setúbal

The most well-known wine type of the region is obviously the Moscatel de Setúbal. It has always been a great wine, renowned national and international, as we’ve seen.

Being a fortified wine, like, for example, the Port wine, it shares some similarities. However, unlike the Port, the Moscatel de Setúbal is wood aged until it’s bottled.

It can be made out of a single vintage grape variety or of a “non-vintage” one, with a blend of several vintages. The wine tends to be at the freshest and fruitiest point, with more pronounced apricot notes, at around 5 to 6 years of age. The older they are, the darker they become, with more aromas and flavors of raisin, caramel and nut.

Moscatel is the only wine that can be produced with the DOC Setúbal denomination, more specifically wines of the Moscatel de Setúbal and Moscatel Roxo variety. These are the traditional varieties of the region and the DOC wines should have a high percentage of these grapes in them.

Soil and Climate in Setúbal

There are mainly 2 types of landscape in the Setúbal wine region: one very hilly one, with vineyards on the limestone and clayey-calcareous slopes of the Serra da Arrábida; and another one very flat or undulated, where the soil is mostly sandy and poor, but adapted very well to the production of high-quality vines.

As for the climate, it’s a Mediterranean one, very tempered, with hot and dry summers, as well as mild but rainy winters with high humidity, due to its proximity to the sea. Only in the region closest to the Serra da Arrábida (because of the high altitude) does the climate get a more Atlantic feel to it.

Grape Types in Setúbal

The main red wine grape types used in the Setúbal region are Trincadeira and Castelão, also known as Periquita (this one usually used for the red Palmela wines, since it does best in Palmela’s warm and loose sandy soil, making the wine get a very good depth and complexity).

The Castelão wines are usually more structured and with fruity flavors, such as cherry, currant acorn chestnut, candied plum, blackberry, and raspberry aromas. They are wines with great aging potential.

As for white wines, it’s usually Arinto, Fernão Pires, and Moscatel Graúdo, this last one is mainly used for fortified wines.

To be awarded the DOC seal of Moscatel de Setubal, the wines must be mainly made out of Muscat of Alexandria or Moscatel Roxo grapes. It can, however, have up to 30% of other grape types in the mix, such as Arinto, Boais, Diagalves, Fernao Pires, Malvasia, Olho de Lebre, Rabo de Ovelha, Roupeiro, Talia, Tamarez and Vital.

As for the DOC Palmela, the approved grape types include Alfrocheiro, Arinto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fernao Pires, Muscat of Alexandria, Periquita, Rabo de Ovelha, Roupeiro, Tamarez and Tinta Amarela.

Setúbal Wine Suggestions: Best Setúbal Wine

If you want to try this wine, here’s some brands that you should try, according to the 2021 competition made by the Península de Setúbal Wine Region Comission:

  • José Maria da Fonseca (Moscatel)
  • Casa Ermelinda Freitas (more specifically, the ‘Terras do Pó’ white wine)
  • Adega de Palmela
  • Bacalhôa

3 Best Setúbal Wine Tasting Tours

1. Sesimbra and Arrábida National Park Tour with Wine Tasting

Make the most out of this trip to the incredible Setúbal region! See the amazing Arrábica Natural Park, the famous beaches of Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha and the Arrábida Mountain, as well as the fishing town of Sesimbra and its Moorish castle.

Finally, head to the vineyards to see how the region’s wine is made and, obviously, taste the surely amazing results!

Book Sesimbra & Arrabida Tour with Wine Tasting

2. Private Van Tour Arrabida and Wine Tasting

Start the trip in Lisbon and cross the longest bridge in Europe, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, to get to the Setúbal Peninsula. Visit the towns of Palmela, Setúbal and Sesimbra while eating the traditional food and tasting the Moscatel de Setúbal.

Then, in Azeitão, before visiting this noble village, visit one of the oldest wineries in the region and enjoy another wine tasting.

Book Private Van Tour Arrabida & Wine Tasting

3. Setubal Wine Tour to Two Wineries Private Tour

This is a trip completely dedicated to wine! Visit the two largest wineries in the region, with a guided tour of both of them where you will learn about their histories, the families, and traditions while tasting up to 5 different wines that they produce (one of them being the famous Moscatel Roxo). You will have the opportunity to buy the wine afterward and the regional cheeses that go great with them, directly from the producers.

Book Setubal Wineries Private Tour

Portugal likely to qualify for Eurovision final

Lara Silva
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Portugal likely to qualify for Eurovision final

Tuesday night is the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy where the first 17 songs will compete and 10 will qualify for Saturday’s Grand Final. Portugal is set to have a qualification chance of 92% with Maro’s “Saudade, Saudade”.

The final involves 25 countries, 10 that will qualify today during the first semi-final, and 10 more that will qualify in the second semi-final on Thursday. The “Big Five” have an immediate place in the final, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the host country Italy.

The singer Maro will represent Portugal in this year’s Eurovision, after winning the Song Festival. For tonight’s semi-final, Maro will sing the song “Saudade, Saudade” by herself, but in the final on Saturday, her performance will be accompanied by a female choir with Beatriz Pessoa, Beatriz Fonseca, Carolina Leite, and Sara Badalo.

Also known as Maro, Mariana Secca comes from Lisbon and began studying piano at 4 years old. She studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and then moved to Los Angeles where she collaborated with Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Jacob Collier.

Her song “Saudade, Saudade” is an indie-pop track released via Universal music that peaked in the top 5 in the charts in Portugal. While there is no direct translation of the word “saudade”, it means a feeling of longing or nostalgia for someone, essentially missing someone. The song is performed in Portuguese and English.

Maro told Eurovision the song is about the loss of a grandparent, saying “I think it’s just something intimate, it’s something so personal. It’s about loss, but it’s also about celebration. It’s crazy how impactful our grandparents can be, and how it’s a reference to so many values, including unconditional love”.

 

The following countries will compete tonight, along with Portugal: Albania, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Slovenia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Moldova, Croatia, Denmark, Australia, Iceland, Greece, Norway, and Armenia.

Portugal only won the Eurovision Song Contest once in 2017, with Salvador Sobral’s song
Amar Pelos Dois”. The first time Portugal participated in Eurovision was in 1964, missing five editions in 1970, 2000, 2002, 2013, and 2016.

⬇️Who do you think will win this year’s Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below⬇️

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