Travel with purpose.

There are stories that are not written in travel guides, that only live in the gestures of a craftsman working with the material, in the aromas of a market at dawn or in the tranquility of a place that seems made to be eternal.

Allow yourself to discover. Allow yourself to travel with purpose. Not just to new destinations, but new experiences with true meaning.

Urbano, Visual Artist

“Urbano is Urbano,” said the friend who introduced us. He was born in Água Retorta (1959), from a...
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Just play, a Tradition is Born

It started as a fun project between two friends but became a tradition. Helena and Natália combin...
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No Rush, That’s How ALENTEJO Continues

When the land gives purslane, it’s time to make a soup. If the fava beans are full, you make soup...
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The Sourdough That Came from Afar…

Fate brought them together in Spain, but it was São Miguel that they chose to call home. Julia Ca...
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Kubidoce

Kubidoce is an artisan pastry shop of great renown in Olhão, Algarve, celebrated for the quality ...
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Fishmonger

The strong voice, shaped by salt and time, echoes through the corridors of the Faro Market. João ...
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Austa

Austa, founded by David Campus, stands out for its approach to Mediterranean cuisine.
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Frango da Guia

Frango da Guia is one of the most iconic dishes of the Algarve, a true symbol of the region’s cui...
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Made in Zambujal

At the easternmost tip of the Serra do Caldeirão, in Alcoutim, brothers Manuel and Rui Jerónimo c...
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Gorreana Tea

Chá da Gorreana, grown on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, is the only tea plantation in E...
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Glória’s Bolos Lêvedos

The sweet and warm scent fills the air, announcing what’s to come. At Glória, the Bolos Lêvedos a...
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Limpets

The word “lapa” has pre-Celtic origins. A lapa can refer to a small cave, a slap, a b...
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Fajã da Rocha da Relva

The journey is taken slowly, on foot or by donkey, with legs turned towards the cliff, like the A...
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The Estoril of the Azores

The shelter of the monks (known as calouros) who fled from Furnas due to the 1630 volcanic erupti...
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António Aleixo

At the iconic Café Calcinha terrace, in the centre of Loulé, you can sit at the table of popular ...
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Olhão Market

To get to know the Algarve, visiting the Municipal Markets of Olhão is a must. The building, divi...
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Ria Formosa

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Fig Tree at the Dock

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Gaudêncio, the Gardener

The army brought him from Mealhada to the Azores, and by São Miguel, he decided to stay. António...
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Bica

In some parts of the country, a bica is an espresso. In the Algarve, bica is the name of a fish. ...
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Take the rubbish to your own door

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Hanging Meat for Espirito Santo

The festivals in honor of the Divine Holy Spirit in May are a time of community unity. In Lagoa, ...
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Dried Octopus and Dried Octopus Roe

Throughout the year, the fishermen of Olhão dry the Litão they catch. This fish, a small shark sp...
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Deep-Sea Longline Fishing

Still holding the sky, and before dawn breaks, Paulo Louro is already heading out to sea. If the ...
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Algarve and Schweppes

The advertising tile panels produced by the Aleluia Factory for Schweppes between 1956 and 1965 h...
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Orange Tree

In the winter months, when the sky is clearer and the air cooler, the orange trees of the Algarve...
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Fig Tree

With twisted trunks and generous shade, fig trees spread across the Algarve like silent guardians...
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Cow and the Sea

Dairy farming and beef production are the main agricultural activities in the Azores. Some say th...
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Chimney

The Algarve chimney was traditionally considered a symbol of wealth and prestige in the community...
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Capelas Workshop-Museum

A knock on the door, and the unexpected awaits. The Workshop-Museum of Arts and Crafts unfolds li...
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Costume Museum

The São Brás de Alportel Costume Museum tells the social and cultural history of the region throu...
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Almond Orchards

Florentina—known to all as Tininha—starts her day at five in the morning. Such is the rhythm of t...
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TASA

Vanessa Flórido found a mission in craftsmanship: to give it a future. In Algarve, where the hand...
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Furnas Chairs

Wood is in his blood. Since he was a child, António José Paiva, or Paivinha, watched his grandfat...
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Taro Soup

Yam is a common tuber in the Azores and widely used in local cuisine. It’s easy to find at Mercad...
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Cristiano and the Octopus

Behind his family’s stall at Olhão’s fish market, Cristiano proudly upholds an Algarve tradition.
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Fajã do Calhau

The descent to Fajã do Calhau is steep, over 400 meters down. At the bottom, there are some holid...
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Land Activism

Ângela Rosa is a farmer and activist. Her parents were in construction, but she chose a differen...
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Nurseries in the Ria

The Algarve produces the largest quantity of oysters in the country. The Ria Formosa is a prime h...
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Return and Be Happy

Helena, married to Délcio, is the daughter of Rita and Luís. They all live in Água Retorta, the l...
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Ruins of the “Baleias” Factory

The whaling industry in Capelas, on São Miguel Island, began in the 1880s, and played a significa...
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Souto Moura Houses

The Pritzker Prize is awarded annually to architects who combine qualities such as talent, vision...
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Synagogue

Jewish Presence in the Azores In 1836, a group of Marrano Jews of Sephardic origin purchased a ho...
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República 14

Fernando and a group of friends brought an abandoned townhouse in Olhão back to life. In an act o...
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Love for Copper

The sound of the hammer shaping copper once again echoes through Loulé. Master Analide, who start...
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Art and Citizenship

Mário Roberto has recently settled on Rua de Pedro Homem, right in the heart of Ponta Delgada, in...
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The Prince of Cheeses

Milton is best known as the Prince of Cheeses, the name of his shop on Rua dos Mercadores, in the...
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Hands of the Land

In Arrifes, Bento Silva and his wife welcome all who arrive with the generosity of those who neve...
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Fish Trio at Alabote

The Azores are the best place in the world to discover different fish species. At just one meal,...
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Young Musicians

There are nearly one hundred philharmonic bands in the Azores. Dating back to the 19th century, t...
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Archipelago

Arquipélago is a Centre for Contemporary Arts with a view of the sea. Set in the middle of the A...
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Sea View

If perfection existed… It might just be a late afternoon at a lookout in Porto Formoso, breathin...
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Sweet Bread (Massa Sovada)

Massa Sovada is a sweet bread baked across all the islands of the Azores. Traditionally prepared ...
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The Meat Pounding (Espirito Santo)

Isolation has made the Azores a united and supportive community. During the Feast of the Holy Spi...
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Portugal and the USA on the Wall

The United States, a life destination for many Azoreans, is part of the history of nearly every f...
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“It’s Important to Listen to MADEIRA”

Born into a family with skilled hands and a musical ear, Hugo Raposo was crafting wooden toys on ...
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Yam

Yam is a common tuber in the Azores and widely used in local cuisine. It’s easy to find at Mercad...
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Climbing Plant Over a House

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Pineapple

The pineapple arrived in the Azores in the 19th century—as an ornamental plant. Its success was ...
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Volcanic Rock

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Boiling Corn

If the earth’s depths provide heat and boiling water, why not use it to cook corn?
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Village Notes

We are in Povoação, where the first settlers of the Azores arrived in the 14th century. The firs...
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Water Mill

Formerly known as the Lomba do Loução Mill, it is now the Ethnographic Museum of Wheat. Located n...
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A HERITAGE for the World

Rita lives in Água Retorta, the village where she was born. She grows a garden with a view of th...
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A Special Garden

In the northeast, among winding roads surrounded by greenery and the blue sea, the journey is one...
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Timelapse

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Life is Full of OPPORTUNITIES

His parents couldn’t read, but it was the world of printing that bound Ernesto Resendes to the Az...
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“Pão de Cristo” Fishing Boat

Just like people, boats have their own names. Often, these names evoke family members or places ...
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Chícharos with Baked Beans

Fried chicharros with baked beans is a typical dish at the Mané Cigano tavern in Ponta Delgada. T...
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Pickles at Mané (Cigano)

Salt-cured local pepper and pickled onions, seasoned with Galician lemon, are a type of pickle th...
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Galego Lemon at Graça Market

The Galician lemon has the shape of a lemon but the color of a tangerine. Common in the Azores, i...
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Fava Rica at Graça Market

Dried fava beans at the Mercado da Graça, in the centre of Ponta Delgada. Dried legumes were a wa...
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Senhor Santo Cristo – Auctions

During the Feast of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, agricultural goods and livestock donated by...
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Qualifer Butcher

Founded in the 1970s, this butcher shop is renowned for the variety of meats, sausages, and regio...
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Pedorido River Beach

The best way to reach Pedorido Beach from Octant Hotel is on foot, following the trail along the ...
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Chuck and the Ukulele

Chuck Monahan plays the ukelele. His passion for this instrument – brought by Portuguese sailors ...
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Libatio, a Tribute to Wine

In the heart of Régua, among barrels and family memories, Maria Aguiar gave new life to an old wi...
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Riverside Walk Along the Douro

After the legendary breakfast at Octant, I decided to go for a walk along the Douro. I left the ...
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Pomegranate

The pomegranate tree grows spontaneously in the Caldeirão mountains, without the need for care or...
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Escritaria

Every corner of Penafiel bears traces of Escritaria, the literary festival dedicated to honouring...
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Santa Maria Church

The Church of Santa Maria is also known as the “Church of Marco” or “The Siza C...
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Esparto Grass in Sarnadas

The primary school in Sarnadas no longer echoes with the voices of children. Restored, it now ho...
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Sweets Named After the Land

Sílvia left Faro and returned to Sarnadas, in the Algarve hills, to care for her mother and grand...
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Carob Tree

The Carob Tree is well adapted to the conditions of the Algarve’s barrocal region, a limest...
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Carmen Miranda Museum

Not everyone knows that Carmen Miranda, the icon of Brazilian culture, was actually born in Marco...
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A Woman and Oysters

Sílvia Padinha became the face, voice, and driving force behind the fight for the Culatra Island ...
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Grelha Salt Pans

João Pedro Grelha is a descendant of Olhão’s salt makers.
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Birds of the South

Fonte da Benévola is a privileged spot for birdwatching—home to summer visitors, migratory specie...
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Copper

Adriano and his team design and manufacture copper distillation equipment and kitchen utensils. ...
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Xico Tarefa

Xico Tarefa’s hands know the land. In the focused silence of the potter’s wheel, the clay takes s...
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Improvised Tavern

Vinho Verde—White or Red?
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Adobe House

Traditional building techniques are more valued than ever, perfectly adapted to the climate and t...
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Cardboard Factory Foz do Ribeiro

Brothers Alfredo and Agostinho Duarte represent the fifth generation of their family to run the F...
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Cozido at Manel’s

There’s a reason why this dish is called “Cozido à Portuguesa”—it is one of the most iconic meals...
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Listening to the Elders (Pejão Mines)

Armando Faria has always listened to stories. The son of a miner from Pejão, he made his life in ...
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Antónia, costureira

Antónia only pursued her professional dream after raising her son. Now, she speaks with pride abo...
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A GREATER Love – Leather Artisan

Joaquim Pimenta traded one passion—automotive mechanics—for a greater love, one passed down by hi...
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Cheese with Herb Paste

The cheese is fresh, made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. Its piso—a crushed herb paste—brings to mi...
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Évora Market

Dried oregano and fresh coriander—two essential flavours of Alentejo cuisine. Both grow wild in ...
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Santiago Trails

Even in the depths of the Alentejo, all roads lead to Santiago… de Compostela.
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If Saint Eufémia Came Here…

On the eve of the harvest season, the Romaria in Honour of Santa Eufémia takes place every Septem...
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Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is a misleading name. This Alentejo dish is much more than a soup—it’s a meal in its...
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Toponymy

Every street name in Évora is a gateway to history. As a UNESCO World Heritage City, its toponym...
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Évora 27

In 2027, Évora will be a European Capital of Culture, alongside Liepāja in Latvia. For a year, b...
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Cabbage in the Garden

How many steps from the garden—where this cabbage grows—to the table at À Terra? Shall we see? W...
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Ti Chica: Melindres and Cavacas

The sweet-making tradition of Sardoura and Entre-os-Rios Maria José Martelo, daughter of Gaspar ...
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The old station

The old station of Nossa Senhora de Machede – Our Lady of Machede – is part of the defunct “ramal...
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Talego at the Gate

In Nossa Senhora de Machede, tradition is still very much alive. If you pass by a house and see ...
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The Passion for STONES

António Patrão is rarely seen without his signature Basque beret. A Pedorido native and gardener...
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Dona Amélia

In Castelo de Paiva, all roads lead to Restaurante D. Amélia. The posta (grilled beef steak) com...
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Silage

Corn silage is the foundation of the Arouquesa breed’s diet, contributing to the exceptional qual...
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Casa da Vila Nova

At the Casa de Vila Nova vineyards, harvesting is more than just picking grapes – it’s about hono...
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Verde Douro (Grape Varieties)

Vinho Verde has a growing number of devoted followers. Just ask Manuel Soares, winemaker at Casa ...
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Vineyard Workers

Every year, the harvest at Casa de Vila Nova unfolds like a ritual. When the time comes to pick ...
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Carqueja

Carqueja is a wild medicinal herb that thrives in uncultivated land. Traditionally, it was used ...
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Schist

Schist and granite shape the walls of many traditional houses in Castelo de Paiva. These stone t...
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Cabril Mill

The Cabril Mill is a living, centuries-old testament to the region of Castelo de Paiva. Owned by...
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Purple Flowers

In the Alentejo, colours shift with the seasons. Though the landscape may seem serene, no two da...
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A CHAIR where we want to sit

When a child is born in Alentejo, they already have a traditional chair waiting for them. The Ale...
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Ruins by the Roadside

Time has shaped Alentejo’s architecture, adapting it to the extremes of both winter and summer.
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Fidalgo

With nothing more than eggs, sugar, and fire, one of the Alentejo’s most exquisite traditional sw...
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Machede Church

Inside the Church of Nossa Senhora de Machede, the walls are adorned with ‘carpet tiles’ from aro...
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Yellow House

Most houses in the Alentejo are whitewashed. Lime not only acts as a natural disinfectant but al...
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Theatre

Cendrev – The Dramatic Centre of Évora is a cultural project dedicated to artistic creation, thea...
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Sunset with a soundtrack

The sound of frogs, birds and crickets make a very special late afternoon show. And the sight is ...
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Sericaia at Manel’s

In the cafés of Nossa Senhora de Machede, life unfolds at every hour of the day. If you want to ...
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Chimneys

In the Alentejo, chimneys shape the skyline and define the silhouette of its villages. Tradition...
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Duck Rice

There’s no menu on the door, nor is one brought to the table.
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Wooden Toys

José Manuel Chinarro could paint before he could read. His talent was evident from an early age, ...
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Montado Route

Where trains once passed, now lies the Ecopista of the Grande Rota do Montado, linking Reguengos ...
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Os Pachorras

‘Pachorra’ means patience. The word conveys the ability to endure challenges, discomfort, and ha...
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Alentejo Blanket

Alentejo blankets once shielded shepherds from the cold. Woven by hand on traditional looms, thei...
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Streets of Évora

Wandering through the streets of Évora is to understand why it has been a UNESCO World Heritage S...
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Seasonal Broad Beans

Seasonality on a plate. When broad beans are in season, any roadside restaurant in the Alentejo i...
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Cork Designer

António Paiva de Andrada sculpts cork as a master craftsman would carve stone or wood. A block of...
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Incluir, Cooperative Craftsmanship CRL

Lúcia Nogueira Sousa is the face behind Cooperativa Artesanal Incluir. Since 2005, the cooperati...
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The Gigos (Basket Weavers)

Adelina and Aníbal are a team. In the garage of their home, they skillfully weave willow and ree...
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Tila the Warrior

Tila—known by all simply as Tila, just as she likes—works the land, she followed in her father’s ...
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Handcart with Corn

Maria Irene lives in Paraíso, on the outskirts of Castelo de Paiva. Almost every day, she makes ...
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Pão de Ló (Portuguese Sponge Cake)

“Soft, moist, and rectangular—that’s Pão-de-Ló de Folgoso. For many, it is the best sponge...
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