With fishing in their blood and families to be fed, many Portuguese, including former commercial fishermen, take to beach or cliff fishing as ways to continue casting their bait in the hope of a tasty meal.
The law (Decreto Lei no. 39/2008) requiring all holiday rental properties to be licensed for alojamento local (“AL”) has now been in force for nearly six years.
The Portuguese government offer, launched in August 2012, to grant residency to non-EU nationals purchasing property to the value of €500,000 has already delivered a “decisive stimulus” to the property market, to quote a government spokesperson.
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The Portuguese law changed in August 2013 such that all properties being advertised for sale must have a valid Energy Efficiency Certificate. Otherwise owners can be fined from €250 to €3,740, while estate agencies advertising uncertified properties can be fined from €2,500 to €44,890.
Securing one’s home is the primary concern of all homeowners, especially since it can be considered as one of the most valuable assets that a person can have. This is why, as much as possible, we take advantage of home insurance policies.
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With its beautiful beaches and abundant sunshine, a fortnight in the Algarve is the perfect opportunity for some well-earned rest and relaxation. The region’s Mediterranean diet is rich in nutrition, but a fortnight without any exercise could see you lose hard-earned results from your regular healthy regime.
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EU declares illegal the charging of tolls on formerly free Portuguese motorways
A new A22 toll charging system to be introduced in 2014 to replace the one implemented less than 2 years ago
Portugal has four times more kilometres of motorway per inhabitant than the UK
FT asks why Portugal spent so much money on motorways only to choke off use with unaffordable tolls
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Why Portugal buys its cod from the Norwegians and Russians
Why you may not get to eat the fish that you order
How the EU catch has been shrinking but the Portuguese catch has grown
Visitors are attracted to the Algarve for many reasons. The glorious weather is certainly one of them. Boasting more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, the sun shines even in winter for an average of 6 hours each day.
Holidays are often seen as a time for indulgence and the Algarve offers visitors the best of both worlds; you can enjoy delicious local produce and try speciality dishes, yet much of the food served in this region is rich in nutrients and beneficial to health. Portugal may not have a Mediterranean coastline, but the traditional fare is similar to that of the Mediterranean diet popular in Spain, Italy and Greece.
