Alkantara Festival:

A major festival celebrated during summer in the months May – June in Lisbon is the Alkantara Festival. It is a visual arts festival where people of different cultures unite and put on cutting edge performances. This festival is dedicated to the international performing arts and is held at some of the city’s biggest and noteworthy venues.

Cool Jazz Festival:

One of the popular festivals of the city is the Cool Jazz Festival, which is held in the month of July. This festival is held at in the stunning open-air locations and several Jazz musicians and fantastic music bands will perform the Jazz concerts. It presents the leading contemporary singers and instrumentalists and high mix and high quality is its motto.

Lisbon Village Festival:

The city celebrates the Lisbon Village Festival in the month of June and it is a cultural celebration that highlights the activities like exposition, music and cinema. The main events of the festival are the VIDCF film competition – presents prizes to aspiring movie makers, Village Art – collection of contemporary pieces that focus on new media and Village Music – featuring a range of DJs and VJs.

The Oceans Festival:

Held in the month of August, the Oceans Festival is celebrated throughout the city. The festival presents a rich schedule of free events to the people of all ages with several surprising performances, superb concerts, street entertainment, exhibitions, fireworks, interactive activities and lots more.

Car hire services in Lisbon are offered by Avis, Budget, Expedia, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Net Flights, and Car hire 3000.

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On the last Saturday, Tap Air Portugal has inaugurated a new route to Brazil. TAP is the first international airline to operate with flights flying 3 times weekly at Viracopos airport in Campinas, and for a total of 17 weekly flights to Sao Paulo state.

A source from airline has said that Viracopos has been chosen as a destination by the TAP as at the Sao Paulo’s international airport, no other slots were available and the inhabitants of the state prefer to use Viracopos instead of Guarulhos airport, in order to keep away from the congested airports.

In the year 2009, the top long-haul destination was the Lisbon-Sao Paulo route, with total 201,000 passengers catered. It also forecasts that in 2010, the Brazilian market will account for nearly 11% of the revenues.

The Viracopos Airport in Campinas has recorded the best performance in its history in the year 2009, with more than 3.3 million boarding passengers and has shown a growth of 210.34% over 2008.

At present, the Portugal airline operates 70 flights to various Brazilian cities per week, with 3 new flights to Viracopos.

TAP Portugal is the leading Portuguese airline operating since 1945 with the company’s network comprising of 64 destinations in 30 countries all over the world. The company with its operational efficiency and quality services aims to build at every moment, the best choice for its client’s trips, adequate levels of profitability for its shareholders and professional development for its employees.

The travelers are provided with many facilities ranging from restaurants, entertainment, and parking facilities. Many major car hiring companies are also available on spot proving cheap and comfortable car hires.

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Belem Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Its official name is Tower of St. Vincent and is part of the Jeronimos Monastery complex. Together with the monastery it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance during the age of discoveries.
The tower was commissioned by eh Portuguese King John II in the 15th century as a defense structure on the mouth of the river Tagus. Moreover, it was supposed to act as a ceremonial entrance for the city of Car Hire Lisbon. The tower was designed to complement the Fortress of Cascais that is located on the other bank of the river. The constriction started during the reign of John II and was finished during the time of his successor Manuel I.
The building process was led by the military engineer Francisco de Arruda between 1515-1521. It is the prominent Portuguese Manueline style with some influences of other styles. The main material used was limestone. The construction consists of a bastion and a 30 meter tower that has four stories. Initially, the tower was built on a small island. In 1755 there was a significant earthquake that changed the course of the Tagus River and now the Belem Tower is at the shore.
The tower was decorated by Diogo de Boitaca who also created the design of the Jeronimos Monastery. The tower was dedicated to St. Vincent and commemorates the achievement of Vasco de Gama.
The tower stopped being used as a defense structure in the end of the 16th century. Later, it was used for political prison and customs house for incoming ships. The Belem Tower was renovated in the 19th century when some of the present ornaments were added. The tower was proclaimed a national symbol in 1907 and a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1983.
Car rental companies that operate in the vicinity of the city of Lisbon are Avis, Budget, Expedia, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Net Flights, and Car hire 3000.

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Located on the Iberian Peninsula in South Western Europe, Portugal is a country whose mainland is split by the Tagus River. The northern region is mountainous with plateaus gorged byfleet tracking river valleys, whiles the southern region including the Algarve and the Alentejo, and has rolling plains with a climate warmer and drier than the North.

Madeira and Azores archipelagos sunny through the year with their resorts and sandy beaches are mainly tourism centers.

Portugal’s history is as varied as it is long from the Pre-Roman & Roman eras to the Moors & Christians followed by the Burgundian era to the age of discovery, Spain’s rule & Portugal’s revival, Portugal is rich with architecture, culture, arts, music and cuisine to whet any tourists appetite.

Portugal: A to Z.

Braga: packed with splendid baroque churches and the clamoring of their bells Braga has been a religious power centre housing the oldest cathedral in the country.

Cascais: the fishing port of Cascais with its lovely beaches and its resort, shops and cafés is a favorite weekend spot.

Central Portugal: rich with historic remains Évora is a town with rich architecture. The Beiras region offers hiking and skiing.

Coimbra: Romanesque and Gothic buildings, pleasant walks along Coimbra’s riverfront, shady boulevards, and numerous parks and gardens, Coimbra’s ancient university are a fortress of learning.

Estremoz: produces fine marble and is a walled town with an attractive centre set with peaceful plazas, orange tree–lined lanes and a hilltop castle.

Faro: medieval quarters, curious museums and churches including a bone chapel, a vibrant nightlife, beaches, including island sands of Ilha de Barreta, an attractive marina, parks ,plazas and an old town full of outdoor cafés and pedestrian lanes, this is the charm describing Faro, capital of the Algarve.

Lagos: From beaches, sweeping sands, secluded coastal coves to 14th-century walls enclosing pretty cobbled streets, tiny plazas and picturesque churches and a nightlife among the best with lounges, bars and restaurants, Lagos is alluring, attractive and enticing.

Lisbon: Portugal’s star attraction offers from Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums to dozens of nightclubs, restaurants and bars for revelers partying until dawn.

Luso & the Buçaco Forest: pretty with its dense forest and heather, wildflowers and leafy ferns, Buçaco a retreat by 16th-century monks surrounds the lovely spa town of Luso.

Monchique: is the ideal base for exploring mountainous woodlands, walking, biking or canoeing.

Nazaré: beach resort and fishing village, Nazaré is the most scenic of the region’s coastal towns.

Porto: can be best described as alluring with its narrow medieval alleyways, prim little squares, and wide boulevards lined with stately beaux-arts edifices with extravagant baroque churches peering around every corner and Roman ruins.

Setúbal: its attractions are the country’s first-ever Manueline church; a castle with sweeping views; and a compact pedestrian centre with a jumble of clothing shops, outdoor cafés, simple guesthouses and seafood that draws most people here.

Sintra: exotic vegetation walks through the countryside, richly hued palaces, and the ruins of a craggy Moorish castle overlooking a sleepy village makes Sintra a favorite among weekenders.

Tavira: set among the ruins of a hilltop castle, an old Roman bridge and a smattering of Gothic and Renaissance churches, with shady plazas and patisseries Tavira is a charming town difficult to leave.

Viana Do Castelo: with Manueline manors and rococo palaces, traditional festivals, a few slick nightclubs a short hop from some excellent beaches makes it ideal for exploring the Lima region.

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