Algarve news and information portal - AlgarveMais

Amongst the 21 finalists of the competition Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal, Algarve has four candidates: headland in Carrapateira, Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina Natural Park, headland in Sagres, and Ria Formosa estuary and natural park. The public is to choose and elect the seven awarded locations and the voting runs until September 7. Located in Aljezur council, the headland in Carrapateira rises twenty-five metres above sea level. The cliffs face Amado Beach in the south and the vast Bordeira Beach in the north.

The construction of an aquarium to show the full potential of Ria Formosa is a project that already goes back ten years – but it’s now nearer to becoming a reality. According to a source at the local town hall, an economic viability study is underway to show that the idea is a “sustainable” investment. For the moment, we know that the architecture was designed by «Promontório Arquitectos” of Lisbon. It was this company that created the famous «Fluvário» in Moura – a very successful attraction in the Upper Alentejo.

A record-breaking budget of around €7 million has been approved by the Algarve Tourism Association (ATA)’s General Assembly (AG) to promote the Algarve internationally in 2010. Nuno Aires, president of the Algarve Regional Tourism Entity (ERTA) as well as of the ATA, said that in comparison to 2009, this year’s budget had benefitted from an increase of nearly one million euros, though that amount could yet still rise by March this year.

The city of Loulé will once again be the centre stage for glorious Carnival celebrations on 14th, 15th and 16th of February. Being one of the largest and oldest Carnival parades in the country, the parade has a different theme each year, this year’s being ‘The World of Show Business’. Thousands of revellers will meet at the José Costa Mealha Avenue between 3pm and 6pm to watch the parade of fifteen allegoric floats, entertainment groups, samba schools and giant puppets to share in the general feeling of joy.