Silver Coast – Portugal welcomes 8th Sardine Festival

The parking lot near the Municipal Library of Caldas da Rainha (Silver Coast - Portugal) will be the stage, on 18, 19, 20 and 21 of June, for the 8th Festival of the Sardine, an organization of the Cultural, Sport and Recreation Association of Santo Onofre.

The programme is as follows: Day 18 - Group Amigos da Farra; Day 19 - Light Orchestra Carvalhense / Group SonJovem; Day 20 - Group Fox 88; Day 21 - Musical Group Som / Marcha popular.

The spectacle of colour and joy of the People Parade (Marcha Popular) will take place on June the 21st, at 22 h, at the Square of UAL, in Caldas da Rainha.

A-dos-Francos will represent itself with two parades, Santo Antonio and Espirito Santo. Saint Onofre is to be represented by the parade group of Monte Olivetti. The invited parade group won the people’s parade of Lisbon last year and brings the colours of Alfama.

The parades and their representatives will be formally received, at about 18:30 in the Cultural and Congress Centre, followed by a socialization dinner between the various groups of the parade that night.

The Marchas Populares Parade is an organization of the City Council.

Culture and Congress Centre, the CCC!

At the first hours of May the 15th, at about 20 past midnight, the Culture and Congress Centre (CCC) of Caldas da Rainha (Silver Coast –Portugal) for the first time opened its doors to the general population and made itself known as the most emblematic work of the past years in the county.

This is an investment of 18 million euros in equipment of "unique characteristics and relevance to a statement of strategy, creation, production and dissemination of cultural, artistic, business and tourism", considers the municipality.

"There are few spaces with the characteristics that the Cultural Centre has and can offer. Aiming to be a reference in the country and probably internationally, "said the representative Mayor of Culture, Maria da Conceicao.

A student of music, named Jorge Rodrigues, author of the unofficial blog of the CCC on the Internet that "the implementation of the CCC fills the empty space of a fully dedicated building to culture in the county of Caldas da Rainha." "With the overthrow of the House of Culture and demolition of the Theatre Pinheiro Chagas, the auditorium of Pimpoes was for more than two decades, the only room of shows at the service of the county, a true public service to culture. However it was necessary, required a place with better acoustics, of larger dimensions and better technical conditions ", refers.

For the City Council, the CCC "will be a place of discovery, innovation, debate and education for culture in its most diverse areas and demonstrations, for all movements, from Classic to Alternative."

"This is a project that calls for the combination of values between the business, tourism, culture, the arts and entertainment, bringing more diverse cultural products of their public, with the aim of promoting the welfare of the population and development forming into a new paradigm of opportunity", maintains, adding that "it is also why the CCC presents itself as a place of unique conditions for the holding of congresses, conferences and professional meetings."

Silver Coast can now host the best shows and that makes for a even more interesting place to live!

Crazy Cars race the Silver Coast

The second edition of the Crazy Cars Race is back to Caldas da Rainha on May 25th, a Sunday, with the inscriptions under way until the contest day.

After having participated last year about 100 people, divided into 18 teams and some individual shares, the councillor Hugo Oliveira hopes that in 2008 the participation level will be even greater. "We want to have more crazy cars and to involve more people, encouraging their creativity and at the same time to make disclose more about our city," explained the councillor for Youth.

Apart from building an original and no motor car that travels the streets of Caldas da Rainha, participants must also participate in a proof of knowledge, responding to several questions about the city. This time there will also be some physical evidence.

As for cars, there are no limits to the imagination. They can be processed bicycles, cars, bearings, skates, roller blades or other means of transportation other than motor. According to Hugo Oliveira, there are groups that have started to build their cars, but there is still time for new subscriptions. The deadline for admission is up to 13:00, on the day of the race.

There will be two categories, individual and in groups and in both cases is distinguishing the means of transport that has the greatest creativity (60%) and best score in the test of knowledge (40%). The first prize will be a week-end in a European capital, but is not yet defined the destination. The second and third prize will be a week-end in a youth hostel.

Last year the winners were a group of students of the Training Centre for the metal industry (Cenfim) and Claudino Moreira.

The route will start in front of Town Hall, crossing the street Herois da Grande Guerra, among other streets, and ending at the statue of Queen Leonor.

In the first edition, the fact that the route required cutting traffic off of several streets was very complicated, even taking into account the fact that it wasSunday, which caused many complaints. So, this year, was chosen pedestrian areas for the race.

Since Hugo Oliveira is also responsible for the Trade matters at City Hall, he wants to use this event to encourage more people to come to the city on a Sunday afternoon and make their purchases. "What people have had this experience in Caldas on a Sunday afternoon?”

The City Hall has already contacted the trade association for this entity awareness among its members at the centre of Caldas to be open doors for the day. The municipality also defies traders to join the initiative.

Silver Coast, New Shopping Centre inspired by local culture

The future shopping center that Sonae Sierra intends to build between the hypermarket Modelo and the Health Centre of Caldas da Rainha is inspired by the legacy of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, a famous figure of the town.

The request for prior information given by the company in the local City Council has presented the study pictures of a North-American company based in Texas - the fd2s - with clear references to Ze Povinho and other creations by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro.

The Rainha Shopping provides throughout its surrounding images of the universe of the ceramist, according to a protocol that Sonae Sierra signed with the Faiancas Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. "We want the local habitants to review the local heritage in our building, and recognize what is their tradition and their culture," explained in prior note.

According to the initial designs submitted by the Texan company, Ze Povinho, tiles and ceramics from Faiancas will decorate the future shopping centre.

The fd2s has worked with Sonae in preparing the project for a shopping in Campinas, Brazil. The park D. Pedro is "the first shopping centre of thematic and specialized "of the country, according to its presentation on the Internet "The pioneer model of the Park D. Pedro is allied to the welfare and entertainment of the local community and special concern with the environment, "added.

As to the draft architecture, it is now the responsibility of Quintela Jose da Fonseca, after the Department of Planning and Urbanism (DPU) of City Council, raising some doubts about the integration planning and excessive volume the first draft presented.

The new project is more appealing to the Mayor, according to Gazeta,. But still there is no official position on the prior information.

Sonae Sierra refers, in the document presented, that they want to "develop a building 'icon', a landmark for the city, with a design of rounded forms, vertical development in terraces, with the clear objective of reducing the visual volume." Flower pots were made with natural landscaping, "thus removing the impact that the three floors could create regarding the street and passers-by."

The air link between the new building and Modelo Hypermarket, considered crucial in terms of trade and use, "is also an event in terms of Urban Design and Design." According to the images available, the impact of such air link in the new proposal is smaller than the previous one, because it is done in an area below.

The planned investment in the project is estimated of 50 million. The prior information submitted will now be examined by the DPU and the city council executive.

Silver Coast to receive Golf mega-tournament

A mega-tournament of golf in the Silver Coast will be one of the events that will be part of a plan of international promotion of the west region with financing of the State, to the resemblance of what was already done in the Algarve.

The guarantee was given by Frederico Costa, administrator of Tourism of Portugal, in a first meeting had with the president of the RTO (West Tourism Region) about this plan. However, it is also predicted the achievement of an international golf meeting to take place in the region in June, with the presence of 20 foreign speakers.

The main goal of this initiative will be to encourage the tourists dislocated to the Silver Coast for certain events to stay longer in the region. "Anybody going to the Opera festival in Obidos can take advantage of the day or two in the region, and go eat a sweated lobster at Peniche and buy some cavacas in Caldas da Rainha, for example", explained Antonio Carneiro.

Luis Garcia (RTO vice-presidente) highlighted the way the Silver Coast region has becoming more and more successful; referring that magazine "Golf Weekly" did an article in its central pages about golf in Portugal, where the Silver Coast/ West region fields were referred.

In the last week of March, GolfeOeste has been participating in a marketing operation for tourism agencies in Germany.

Silver Coast Received Speed Boat Festival

Foz do Arelho was the location chosen by the Portuguese Federation of Speed Boats for the beginning of the activities of the present competitive season, with the realization of a festival on the last 16th of March. This initiative united the pilots, to finalize the preparations for the upcoming season.

One should remember that the current national champion of the class S850 is a local pilot, a native of Caldas da Rainha - Luis Miguel Ribeiro. The event started at 10 o’clock, just as scheduled, the program of the "Foz do Arelho / Caldas da Rainha Festival", which also included a successful exhibition of radiocontroled boats.

On the 6th and 7th of September, the National Championship of Speed Boats, is going to carry out itself a journey of competition regarding the classes S 850, T 850, T 750 and PR 750.

Silver Coast, always interesting!

Silver Coast is going to be Bullfighting Capital of the World

Bull Starts, training of “forcados” (the men that have to grab the bull by the horns), a historical parade, expositions, colloquies, and obviously, bullfights, are part of the First Bullfighting Journeys at Caldas da Rainha, in the Silver Coast, that will take place from the 15th to 25th of May, 2008.

The event is organized by the local businessman Paulo Pessoa de Carvalho that wants to put Caldas da Rainha back on the Bullfighting Map of the World, recuperating the tradition that the city once had.

"Bullfighting generates employment and naturally increases economy growth and above all, is part of the legacy of our country", says Paulo Pessoa de Carvalho, which is going to have the town council as essential partner in this project, which coincides with the City Festivities.

Silver Coast, indeed one of the most diverse and interesting cultures of the world!

Alcobaca wants to promote the local pottery industry

With the intent to promote, make known and rejuvenate the local pottery sector, the town council of Alcobaca presented a candidature to the Project CeRamiCa, in the scope of the Inter-Regional Cooperation Program, known as INTERREG IV C.

Alcobaca puts-itself beside others towns and non lucrative entities of countries as Spain, France, Romania, Slovenia and Greece, in a project led by the town of Hodmezovasarhely, in Hungary.

Overall, the project contemplates 2.140.600 €, of which 360,760 euros are destined to the national components. To the Portuguese entities fits a contribution of 85 %.

Experience exchanges of good practices, bench marketing actions, promotion of the pottery related industrial tourism and the accomplishment of a correct diagnosis of the sector, for which should participate all of the local industrialists are other proposals of the town council in the scope of this candidacy, that should receive an answer in the next month of June.

In conclusion, one should know that the pottery industry continues to have an important weight in the economy of the whole Silver Coast, as attested by the number of work positions related to all of the ceramics factories and tourism inflows that fine pottery generates. Ceramics is clearly an important asset to the Silver Coast, especially in areas as Alcobaca and Caldas da Rainha, where it attracts many tourists and art/ decor lovers.

Oeste - New Shopping Centre in Caldas da Rainha

New Shopping Centre in Caldas da Rainha will be called "Vivaci"

The FDO Group presented the new Shopping Centre project - "Vivaci" in Caldas da Rainha, construction should be concluded by autumn of next year.

Located in full heart of the city, in place of the old Lisbonense Hotel, this structure has the main purpose to provide modern and exciting new commerce, more suitable to the growing needs of the local and visiting population of the Silver Coast (Oeste), West region of Portugal.

With about 70 stores, between which a supermarket of great dimension, the Vivaci Shopping Centre of Caldas da Rainha will have five movie theatres and 14 restaurants, distributed along four commercial floors. The overall investment is around 34, 6 million euros and will allow the establishment of, approximately, one thousand jobs.