Portugal Newsletter June 2009
Plans for Portimão as Europe’s Hollywood
Backed by Universal Studios and CBS Paramount, negotiations are underway for the construction of one of the largest ever entertainment complexes in the Algarve, combining a cinema studio complex with an amusement park.
The plans to transform Portimão into the Hollywood of Europe as part of the “Picture Portugal” project have been in place for some time however the involvement of interested foreign parties has boosted optimism for the ambitious project. The enormous development, which will require an investment of 750 million euros, is being pushed forward by Portimão Turis, the body behind the Portimão exhibition park.
The cost of building the themed amusement park is estimated to be 550 million euros while the complex for film production will make up a further 200 million euros. New details surrounding the location of the park have been revealed and rumours that it will be based next to the Algarve Motor Park have been confirmed with the 150 hectare site being located at Sítio do Escampadinho. The Picture Portugal project aims to create a new vision in film production in Portugal and will be funded by a consortium of private partners. The first stage of the project will see the construction of two of 11 film production studios to be completed by 2010. Special features of the studios will include post production audio and visual areas, a designated zone for outside film requirements and a “water tank” the size of a football pitch to be used for underwater filming. It is believed that the Algarve is the perfect place for film studios and that there are favourable conditions in Portugal for the film industry. These include a variety of landscapes within a small geographical area, an excellent climate and competitive salaries. Funding approval from PROVERE, the programme for the economic recovery of local resources, is currently being applied for by the project directors; however it is hoped that further private investors will back the development and push it onto the next stage.
Tall Ships Race – Lisbon Confirmed to Host the event in 2012
Once more, Lisbon is set to be one of the main host ports for the Tall Ships Race in the summer of 2012. It will be the sixth time that Lisbon has hosted this event, which gives the city and its maritime heritage enormous visibility internationally as over 1,000 boats from nearly 50 countries anchor in the Tejo Estuary for four days. Lisbon has also played host to the event in 1956, 1982, 1992, 1998, and 2006. More than 4,000 young people under the age of 24, 1,000 journalists and at least half a million tourists will pour into Lisbon from all around the world during the event between July and August 2012, whil
e some estimates suggest that up to 1.2 million visitors could flood into Lisbon. The Secretary of State for Tourism has said that the unique conditions of Lisbon set it aside from all of the other European capitals and its wide estuary and location on the river front makes it the perfect setting to host an event of this nature. The ships will be berthed on the Tejo estuary where members of the public will be able to visit the ships and get involved in a range of activities for four days.
Music Events
In August, a four day festival of adrenalin-packed car racing and international music stars will be taking place at Algarve’s Motor Park. A varied programme is planned with music to suit all ages with British soul singer James Morrison and British hindu rock band Bloc Party already confirmed as headline acts. This will be the first festival of its kind in Portugal and will be held between 5th and 8th of August, named Rock One.
A variety of national and international bands are expected and, according to Portuguese press, Simple Minds, Anastacia, Snow Patrol, Offspring, Linkin Park, James, Sugababes and Groove Armada are all strong possibilities to appear. The entertainment area will cover more than 80,000 square metres and will include a DJ tent with music and a ‘Fun in the Box’ zone, where renowned national bars and discos will be open to the public. There will also be a Playstation zone which will host the Playstation 2009 Challenge and a Blue Planet area with an exhibition about water conservation.
Professional drivers will also be testing cars around the track at this unique festival. Tickets for the festival are due to go on sale shortly. Single day tickets are estimated to cost 50 euros and a four day ticket should cost 80 euros. Tickets can also be purchased in groups of four, with a day ticket for four people costing around 80 euros and a full festival ticket costing 240 euros. VIP tickets are also available, with champagne lounge tickets for two people costing around 1,000 euros and tickets for the motor park’s VIP tower predicted to cost 1,500 euros per couple. For children aged three to ten years, tickets will be available for five euros per child. This will allow children free access into the ‘Kid Rock Garden’ where parents can explore the festival whilst childminders supervise the children.
Live Concerts
Forthcoming live concerts in Portugal include Elton John, Seal, Kylie Minogue and the Eagles, just to name a few.
Sport
Portugals Figo Officially Announces His Retirement
Portugal legend Luis Figo has announced his definitive retirement from the game. He played his final match on Sunday when the Italian champions entertained Atalanta at the San Siro. He also achieved great personal success, winning the world player of the year title in 2001, a year after he was given the Ballon dOr and he was named Portuguese player of the year six times. Figo, who married Swedish model Helen Svedin, earned a remarkable 127 caps for Portugal, scoring 32 goals while playing almost 800 club games.
Queiroz turns to Ronaldo to keep Portugals World Cup dream alive
Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz faces a must-win game as he prepares to take his Portugal side to Tirana to face Albania in a World Cup Qualifier with his job on the line. Portugal’s position in Group 1 is dire; they have recorded just one win and have a paltry six points to show from their five games. Albania visited Braga to take on Portugal last October and left with a 0-0 draw, despite playing over half of the match with 10 men after having a man sent off towards the end of the first half. The match will also be the first for Albania’s yet-to-be-named new manager after the resignation of former Dutch international Ari Haan last month.
The Algarve Motor Park
The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is one of the most modern and multi-functional race circuits in the world. It has been designed to be one of the best and most modern circuits in Eur
ope and benefits from the best conditions of safety and comfort both for drivers and the public. There are an astounding 64 different possible layouts of the circuit, including those that have already been approved by the FIA for Formula 1 and by the FIM for Superbikes.
Events in the next few months include Le Mans Series, Superbike World Championship and Touring Car Champoinship.
Plans for Portimão as Europe’s Hollywood
Backed by Universal Studios and CBS Paramount, negotiations are underway for the construction of one of the largest ever entertainment complexes in the Algarve, combining a cinema studio complex with an amusement park.
The plans to transform Portimão into the Hollywood of Europe as part of the “Picture Portugal” project have been in place for some time however the involvement of interested foreign parties has boosted optimism for the ambitious project. The enormous development, which will require an investment of 750 million euros, is being pushed forward by Portimão Turis, the body behind the Portimão exhibition park.
The cost of building the themed amusement park is estimated to be 550 million euros while the complex for film production will make up a further 200 million euros. New details surrounding the location of the park have been revealed and rumours that it will be based next to the Algarve Motor Park have been confirmed with the 150 hectare site being located at Sítio do Escampadinho. The Picture Portugal project aims to create a new vision in film production in Portugal and will be funded by a consortium of private partners. The first stage of the project will see the construction of two of 11 film production studios to be completed by 2010. Special features of the studios will include post production audio and visual areas, a designated zone for outside film requirements and a “water tank” the size of a football pitch to be used for underwater filming. It is believed that the Algarve is the perfect place for film studios and that there are favourable conditions in Portugal for the film industry. These include a variety of landscapes within a small geographical area, an excellent climate and competitive salaries. Funding approval from PROVERE, the programme for the economic recovery of local resources, is currently being applied for by the project directors; however it is hoped that further private investors will back the development and push it onto the next stage.
Tall Ships Race – Lisbon Confirmed to Host the event in 2012
Once more, Lisbon is set to be one of the main host ports for the Tall Ships Race in the summer of 2012. It will be the sixth time that Lisbon has hosted this event, which gives the city and its maritime heritage enormous visibility internationally as over 1,000 boats from nearly 50 countries anchor in the Tejo Estuary for four days. Lisbon has also played host to the event in 1956, 1982, 1992, 1998, and 2006. More than 4,000 young people under the age of 24, 1,000 journalists and at least half a million tourists will pour into Lisbon from all around the world during the event between July and August 2012, whil
e some estimates suggest that up to 1.2 million visitors could flood into Lisbon. The Secretary of State for Tourism has said that the unique conditions of Lisbon set it aside from all of the other European capitals and its wide estuary and location on the river front makes it the perfect setting to host an event of this nature. The ships will be berthed on the Tejo estuary where members of the public will be able to visit the ships and get involved in a range of activities for four days.Music Events
In August, a four day festival of adrenalin-packed car racing and international music stars will be taking place at Algarve’s Motor Park. A varied programme is planned with music to suit all ages with British soul singer James Morrison and British hindu rock band Bloc Party already confirmed as headline acts. This will be the first festival of its kind in Portugal and will be held between 5th and 8th of August, named Rock One.
A variety of national and international bands are expected and, according to Portuguese press, Simple Minds, Anastacia, Snow Patrol, Offspring, Linkin Park, James, Sugababes and Groove Armada are all strong possibilities to appear. The entertainment area will cover more than 80,000 square metres and will include a DJ tent with music and a ‘Fun in the Box’ zone, where renowned national bars and discos will be open to the public. There will also be a Playstation zone which will host the Playstation 2009 Challenge and a Blue Planet area with an exhibition about water conservation.
Professional drivers will also be testing cars around the track at this unique festival. Tickets for the festival are due to go on sale shortly. Single day tickets are estimated to cost 50 euros and a four day ticket should cost 80 euros. Tickets can also be purchased in groups of four, with a day ticket for four people costing around 80 euros and a full festival ticket costing 240 euros. VIP tickets are also available, with champagne lounge tickets for two people costing around 1,000 euros and tickets for the motor park’s VIP tower predicted to cost 1,500 euros per couple. For children aged three to ten years, tickets will be available for five euros per child. This will allow children free access into the ‘Kid Rock Garden’ where parents can explore the festival whilst childminders supervise the children.
Live Concerts
Forthcoming live concerts in Portugal include Elton John, Seal, Kylie Minogue and the Eagles, just to name a few.
Sport
Portugals Figo Officially Announces His Retirement
Portugal legend Luis Figo has announced his definitive retirement from the game. He played his final match on Sunday when the Italian champions entertained Atalanta at the San Siro. He also achieved great personal success, winning the world player of the year title in 2001, a year after he was given the Ballon dOr and he was named Portuguese player of the year six times. Figo, who married Swedish model Helen Svedin, earned a remarkable 127 caps for Portugal, scoring 32 goals while playing almost 800 club games.
Queiroz turns to Ronaldo to keep Portugals World Cup dream alive
Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz faces a must-win game as he prepares to take his Portugal side to Tirana to face Albania in a World Cup Qualifier with his job on the line. Portugal’s position in Group 1 is dire; they have recorded just one win and have a paltry six points to show from their five games. Albania visited Braga to take on Portugal last October and left with a 0-0 draw, despite playing over half of the match with 10 men after having a man sent off towards the end of the first half. The match will also be the first for Albania’s yet-to-be-named new manager after the resignation of former Dutch international Ari Haan last month.
The Algarve Motor Park
The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is one of the most modern and multi-functional race circuits in the world. It has been designed to be one of the best and most modern circuits in Eur
ope and benefits from the best conditions of safety and comfort both for drivers and the public. There are an astounding 64 different possible layouts of the circuit, including those that have already been approved by the FIA for Formula 1 and by the FIM for Superbikes.Events in the next few months include Le Mans Series, Superbike World Championship and Touring Car Champoinship.
Featured Property – Albufeira – Central Algarve – Fantastic Reductions!
Enviably located to the east if Albufeira these properties offer easy access to the best leisure facilities and amenities in the area as well as being within 10 minutes of the beach. These turn-key properties are built to the highest standard and boast a wonderful garden area with swimming pools and tennis court.
Enviably located to the east if Albufeira these properties offer easy access to the best leisure facilities and amenities in the area as well as being within 10 minutes of the beach. These turn-key properties are built to the highest standard and boast a wonderful garden area with swimming pools and tennis court.
Last remaining one bedroom apartments reduced from €140,000 now available from €110,000 a
nd two bedroom apartments at €180,000 reduced from €220,000.
nd two bedroom apartments at €180,000 reduced from €220,000.
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