New tourist route of historic gardens

Por TPN/Lusa, in NoticiasTurismoNorte · 13-05-2021 

Northern and Central Portugal now offers 12 “Garden Experiences”, a new tourism product that brings together “29 historic gardens” and helps promote local security in times of pandemic.
The Vale Abraão Forest, the Casa de Mateus, the Vidago Park and Pedras Salgadas, in the district of Vila Real, the Casa do Campo, in Celorico de Basto, the Tibães Monastery, in Braga, the Quinta da Aveleda, in Penafiel (Porto district), the botanical gardens of Porto and Coimbra, the Quinta das Lágrimas, in Coimbra, the Mata do Buçaco, in the district of Aveiro, or the Penha Park, in the district of Braga, are some of the historic gardens included in the 12 tourist routes that are already available and marketed, announced the heads of the Association of Historic Gardens of Portugal, during the press conference to present the 12 ‘Garden Experiences’, held at the Soares dos Reis Museum, in Oporto.

“Gardens are environmental tourism, safe tourism and not mass tourism. Gardens are one of the areas of tourism that can be safely opened [in times of pandemic],” said Manuel Sousa, an architect and specialist in historic gardens in Portugal, during the press conference of the Portuguese Historic Gardens Association.

Manuel Sousa assumed that it is difficult to create a tourism product from scratch, but stressed that the future goal is to “grow with more experiences and continue to develop this product for the rest of mainland Portugal and the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, as well as to internationalise the product”.

“It was an effort to transform this product [Portuguese historic gardens] into a tourism product with a new dynamic. It was a field study, talking to the owners, characterising (…). It was necessary to create a sellable product for tourists,” he explained.

The “packs” were conceived in a diversified way, with different durations, in a flexible way, as it is the visitor who can add more time or more places to his experience.

The packs include guided tours by the owners or their representatives, but if the visitor wants to explore on their own, there are also suggestions to visit new places or revisit them in a new context,” said Teresa Andresen, in a note handed to journalists during the press conference.

Associated with these tourism proposals are two travel agencies – Club Tour and Travel Tailors – that market the product and can help visitors make reservations, as well as give advice on where to eat or stay.

The Association of Historic Gardens of Portugal, created in 2003, now has more than 200 members who own some of Portugal’s most outstanding gardens.

The Gatrooms Hotels art galleries

Gatrooms, the chain behind the Gat Point Charlie Hotel in Berlin and the Gat Rossio Hotel in Lisbon, stands apart for being an integral part of the cultural offer in its home cities. It holds four exhibitions a year in each of the two hotels, among other events such as workshops and artistic performances.

This autumn, we have the privilege of exhibiting the work of well-known international artists who draw on internal reflection and use different techniques to push the boundaries of art. The exhibitions will run from September to November.

 

In Berlin, the “Picatsso” exhibition by Sol Felpeto.
See the vernissage pictures

Venezuela-born Sol Felpeto is a multicultural artist who, in her own words, “seeks to translate art into something immediately catchy, making a connection between the known and the new to create emotions”. In this respect, and in her desire to “rewrite history using animals”, Felpeto has adapted Picasso’s masterpieces using her unique Pop Artoons style, replacing the classic protagonists with cats.
https://www.solfelpeto.com/

 

In Lisbon, “The Art of (de)construction” by artist Marco Laborda.
See the vernissage pictures

Artist Marco Laborda hails from Barcelona and, as he himself explains, wears “several hats, all of which tilt towards art.” Fascinated with portraiture, collage is his main form of artistic expression, in which “he cuts and pastes vivid elements to produce portraits that are reminiscent of Francis Bacon’s disfigured characters or Francisco de Goya’s realistic portraits”.
http://marcolaborda.com/about/

 

The best thing about an art gallery being in a hotel is that it is open to the public every day of the week:
Gat Point Charlie Hotel: Mauerstraße 81-82, 10117 Berlin
Gat Rossio Hotel: R. do Jardim do Regedor 27-35, 1150-193 Lisbon.

 

Travel Smart in Lisbon: Chiado

@christophertriplife
Chiado is known as one of the most elegant, bohemian neighbourhoods in Lisbon. The ruins of the Convento do Carmo embody part of the area’s rich history, and the hum of its streets, such as Rua Garett–which is surrounded by countless theatres, museums and cafés–transmits its frenetic energy.
Chiado is just a short, easy ride from Praça dos Restauradores on the No.28 tram.

@Ray – www.101motivosparaviajar.com
If you need to fuel up for a busy day, A Brasileira is the perfect place for enjoying a bica.
Interesting fact: “Bica” is Lisbon slang for an espresso. Legend has it that this word came into being in this very café when its founder, Adriano Telles, put a sign on the door that said “Beba isto com açucar” (B. I. C. A) (drink this with sugar).

@PastelariaBernard – www.facebook.com/PastelariaBenard
To accompany a strong cup of coffee with a French-style croissant, make your way to Pastelaria Benard, but if a delicious, freshly baked local custard tart is what you’re craving, head over to Manteigaria.

@get10things.com
If you’re more of a brunch lover or fancy some petiscos (tapas) with great views over the city and the Santa Justa lift, Topo bar is the ideal place, both during the day and in the evening.
A visit to Chiado means opening yourself to new experiences that you couldn’t have anywhere else. Isn’t that what travelling is all about?
Let’s see if we can get your juices flowing with these two:

@visitportugal – www.visitportugal.com
Why not eat lunch at the restaurant at Palácio Chiado, a palace that dates back to 1781?

@cristinaconde – blog.bibliotech.education
Or how about sipping a coffee while you read a book at Bertrand, the oldest bookshop in the world? Fernando Pessoa was a regular here!
These are just a few of the exciting new experiences waiting for you to discover in one of the hottest areas in Lisbon.
Don’t forget to make the most of the infinite options for enjoying the city’s hectic nightlife too, such as a stop at Cinco Lounge, one of the first cocktail bars in the city, or indulging in the creations mixed at Toca da Raposa, another cosy, bijou cocktail venue.

A game of (de)construction – Art Exhibition

We are glad to present the latest art exhibition at Gat Rossio Hotel called ‘A game of deconstruction’, a series of collages by the artist Marco Laborda.

 “I like to think these collages convey the complexity of the human being. The edges, the emptiness and the constant movement we experience. We live in a state of constant alteration, which I feel inside me. Today I am not the same as yesterday, I am evolving and I am involutive in other cases” explains the author.

Laborda combines his work as creative director of Neurads with projects such as ‘Altered’, the design of the posters of the joint tour of the poet Elvira Sastre and singer Andrés Suárez or the editorial for the Neo2 magazine entitled “Down the Rabbit Hole”.

Cutting and pasting living elements, Marco has managed to produce striking stories. “The collage contains this peculiarity: you can play with the faces and modify them. I like to create incomplete figures, under construction”. This reflection has given birth to the present exhibition. “In a world with a lot of noise and distractions, art allows me to be alone, just by cutting photographs and playing with them”. Now is the time to share them.

The inauguration will take place on September 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hotel Gat Rossio (R. do Jardim do Regedor 27) and it will be followed by the vernissage cocktail.

The exhibition will remain in the heart of the Portuguese capital for three months.

Download the Press Release: EXPO MARCO

See the Facebook Event

 

Kreuzberg and Rixdorf and Schillerkiez in Neukölln

Graefekiez is Berlin’s tech centre, and some establishments in this neighbourhood even accept payment in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The shops here, such as House of Dotcity or Dunkelblau Fastschwarz, are mostly owned and run by local designers, and the area is jam-packed with fascinating, extravagant places that are well worth a visit–check out Galerie Mamoo, where they sell products designed with the “luminous vision of the ancient Indians”, or Umbras Kuriositätenkabinett, an intriguing bookstore.


@awesomeberlin

To enjoy a great cup of coffee and a pastry in pleasant, inviting surroundings–with vegan and gluten-free options available, too–head to Kaffebar, Frida Café or Dobedo. If it’s delicious Italian gelato you’re craving, they say that Anna Durkes is one of the best ice cream parlours in the city.

@kaffebar

Rixdorf is referred to as an inner-city village. This bohemian neighbourhood stands out for its quaint cobbled streets and Körnerpark, a green oasis with a Romantic design that transports visitors back to another time. We recommend spending a lovely afternoon admiring the 400-year old buildings before enjoying a refreshing pint at the famous Alter Roter Löwe Rein bar.

@visitberlin

The best months of the year to come to the park are September, for the Popráci straw bale-rolling contest, and December, for the fabulous Christmas markets. Schillerkiez is the ideal neighbourhood for devouring brunch or taking a leisurely stroll through Tempelhofer Feld, an abandoned airfield that was converted into an open-air recreational area and is a great venue for a barbecue or watching the sun set over Berlin.

@visitberlin

You will also find the Volkspark Hasenheide park here, at which a fun fair opens to the public every May and open-air cinema screenings are held during the summer.

Summer in Lisbon

Praia de Galapinhos
@vortexmag

Summer in Lisbon is all about getting out and about–gone are the days of being trapped indoors studying or sleeping the holidays away! The Portuguese capital is jam-packed with great activities and adventures at this time of year, so get a move on!

Find the best ice cream at Italian parlours

Traditional Italian ice cream makers set up shop in the city years ago, so the quality of this summer delight in Lisbon is second to none!

Gelados Conchanata, Gelato d’Avvero and Mú Gelato Italiano are our go-to ice cream parlours. Check out our post on where to find the best ice cream in Lisbon at https://whereis.gatrooms.com/7-heavenly-ice-cream-parlours-in-lisbon/

@theinesmoreira

Never leave the water!

Make time for a day trip to the best beaches along the Atlantic coast, such as Praia do Magoito and Praia da Adraga in Sintra, Praia do Guincho and Praia de Carcavelos in Cascáis or Praia de Galapinhos in Setúbal.

Praia de Carcavelos
@vortexmag

What about an open-air picnic?

Lisbon is a great place for a picnic under the summer sun, which is why here at Hotel Gat Rossio we offer our guests a packed lunch to enjoy wherever the fancy takes them.

Our favourite picnic spots are Jardim Botânico Tropical, the mercifully wind-free seafront at Algés (Passeio Marítimo at Praia de Algés) and the gardens at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian for a quiet lunch overlooking the river.


@Algés Beach – by Giuseppe Milo – Wikimedia Commons

Eat, drink and be merry on the best terraces in Lisbon

If you don’t feel like going to the beach, why not head to a bar for a refreshing drink on a city terrace. Great venues include the Therapist, a restaurant located in LX Factory that offers therapeutic menus, Esplanada da Mata, which is set in wonderful natural surroundings, and Sky Bar, which offers fantastic views over the Tajo River.

@manuelmanso

Discover our full list of rooftop bars in Lisbon at https://whereis.gatrooms.com/work-drinks-views/