Symington family buys Quinta do Carrascal

oportoThe family-controlled Symington Group, which owns the Graham's, Cockburn's and Dow's port brands, among others, has acquired the 150 hectare Quinta do Carrascal estate in the Duoro valley.

Symington Family Estates announced the acquisition of the farm adjacent to the 101 hectare Quinta de Ataide already owned by the family.

GNR Command investigating assault on detainee caught on camera

gnrlogoAn arrest that turned to violence was captured on a smart phone and posted on social media, to the embarrassment of the GNR where an internal investigation has been launched.

GNR Command confirms having knowledge of the video, and says it is "in the process of internal investigations in order to ascertain all the circumstances."

British love affair with Spain endures

donquixoteSpain achieved its bumper year for tourism with great help from the British.

While there is scarcely anything new about Brits holidaying under the Spanish sun, this year they did so in increasing numbers.

Southern Europe could turn to desert by 2100

droughtScientists have warned that southern Spain and Portugal could have a climate like current day Morocco, if the climate continues to change at the current rate.

Guiot and Wolfgang Cramer, of the Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity and Ecology, studied pollen cores from sediments found in lake mud to build a picture of vegetation and climate during the last 100 centuries.

The Great Lisbon earthquake - 261 years ago today

earthquakeThe 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, occurred on Saturday, 1 November, All Saints' Day, at around 09:40.

In combination with the subsequent fires and a tsunami, the event destroyed Lisbon almost totally and caused death and destruction up the west coast and across the Algarve.

Madrid poised to ban vehicles

madridRestrictions on cars entering Madrid are likely to be imposed in an effort to reduce the city’s high levels of air pollution.

The nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere is above the permitted levels, often creating smog over the capital.

VRSA council faces €100 million in compensation claims for illegally authorised buildings

varandasGuadianaThe Varandas do Guadiana urbanisation in Vila Real de Santo António was illegally authorised by the city council, according to a court ruling.

Demolition orders for several illegally authorised buldings are included a decision by the Tribunal Administrativo e Fiscal de Loulé and demolition orders are due to be issued, leaving owners to seek compensation from the council.

EN125 accident near Algarve Shopping leaves cyclist dead at the scene

bicycleaccidentA cyclist was hit and killed by an out-of-control vehicle on the notorious EN125 near Algarve shopping in Guia yesterday morning, October 31st.

The 43-year-old local man was declared dead at the scene and police are piecing together why the Honda CRV swerved across the road and struck the cyclist head on, throwing him several metres through the air.