The daredevils of industry

Developing winning business models is no easy task. Sometimes the expectations created are huge, but the outcome not so. On the other hand, there are some people who take risks and succeed. Examples of this are provided by the various entrepreneurs and companies that we introduce to you in this issue, no. 118, of V&G. We talk about brands responsible for producing objects as diverse as footwear, household appliances, mattresses and marquees, but also brands dedicated to tourism, technology, consulting and services, which operate in the domestic market and abroad. Sectorial policies for the industry are not always supported by the competent authorities, however, and after listening to the various entrepreneurs in this issue, we’ll go as far to say that they are daredevils in their field, tenaciously focused on keeping their companies at a level of excellence, both nationally and internationally. That’s why we have gathered names such as António Saraiva, ex-president of CIP; Fortunato Frederico, founder of Kyaia; João Paulo Ferreira, Country Manager of Haier Europe; Paulo Abrantes, founder of the Decisões e Soluções Group; Kate Machado, CEO of Sleep 8 and Norberto Fernandes, one of the faces of BF Consultores and WhiteCode; while at the same time introducing you to Limalha, a hardware and fittings company; Telfor, a company dominating the awning business, together with L. Pereira and Converflex. Pereira and Converflex, all awaiting to be discovered in this issue. Finally, soak up the words and reflections of the Ukrainian behind the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winning organisation, the Centre for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviichuk. Before, finally, setting off on a trip to Cambodia to recharge your batteries with positive energy to face new challenges in life. Happy reading! 


21 springs – a toast to V&G

The sun puts on its hat in between the rainy days and encourages us to get out of the house. Today we went out to celebrate our 21st birthday. We set off and travelled through some incredible places. We stopped off in Singapore, one of the richest countries in the world, in South East Asia; we made a flying visit to Utrecht, in the Netherlands, where cycling aimlessly takes us to the most diverse corners of the city; we relaxed at The Spa at Pebble Beach, in the United States of America, and recentred our balance. However, for those who want to enjoy the wonders of Portugal, we also have good suggestions: we invite you to experience traditional and Mediterranean gastronomy at Romando restaurant, a sophisticated setting with more than 30 years of history. Or, allow yourself to be enchanted by the comfort of the new villas at Six Senses Douro Valley and relax in full surrounded by nature and luxury. 
Finally, and because it’s the festive season, in this issue, we show you different ways of celebrating Christmas, around the world, and the most eagerly awaited dishes on Christmas tables, suggestions from chefs José Avillez, Kiko Martins and Marc Lorés, as well as giving you some tips for New Year’s Eve outfits, with looks by fashion designers Diogo Miranda, Micaela Oliveira and Nuno Gama. You can also count on some serious conversations with: Luís Montenegro, president of the PSD party; Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago; Fátima Lopes, fashion designer; Sofia Andrez, interior decorator; chef Rui Paula; among others. In this issue, we celebrate our birthday and Christmas just around the corner. Feel the positive energy that we pass on to you with this issue of V&G and celebrate life. 
Happy reading! 

Summer shall not fade...
...But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; ..., William Shakespeare. Just as the summer shall not fade, V&G shall not and will never lose its fair beauty. Beauty in the choices of content, in its quality, in its format, and in the people who make it happen. It is summer. The temperatures are high and your desire is, of course, to slow down and «go». Just «go». And why not «go» without a destination? Who knows, it might be an incredible and enriching challenge. To make that long-held and perhaps unrepeatable dream of a(some) summer night(s) away. Summer arrives and the heart awakens, bursting with feelings. It is the magic of life. The sun awakens with a different energy. Just like this new isssue, which gives you a taste of incredible places such as the trip to the Singita Lodges in Tanzania, places that guarantee harmony with nature; the Bairro Alto Hotel, in the heart of Lisbon, where the history of the building blends with the history of the people and the country, with a view from the rooftop that you’ll fall in love with; Lefay Resort & Spa, in Italy, a building that rises up from the luminous scenery of the Dolomites, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; a city break in Tallinn, Estonia, a place where the cold reigns, even in warmer times. And, also, in this issue, we talk to people who ennoble our minds and pass on much of their wisdom, such as architect Ricardo Azevedo, with his practice in Santo Tirso; businessman Fortunato Frederico, the man of the footwear industry in Portugal, owner of Fly London, the largest national brand with an international foothold; and because it’s summer, we couldn’t miss the words of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services, Rita Marques, who tells us that the sector has been «reborn». With so much to discover in this issue, all that remains is to wish you a happy and adventurous summer, always in the company of some good reading with V&G.

Real estate, luxury and sustainability
The real estate sector in Portugal is on the rise, as proved by the varying opinions of our interviewees. We begin with the words of António Ramalho, CEO of Novo Banco, who tells us about «real estate investment that develops from some imbalance, almost inevitable, between supply and demand»; Miguel Poisson, CEO of Portugal Sotheby’s Realty, says that «Portugal is well positioned when it comes to being able to attract foreign investors to the luxury real estate sector»; Marta Almeida, national coordinator of DS Intermediários de Crédito and DS Imobiliária, tells us that «contrary to expectations, DSI Crédito has enjoyed exponential growth during the pandemic years»; Margarita Oltra, regional director of Angel&Völkers Portugal, points out that «it is important to highlight the growth that Portugal is having with €168 million in premium real estate brokerage volume»; Luís Rebelo de Andrade, architect, ensures that «the pandemic did not slow down the tourism boom, nor will it...». In addition to this, we tell the story of Casa do Passadiço and of Inês Fino, interior designer; and we showcase the new architectural project of Traçado Regulador and of Ombria Resort. Alongside this special feature, we highlight some unmissable exhibitions, in Portugal, Frida Khalo, the Life of an Icon and, in Paris, Pop Air, at La Villette. And we leave you with a few travel options, unmissable flavours and a Sustainable Vineyards special. Keep us company. Happy reading!

The singularity of the arts
As culture and art are indispensable tools in our lives, in this issue of Villas&Golfe; we bring you the singularity of the arts, from the theatre to acting, from exhibitions to traditions, through written articles and captured images. We give expression to the issues and to those who make them happen. And we highlight the power of words and actions, clearly visible in the interview with Américo Aguiar – chairman of the Renascença Group, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon and chairman of the WYD Foundation -; and in the words and memories of São José Lapa – the actress cherished on TV screens and the stage for decades, and who has given voice to and dressed dozens of characters and, of course, has graced us with countless bouts of laughter. We meld joy, we give colour to the pages and we promote the best that there is to see, feel and discover. We bring you the work of national and international artists, faces that contribute to the country’s economy; we show the celebrations of the magazine’s 20 years and ask you, in a special way, to look at the world with other eyes. Be dazzled by each of the features and appreciate each image that is transformed into art. Happy reading.

Congratulations, Villas&Golfe;, on 20 years! 
Dear reader, ever since we met 20 years ago, our lives have crossed paths, through knowledge, travel, culture, the good things in life that we continually try to bring to you, in every moment recorded on our pages. A lot has changed, that’s for sure. 20 years is a milestone in the life of any person. And we are proud of having made it through these last 20 years with the same quality as always. We have lived through memorable moments. And what we hope is to live the next 20 years even more intensely, by your side, always, in the wish that each day is unforgettable, that our work excels, that the friendships created are strengthened and that, together, we always have reasons to smile. Our entire team will make the best of what is to come. We will be work hard and be more creative. And we will continue to bring you the best of the country and the world. Over these two decades we have published thousands of articles, images, interviews, opinions – a wealth of content. That is why, in this issue of Villas&Golfe;, we have chosen 20 personalities who have left their mark on the last 20 years, because our history is made of people. We may have picked out this group, but there could have been many other people of equal national and international value. Our Portugal is rich in distinguished people. Good people. In this issue, we also portray the last few years in the form of events. Since September 2001, the world has never been the same. Join us in this retrospective look back in time and experience up close, on the pages dedicated to this theme, each defining moment of these 20 years of history. Thank you for being part of us.

With Madeiran flavours...
... and so many tales to tell. We dedicate this, issue 112 of Villas&Golfe; to Nini Andrade Silva, and also to the archipelago of Madeira. An issue tightly packed with people, spaces, places and narratives that make up the story of this woman, who is the diva of architecture and interior design. We bring colour to our pages through places of peace, wisdom, leisure, art, and strive, in each feature, to show the best of the island and of some of the projects produced by the designer. Her journey has been of such intensity that these pages would never be enough to say it all. She has won countless awards, travelled the world, meeting personalities from all walks of life, and here she gives us a glimpse of some of those moments. With her, in this issue, we have Miguel Albuquerque, president of the Regional Government of Madeira, a voice always ready to defend the interests of the region; António Trindade, CEO of the PortoBay Group, who amazed us with the eloquence of his words; Dr José Mendes de Almeida, a photography devotee; Chris Blandy, the seventh generation at the head of the largest Madeira wine exporter – Blandy’s –,  and Francisco Albuquerque, the alchemist who has brought fame to the wines of this same English brand. In other words, a group of people whose lives intersect with that of the Garouta do Calhau, or Pebble Girl. Do you know who she is? Come aboard with us and find out. Happy reading!

In this issue number 111 of Villas&Golfe; we address three very different universes, and, at the same time, so similar, if you think of them in terms of their exclusivity and rarity. We talk about luxury real estate, art and antiques, which together combine spaces and make their history endure through time. The essence of a piece of art or antique is valued throughout its life, which often has the ability to make something eternal. These are pieces that pass from generation to generation, and arrive from other centuries, bringing to our memories the recollections of a past. Stories are told through objects, paintings, furniture, porcelain. And we went to hear the stories of some art and antiques ‘caretakers’ in Portugal, such as Mário Roque, Manuel Portela, Luís Alegria and Maria do Carmo – the people engaged in perpetuating in time works that once belonged to kings, queens, artists and nations, whose memory will remain forever. There is also a certain exclusivity and rarity in real estate projects, because there is architecture designed and conceived to endure in time, whether in the present time or in that which remains for history. There are those who have left us the emotion of different eras and times through their architectural projects, just as, even today, there are those who continue to do so, through iconic works that will remain for life. In this issue, we talk about some of these players: Miguel Saraiva, Vasco Vieira Arquitectos, Vic Properties, Hyline and Traçado Regulador. Brands and faces that will endure through time. Happy reading!

At a leisurely pace
«Let us not be in a hurry, but let us not waste time», José Saramago. ‘Yesterday’ has already passed and ‘tomorrow’ will always be another gift, because we continue to develop projects, to etch out stories, to make dreams come true and to crave travel even more. But don’t be in a hurry to get to know this world that fills our pages, because you will have plenty of time to enjoy every corner we reveal to you here. We bring you history. The history of one of the main Benedictine abbeys in Europe, which takes us back to the Middle Ages – Abbey Library of Saint Gall, one of the oldest in the world, which enriches the soul with culture. And before the words begin to dwindle, listen, feel and study each of our features as if the journey were to begin right now. Accompany the writers Manuela Gonzaga and Alice Vieira; discover the family history of the Botton siblings; and travel the world, looking after yourself, in one of AMAN’s spaces, where body and mind are treated and wellness rules. 
At a leisurely pace, let yourself be enchanted by each line, each passage, each journey, even if it’s a journey to your inner self; let yourself travel without leaving the comfort of your home, in the certainty that very soon you will be flying to one of these destinations. Happy reading! 

2020 Retrospective 
The virus took mankind by storm. Silence ensued. The streets emptied, people could no longer embrace each other, and the world changed. We have experienced a 2020 of lockdown, fear, hope and struggle in the extreme. Our outlooks all became bleaker, around the globe. Plans were put off and dreams were left for another day. It is true that the today’s reality is different, but we must carry on living. And live to the full! So, for this issue, we wanted to fill your «heart» with emotion, with extraordinary people and places. We talk about serious matters, listening to voic- es from the worlds of medicine and science, and we lis- ten to the «heart» of Manuel Antunes, one of the leading figures in the world of cardiothoracic surgery. And it is with the voice of our «heart» that we take you to dream destinations, to get you excited and so you can pack your bags... and, in 2021, set off on a journey, to discover and feel emotions around the world. Stop at St. Michel Re- sort, in Cornwall, and enjoy a calm and relaxing holiday; or head off to the Maldives and stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island luxury resort, on a dream trip, in an idyllic location; or choose to connect with the Earth on the shores of Hoi Na beach in Vietnam and enjoy some deep relax- ation at the Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Hoi Na, Spa; but if you don’t feel fulfilled enough, lose yourself in the «sum of all the arts», in the El Ataneo Grand Splendid bookshop, in Buenos Aires, and live a wealth of culture. And, of course, let your «heart» flutter with emotion in 2021. 

«Luxury» is a word used to segment things. The difficulty lies in using the word and knowing how and when to use it. In actual fact, what might be luxury for some, might not for others. If, for some, it is a cause for envy, for others it is a cause for admiration, for dreaming or even an illusion.
But what defines luxury real estate? Is it the price?
An expensive house might not be a luxury house. In Portugal, a house costing five hundred thousand Euros and above was once considered a luxury house. However, with the increasing value of real estate and the ongoing interest in our country, the bar has risen to at least one million Euros. If, in some countries, a house can be considered luxurious from 100 million on, the sky being the limit, in Portugal, the parameters are more modest. The demand for exclusive luxury properties in prime locations has increased significantly with the increase in foreign investment. Luxury resorts, villas and apartments, from the Algarve to the Minho, have become even more sought after by national and foreign investors, with other locations standing out thanks to the property boom, including: Lisbon, Oporto, Cascais, Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, among so many others, all of which have become luxury hubs.
Portugal has entered the spotlight of the world, through tourism, Golden Visas, quality of life, security and climate, which are essential when it comes to demand.
Although there are changes related to the coronavirus pandemic, luxury remains, and increasingly so, space, privacy and security. As such, we will see a demand for farms and estates, in the country’s inland regions and in areas bordering large cities, which will increasingly represent luxury. In this issue, we bring you some projects and people who work in this segment – that of exclusive luxury.
Luxury real estate will increasingly be in demand and the world won’t be able to take its eyes off Portugal, thanks to its situation and its quality.
Pure and simple... 

Pure & simple!
Issue no. 107 of Villas&Golfe; is published in a surprising and very special moment.
Unexpectedly, millions of people all around the world have abruptly disappeared.
The markets have suffered universal breakdown. Unemployment has risen and the drop in sales in most business sectors has been dire. New business models have had to be developed and the state’s intervention has proved vital.
This issue of Villas&Golfe; reflects, to an extent, the situation of our economy, in a major interview with Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira. And we consider «the mission» of GNR Commander General Luís Francisco Botelho Miguel, as are own. 
We also show how Luís Onofre has reinvented itself/himself, just like yachtswoman Mariana Lobato and many others, who also bring us a powerful message of solidarity.
On the plus side, in this issue we can enjoy a large number of articles that take us in search of new encouragement. 2020, a year expected to be one of prosperity and consolidation, has been transformed into a dark year of disappointment. Politically, we experienced a trinomial, between the PR, PM and Basta with the attack to the euphoria of the far sides of the political spectrum. The polls show it, as these are being heard more and more.
The strategy is to speak well of everything, it is to give it all, please all you can, while only attacking the extremes.
Nevertheless, there’s always the flip side of the coin. Poverty, social inequality, deceit, political indiscretion, corruption, abuse of power and opportunism lethally increase the extremes.
The world reflects just this.
Pure & simple!

«Travel, eat and love» could well be an alluring way to fill your days, as long as you do so within bounds. The right track, not least for Zen Family, which we’ll tell you about later. It could also be an invitation to leaf through the pages of Villas&Golfe;, even though there is much more to read on the following pages. In fact, you can delight in a trip that starts in Moscow and ends in Beijing, or another one to the United Arab Emirates. If you’re more set on shorter trips, you’ll find dream accommodation in the Alentejo, the Algarve or in the scenic Douro. You can also try the flavours we suggest, such as those of the AM restaurant, in Marseille, the city of the sun and the south. And you can love all our suggestions; or the people in your life, in the most diverse forms of love. 
But there is much more to discover in this issue number 106. Some of them also presuppose travel and all of them imply love. How could you not love a game of golf on a renowned course in Andalusia?! Or a series of art galleries that putting on magnificent exhibitions?! Or some (if not all) ideas from our interviewees and chroniclers? «Travel, eat and love»... and play, enjoy, relax... simply live!

Even though winter can be felt outside, in the misty colours and the chill waiting outside our windows, let’s not let the whistling wind keep us awake at night, or let fatigue from working make one day the same as the next. There is always time for happiness; it is always time for happiness. It is always Christmas, the Christmas of gestures that dispense with parcels; that looks and sees others; that welcomes and takes them in. Take it easy! You need to savour the gift of life with your eyes and with all your senses, even if setbacks sometimes want to push you away from the shore.
Let us savour the words of the people who wanted to join us in this 105th issue of Villas&Golfe;, such as Salimo Abdula and Helena Amaral. Let us slowly appreciate the dream locations we’ve chosen for you, as if there were nothing else at that moment. The Library of Admont Abbey in Austria, The Yeatman in Vila Nova de Gaia, the Café de l’Homme in Paris, or the National Palace of Queluz in the town of the same name, are some of these magical places. Let’s taste luxury, materialised in objects, places and experiences, while convinced, however, that health and time are the highest expression of such a subjective concept. 
Take it easy! Let us drink with passion to life, a passion that implies time, so that we sip every moment and so that we don’t leave this earth right before our heart stops beating! It is with a full heart that we thank all our collaborators, clients, readers and friends for all the time they have given us. We wish you a 2020 full of happiness and achievements and another year full of TIME! Stay with us!

Wine, architecture and other stories!
In some places, in some stretches of land, man has made nature more fertile, painting it with terraces that descend and climb slopes, or with fertile plains that disappear into the horizon. Toil, knowhow, and seasons come together, patiently waiting… and hope in the happy tales that will finally be told in the heady contents of a glass. When nature completes her powerful mission, new adventures take place in the winery. The floor is no longer made of dirt, and sticky webs are no longer part of the decoration. The knowledge of ‘men of wine’ is combined with new technologies and the fine lines of architects who come up with new buildings, where grapes are transformed into triumph. Contemporary is combined with the tradition of centuries... and always with nature! And wine tourism, the fine art of hospitality and pride in showing the stories about that long wait that reached sublime liquid state all come together too.
It is these and other adventures that we talk about in this 104th issue of Villas&Golfe;. But to the interviews of Álvaro Siza Vieira and other renowned architects, we add other forms of art, conveyed in the words of Diogo Infante or António Maia. We’ve brought together far-flung places, suggesting a trip through the ‘Kingdom of the Lion’, a foray into Italy’s Cinque Terre, or into other havens you’ll discover in the pages that follow. We also bring together Education, Youth and Sport, carried in the ideas of Tiago Brandão Rodrigues.
Although it smells like must, or like the graphite of sketches, or the wood of casks, this issue brings you many more aromas, colours and flavours. Come join us!

In this issue of Villas&Golfe;, we design a door and build it, for you to open it and enter the world of architecture, construction, interior design, home automation and real estate. Maybe you will find the ideal house, the one that «we all want to do» (Souto de Moura). Inspirations? Daydreams? Epiphanies when watching a sunset? Rules? Laws? Maybe all the factors are in place, so that more beautiful and functional realities can be created, so that dreams, projects of the lives of others, seeds of the future can all be built!
And the future has already been ‘yesterday’, when human intelligence designed, built, decorated homes, giving them intelligence as well, surpassing some of Hollywood’s most famous dreams. The future began when the buildings began to interact with humans, when, through automation, houses became more sustainable, secure, comfortable, ‘helpful’ and controllable... from a distance, even if you were in Rwanda, discovering the mysteries of gorillas, or in Morocco, enjoying the tremendous dream of a king.
Follow us through the pages that follow. We’re relying on you to carry on designing and building this project of spreading dreams! When you leave, and until you return to the next issue, leave the door open so the future can keep on coming in!

Discover the world, near and far, and fill blank pages with happy memories! This is the invitation we make to you, in this 102nd issue of Villas&Golfe;: travelling, taking your time to look at Portugal. Travelling involves discovering a multitude of realities, of people, of habits, of cultures, of ways of seeing the world; it means experiencing the cold to enjoy the heat, it means experiencing scorching summers to desire the cold; is means feeling the distance so that you miss the pleasure of home; is means allowing the unexpected and surprises to exceed expectations.
No matter where you go, what counts is going beyond the horizons of everyday life. No matter how short the journey, there will always be idiosyncrasies, different traditions, distinct pronunciations, differing stories and history, and stunning landscapes! Pack your bags and come with us to Castelo Branco, Santo Tirso, Bragança, Boticas and Freixo de Espada à Cinta, because we have to get to know ourselves first to be able to start discovering others. After looking within, broaden your horizons. Mauritius, made of sunshine, and Zermatt, of snowy landscapes, await your eager eyes. Because life is measured by the moments that can take your breath away!

The sun has gone down on the horizon, flooding the landscapes with sepia hues. To the whims of the breezes, at times warm, at times cool, russet, brown and yellow leaves spin around, and the waters in the rivers flow down restlessly. It is time for harvesting, for picking the fruit of dedication and love! Because we always reap what we sow! On the estates, on the farms, after having harvested ripened dreams, you can already smell the must, heralding superb wines, which will accompany shared moments and celebrations.
That’s how it is at Quinta do Monte Xisto, in Vila Nova de Foz Côa; at Herdade da Rocha, in Crato; and on Quinta do Cabeço, in Tabuaço. In this issue number 101, we celebrate this harvest season, the end of a cycle. We celebrate the passion for wine, in the voice of João Nicolau de Almeida, Mário Rocha and José Miguel Almeida. But we also celebrate life in other destinations and in other projects, aware that we always share dreams with you that are harvested after much work and dedication.
And while the vines are left dreaming of new adventures, we are dreaming too, planting now to reap later, because autumn is also the time of planting. Like a tree, we change our leaves, but never our roots! So, look through our pages, from station to station, while the train slides along the rails of life!

100 issues 
Like nothing else before it, this initiative will remain for posterity. Never before, in Portugal, has a media outlet, gathered together, in interview form, such a great and such a prestigious number of personalities in a single issue and in such a short time. For its 100th issue, Villas&Golfe; magazine decided to bring together 100 different personalities, who have had a positive effect on Portugal. Our editorial board met up and, choosing from various fields, selected the group of celebrities appearing in these pages. We are very proud of them all! Of course there are many other personalities worthy of being highlighted, but, at this particular time, we felt it was good to highlight these people, who, in their areas of activity, are an example for us all.
These initiatives have a positive effect and increase the willingness of people to strive to do more for the country. In its 17 years, Villas&Golfe; magazine has worked to enhance quality and to take the good name of Portugal further. This issue reveals just a small part of the vast and valuable world of Villas&Golfe;.
I would also like to thank all the 100 interviewees and friends present in this issue. My thanks also go out to the entire team of Villas&Golfe; magazine, who worked on the issue and produced this fantastic work. I hope that the vibrancy of Villas&Golfe;, clearly revealed here, will last for many more years.
A big thank you to everyone.

Here’s a toast to you all!
And a hug of friendship!

We are painting the summer, not with the artistic talent of Júlio Pomar, or of José de Guimarães, but we are painting it with enduring words and moments immortalised by the click of a camera. We attach words to these images, of varied inspiration, because we can’t always get them to rise up to the eyes could see, to what our ears could hear, to what the mouth could taste, to what we could touch and smell... to what the heart could to feel.
With words and pictures, we are painting the landscapes of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, we are painting Bordeaux and also the capital of Croatia; we are painting Fundão cherries ruby red; a spa in the south of Portugal, Algarve, sky blue; and the first hotel in the Arctic glacier blue. As if by magic, we are painting the crystal clear chords that leap off the strings of Ianina Khmelik’s violin, the clear ideas of Fernando Teles and even the green challenges of Victoria Golf Course. We head to South Africa to paint the ochre hues of the savannas and the twinkling of the stars and we return to paint the admirable world of the tea of ​​Maria Ana Vieira. We paint the ‘world’ and the summer, even though some parts of the world are enjoying another season. It doesn’t matter if the days are grey, if they are blue, if they are colourful. Life is whatever colour we want it to be!

«Thinking about the past to understand the present and to idealise the future» (Herodotus). History, our common past, whichever aspect of it, is what allows us to understand who we are, what we do, where we want to go. For this reason we’ve made inroads into history and history of art, by visiting, in particular, the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece; the José Malhoa Museum, in Caldas da Rainha; and the Guerra Junqueiro House and Museum, in the municipality of Freixo de Espada à Cinta. If you take a look through the pages that follow, you will find reasons to have your own firsthand experience of these and other sites dedicated to the past, but so closely connected to time now and that to come.
Because today is necessarily the most important day of our lives, we bring you tourism and expanding business of the current era. And in this present that is in our hands, there are many other gifts to unwrap in the words and photos that we have prepared for you.
It might be because of our past that we have often thought that we do not know clearly where we want to go, but we know exactly where we do not want to go. We are certain, however, that you will want to go to the more or less distant places that we have lined up for you. New Zealand, Dublin, Zambia, Montenegro, Tenerife, the Algarve, Torres Vedras, among many others, all hide ‘secrets’ waiting for you to discover in this 98th issue of Villas&Golfe;. If the past cannot be changed, the present and the future are in our hands. So follow us, travel, experience, love, live and be happy!


Welcome once again to the Villas&Golfe; world. A world of elegance, of luxury and glamour, but one that doesn’t mean ostentation, nor excessive glitter, contrived geometries and frivolous minds. Luxury means having time for ourselves and for others, for family, for friends, and filling that time with what gives us the most pleasure. Villas&Golfe; only makes suggestions as to what to you could do with these precious moments. For some, luxury may be having the profession you’ve always dreamed of; it could be travelling, a trip to a spa or to a special restaurant; for others it may be a ride in a car, in a boat, or it might be a round of golf, a visit to a museum, reading a book, or a simple walk by the sea. For others still, it could be all of this.
In this issue, you'll find ideas that will certainly make you happy, from a hotel in Paris, the Silk Museum, in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, or a Caribbean resort, to a wine tasting at Quinta Vale D. Maria, a trip to Tanzania, or even a The Gift concert. We also have words based on exceptional life experiences, such as those of Rui Pinto, Joana Oliveira and Pablo Guayasamín, which will certainly be inspiring.
But all of these suggestions won’t make much sense if you haven’t got your health. This, actually, is the greatest of all luxuries. As for elegance, is there anything more elegant than a smile?!


At this festive time of year, the streets and houses are lit up, gifts are bought and thoughts focus on the must-have treats to fill Christmas and New Year’s meals. Families are reunited, hugs become more comforting, and energies seem to renew as the clock strikes 12 to mark a new era.
Putting up your Christmas tree initiates this magical season. Enveloped in the scent of cinnamon, we’re putting ours up, full of colourful lights that endlessly flicker. In this our 96th Christmas tree, we have hung many stars, so that, like the three kings, we can head off in search of what makes us happy. We’ve started with four stars, Fernanda Amorim, Bagão Félix, Paulo Ossião and Alexander Laut, whose words grab our attention. Then, at random, like a constellation, stars such as Denmark, the Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe, the Hotel Bel-Air, in Los Angeles, the Terme di Saturnia Spa, in Italy, the Amanzoe Villas, in Greece, the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, in the UK, and others no less bright. Closer to home, we add sparkle and life to our Christmas tree with the Castelo dos Mouros, in Sintra, the Red Frog Bar, in Lisbon, Well Domus, in Oporto, Mercado Beira-Rio, in Vila Nova de Gaia, Ocean Restaurant, in the Algarve, among others. Up there, at the top, we place the star of 16 years of Villas&Golfe;. It’s the largest star, just because reflects our gratitude. Thank you for having spent another year in our company, for supporting us unconditionally! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! 2018 will be a new adventure!


In this season of hybrid temperatures, of warm days and cool nights, our suggestion to you is to open new horizons, to turn new pages in your life, to start again. If you’ve made mistakes, «It’s good to remember, so you don’t make them again», in the words of André Jordan, who we interview in this issue. This 95th issue of Villas&Golfe; is made of winners, projects, ideas, places and people! Within them we highlight the new five-star hotel, Anantara, in Vilamoura, and also the Vila Galé Albacora, in Tavira; the ever-coveted recipes from chef Christian Rullan; the wines of Convento do Paraíso; the iconic Troia Resort; and the serene scenery of the Alentejo and its flavours. If you opt for a trip abroad, we suggest Amsterdam, where you can visit the Rijksmuseum, and Prague. Take in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, in London; in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, stay at the fabulous Château de Fonscolombe; and on the island of Mallorca, take time to rest in the luxurious Talise Spa. Between one place and another, you’ll find in our pages the story behind the greatest work of Pablo Picasso, or the report on the Villas&Golfe; International Cup. And you’ll find a course to win on - Las Colinas Golf. If you don’t win, there will always be time to start again!


So let’s take flight and dream, filling the summer with poetry, as if it were spring! We head off to Japan, Norway, Costa Rica, to floating Venice, to an Indonesian island… Store up some good times here in Portugal. In the north, dare to sample a wine by Anselmo Mendes; soak up some sweetness in Valongo, savouring some Paupério biscuits; in Esmoriz, dare to discover the manufacturing process of the guardians of port wine; in Aveiro, be amazed by the white landscape of salt.
Soaking up all the landscapes, we head south, to present a Quinta do Lago special to you, the resort which, celebrating its 45th anniversary, continues to provide an incomparable lifestyle, combining luxury with communion with nature.
For various circumstances plaguing the country, we weren’t able to publish our interview with Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, but we will be able to do so shortly, we believe. Until then, store up these moments of light, so that when autumn comes you’ll have memories of a great summer.


In this, the 93rd issue of Villas&Golfe;, we guide you towards the silence of the sounds of nature, in Hlane Royal National Park, in Swaziland; to the Serenity Spa, in the Algarve, where silence is also a form of therapy; to Portmarnock Golf Club, in Ireland, for a challenge requiring quiet; to the Hotel Kinsterna, in Greece, surrounded by silently exuberant nature; to Tetiaroa, where Marlon Brando found the calm he was looking for. It is also in silence that the nectars of Bacchus can be heard swirling in glasses, at La Cité du Vin, in Bordeaux, or at the Quinta do Soalheiro, in Melgaço. And it is in the silence of our own breathing that we delve into the world of yoga or head into the peace of the village Cabeceiras de Basto, and the Casa de Encosturas. Silently we enter the Sanctuary of Fátima. We come together for the commemoration of the centenary of the apparitions. In silence, flick through our pages and discover how António Valério, Paul Perry and even Salvador Dalí are related to the «Altar of the World». In silence... because it is also a powerful form of communication!

We pedal, without the fearful stabilisers that tie us to childhood, despite knowing that falls are only inevitable. With time, we learn to fall better and get up more nimbly! 
Balance is precisely what we want to talk to you about in this issue. We never stop, just as the personalities that appear in this 92nd issue don’t stop, such as Sobrinho Simões and José Gomes Ferreira, and who honour us with their presence…
It is the balance that we feel in places such as Angola’s Malanje, Italy’s Rome, or even in restless Shanghai. And the balance that is advocated by the Ayurveda Parkschlösschen Spa, in Germany, the Estalagem Lago Azul, next to Castelo de Bode Dam, the Maalifushi Resort, in the Maldives, and the Herdade da Malhadinha, in the Lower Alentejo.
Always moving, over land, water or air, we head to Austria, for a round of golf at Golf Schloss Pichlarn…to keep our balance…

This and every time we reach you during 2017, we will give you more than enough reasons to fill your days with happiness and glamour. On every page you will find inspiration for a year full of dreams, which can always come true where willing. In these first pages of 2017, we bring you João Rafael Koehler, Valter Hugo Mãe, Luís Carvalho, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Olivier da Costa, among other personalities. And enthusiastically we show you Alaska, Malmö, Ashford Castle hotel, Fazenda Boa Vista, Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant and other dream retreats. Come fly, sail, play, look and see, enjoy, taste and feel with us... We draw our inspiration from all over the world, to satisfy those looking for excellence.


It was 15 years ago! 

90 issues have since followed, in them figures of all manner of political, cultural, economic, social and sporting backgrounds. Hundreds of texts and thousands of images have been published in Villas&Golfe; magazine. And all of them, the work of a team for whom ‘more or less’ has never been enough. Here, under our roof, either it’s great, or is doesn’t go in. This is our motto and it always has been! Villas&Golfe; always fulfils its role to help people to dream, to take the limits of our imagination to new extremes, to welcome us into a perfect world, through stunning photography.

Like a book

«The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read the first page», said St. Augustine. Villas&Golfe; is not a book, even though it could be... We do hope, however, that you let yourself be lead by its pages that, we believe, you will be turning. You’ll find plenty of reasons to pack your bags and set off. You’ll certainly find much more than we could ever show you, much more than you might ever have imagined.

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Since 2001 Villas & Golfe stands out as one of most prestigious international lifestyle magazines. Bimonthly and bilingual (english / portuguese), Villas & Golfe combines the best from areas as varied as art, culture, business, travel, gourmet, fashion or premium sports. Villas & Golfe has also interviewed major names within these areas, while featuring a handpicked selection of innovations from the most sophisticated of luxury brands.

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