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Wednesday, 24 February 2010

Prestige Portugal Property, Leading the Way on the Silver Coast


Many people dream of buying a property on the Silver Coast and for some the dream becomes a reality.

There will always be people who dream and people who actually make things happen but considering how easy it can be to buy property here in Portugal there is really no reason not to go ahead.

Here at Prestige Portugal Property we are proud of our reputation as an established and respected company, something we have gained through hard work and years of experience. As the leading real estate agent specializing in the Silver Coast we are ideally placed to help you find and purchase your dream home using our trusted team of English speaking professionals, ensuring the buying process goes smoothly from start to finish.

Contact us at Prestige Portugal Property and let us take care of everything, leaving you to enjoy peace of mind and a great investment for years to come.

By Stephanie Johnson

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Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Your Home on the Silver Coast


We bought our first home here on the Silver Coast almost twenty years ago. The little village house in Olho Marinho near Obidos was used as a holiday home by me and my entire family over the subsequent years until the day my husband and I took the plunge and with our little boy came to live here in Portugal full time.

We quickly out grew the tiny two bedroom house and found that our wish list had changed now that we were here all year round so we had no hesitation in putting the house up for sale almost as soon as we arrived.

There was no question that we wanted to stay on the Silver Coast, it is a fantastic area for both holidays and full time living, but we definitely wanted a big garden now that we were able to look after it ourselves and space for our family to grow.

We concentrated our search in The Sao Martinho do Porto area, mainly because of the beautiful bay and safe sandy beach which had become a favourite place to spend happy holiday days in the past. And before long we had found it - our dream home on the Silver Coast.

Buying a holiday home in lovely locations such as Sao Martinho do Porto is a great investment, it will also provide many happy holidays for you and your family. And you never know, it could be a stepping stone to your ultimate Silver Coast dream too!


By Stephanie Johnson

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Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Christmas Cake Fit for a King!


As a born and bred Brit I am very proud of our many Christmas traditions, although the fact that our three main Christmas treats of cake, pudding and mincemeat all seem to be made out of the same ingredients always has me baffled!

Here in Portugal there are plenty of quaint Christmas traditions and eating cake at Christmas is just one of them. Bolo Rei (King Cake) is a delicious light and fluffy bread full of dried and crystallised fruit and nuts and is to be found in every café, restaurant and home throughout the country at this time of year.

Traditionally the cake is baked with a surprise or two inside. It is said that whoever finds the fava bean has to pay for the cake! It might also contain a charm which the lucky finder can keep with no penalty.

The Portuguese celebrate Christmas, along with most of Europe, on the evening of the 24th December, opening presents at midnight after enjoying a family meal usually consisting of Bacalhau (salt cod), boiled potatoes and dark green cabbage.

hmmm. . . Not particularly appealing to British tastes! Turkey is becoming more popular however, and is now widely available, so if you plan to spend your Christmas here on the Silver Coast then you can still enjoy a few British traditions.

Imagine the fun you could have in your luxury holiday home by the sea, what better place to walk off the excesses of Christmas than the beach or may be a round of golf?

Have a look at our properties in seaside towns such as Nazare, Sao Martinho do Porto, Salir do Porto and Foz do Arelho or perhaps magical Obidos, anyone of which would make a fantastic place to spend Christmas.

Christmas on the Silver Coast – What a cracker!


By Stephanie Johnson

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Thursday, 17 December 2009

Discovering Caldas da Rainha


Here on the beautiful Silver Coast of Portugal we are blessed with many picturesque towns and villages full of history, stunning coastal views, quaint restaurants and bars and a wonderful holiday atmosphere.

But what if you live here? Or what if you visit the area regularly, staying in your own holiday apartment or villa? You might want to experience a bit more than just sandy beaches and ice cream.

That is where places like Caldas da Rainha come in to their own, located about 20 minutes inland from Foz do Arehlo and with Obidos just ten minutes away Caldas is right in the centre of the fabulous Silver Coast region.

This bustling little city of around 25,000 inhabitants was established in the 15th century by Queen Leonor who founded a hospital at the site of the therapeutic hot springs. The hospital is still in operation today making it one of the oldest institutions of this type in the world.
Although modernised and extended, tours of the original parts of the hospital can be booked through the museum behind the main building and it is a fascinating place to visit. The original pool is still there with its domed ceiling carved from stone, the misty atmosphere created by the warm water pervaded by the strong aroma of sulfur.

Back outside in the fresh air and sunshine you will find yourself in a little square along one side of which can be found an entrance to the impressive park. This is a beautiful formal garden reminiscent of the Victorian parks found in the UK. Along with the huge range of exotic plants, trees and grassy areas there is a boating lake, a bandstand, tennis courts, a children’s playground and a lovely café/restaurant with lots of outside seating. It is a delightful place to while away an afternoon.

I should also mention the fantastic farmers market held daily in the Praça da Fruta the big market square in the centre of town. Caldas da Rainha is the only place in Portugal hold a daily market and it is a great place to pick up some fresh produce. Lots of colour, lots of noise, lots of fun.
There is also plenty more retail excitement to be had in the wide variety of shops and stores found in and around the city, including several supermarkets and shopping centres, and with a choice of cinemas, theatres and a new bowling complex, there is plenty of other entertainment too.
A short drive north of Caldas brings you to the coastal towns of Salir do Porto, Sao Martinho do Porto and Nazare, all great unspoilt holiday destinations with long sandy beaches.

Perfect. . .


By Stephanie Johnson

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Monday, 27 July 2009

Open doors on the Silver Coast

Being from South Africa you get used to staying in doors after certain hours, you get used to the fact that you can't walk to the shops or to a friends house after 8pm, you get used to the fact that you have to drive everyhwere and you get used to the fact that when you go to sleep you have to lock the gate, lock the door, lock the security gate behind the door, lock the security gate in the passage, put on the alarm and even then, after you've done everything short of planting land mines in your front garden you still have a restless sleep worrying about intruders coming in the night. This is normal for people who live in South Africa.

So imagine my surprise when I moved to a place where I could walk on the beach, walk on the street, walk to the pub at any hour I choose. This is an odd experience for someone like me, but one that I now embrace. The other night I was walking back to my apartment through Sao Martinho Do Porto at around 11:50pm and I was amazed at how many houses and apartments I walked past where the doors were open, wide open! Never mind no security gates or no bars on the windows, but the front doors were open. It just makes me smile, I'm living in a place where people leave there front doors open at night.


This is a truly amazing place, beautiful, safe ........ home.



By Dylan Herholdt

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