Compliments made to Portugal in 2016... and 2017 is starting great!


According to the international press, we have the best cities, beaches, food, hotels and wines in the world. 2016 was and 2017 is the year of Portugal.

The past 12 months have been prolific in distinctions and recognitions to regions, cities, beaches, food, wines and hotels in Portugal. Publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, The Guardian or Lonely Planet, just to name a few, knelt to the charms of the land of Cristiano Ronaldo's right (and left) foot, the warm Christmas pie and Port wine, however old it may be, remains (well) recommended. And you, have you surrendered too?

"The pat on the back of 2016"

Mashable got it right when, in March 2016, published an article with a very clear message: Portugal is much more than a diversion. The accolade was made in an attempt to counteract the fact that American tourists tended to prefer to visit Spain over Portugal on their Iberian visits, without ever including the Portuguese destination in the itinerary. "Portugal can be a relatively small country, but it is easy to spend at least a week to explore it and have still not enough time to enjoy everything," argued Mashable, suggesting to readers mandatory stops in Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra and Algarve.

Small in size and big on offer, starting with the Alentejo. Certainly the region of the montados and cork oaks was already used to be a topic of conversation, with 2014 being a great year, but Lonely Planet wanted to strengthen its potential in the early days of 2016, considering the Alentejo one of the 52 Best destinations in the world to spend a weekend. Considering the geographic limits of the region, the magazine wrote about the city of Elvas, which carries the status of World Heritage, and its fortifications, on Castelo de Vide and also on the rocky scenery of Marvão.

From the infinite land to the one surrounded by the sea, it should be remembered that the Azores came to be nominated for the title of "Best European Destination of 2016". They ended up losing to the city of Zadar, Croatia, even though a new (big) year is predicted for the archipelago. Monsanto, in Idanha-a-Nova, also "took" pat on the back as it is considered one of the 3rd most charming villages in Europe, according to the Japanese Association of Travel Agencies. And what about Lagos? For Harper's Bazaar was one of 16 destinations around the globe to spend the honeymoon in 2016 not only due but also to the seafood that it serves and eats.

When it comes to Porto, the most remarkable declaration of love was that of The New York Times, which, considering the famous heading "36 Hours in," argued that it was "difficult to find something that you did not like in Porto." Perhaps by the buildings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries considered "stunning" or "indie new restaurants and bars and a relaxed atmosphere, facilitated by the excellent wine." The record came after publications such as The Guardian and Esquire magazine also surrendered to Invicta.

Not surprisingly, the Portuguese capital does not shy away from the sympathetic and happy character of those who see it from the outside - not even one of the most important Venezuelan newspapers, El Nacional, resisted, praising the Lisbon neighborhood of Alfama and the fado that echoes through Between its narrow and tarred streets. A similar opinion will be published by Condé Nast Traveler who, in March 2016, considered Lisbon the most "cool" city in Europe at that time. "Even for a city built on seven hills, Lisbon had many ups and downs. Lately, however, there has been nothing but sun and sea breeze. Now, the rest of the world is discovering one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful cities as it rides a wave of creativity and optimism, "reads the article.

As if that were not enough, apparently there are 34 Portuguese places in the top of the best European destinations, 22 reasons to visit Portugal in sunny weather and high temperatures and, according to CNN, 20 suggestions to discover the Douro.

Adding to so much good is the fact that it has been reported twice that Portugal had the most accessible cities - as it says cockroaches - in Europe and the World. First in May, with the Spanish company El Confidencial doing a survey of where one lives better in Europe, which included Lisbon and Porto. Then in August, when USB AG, a Swiss-based financial services company, ranked the cheapest cities to spend a night out of the ordinary (and there was Lisbon between Bucharest, Bangkok and New Delhi).

Already, Portugal is one of the favorite countries of backpacker tourists and Lisbon is one of the most fun cities in the world. And do not forget: once again, the country shone in the gala of the World Travel Arwards 2016, prizes better known as "Oscars of Tourism", with Portugal winning in 23 categories at European level.


The Portuguese hotels where to spend (and well) the night

Sleeping with style and comfort was a topic that has not been neglected during the last 12 months, with the international press eyeing the rooms where it is best to spend the night. This is the example of the Algarve Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, planted on the seafront in Portimão, which was chosen by the American giant CNN one of the 20 most beautiful hotels in the old continent. Between luxury retreats on top of cliffs and manor houses, he avenged this Portuguese unit facing the sea. And from Europe to the world: it was in November when it was announced that Vila Joya, in Albufeira, won the World Boutique Hotel Awards in the category of best gastronomic hotel, in addition to integrating a list with the most paradisiacal destinations on the planet.

It is not only in the Algarve that the accolades are concentrated, in the north of the country - read in Invicta - there is also what to point out. He wanted the British The Telegraph to dedicate themselves to the city and to discover, through the newspaper's travel specialists, the best hotels to visit in the Porto area. Of the more luxurious to the simpler, none of them had an evaluation lower than 7 (considering a scale of 0 to 10). Yes, The Yeatman is included in the list as well as the NH Collection Porto Batalha and the Port A.S. 1829 Hostel - in fact, there are no shortage of options.

It is also in Porto that is one of the 10 most luxurious hostels in Europe, according to the screening by Kash Bhattacharya, author of the very good blog Budget Traveler. The author's conclusions are the result of a backpacking adventure with little money in her pockets. The Guardian liked the ranking so much that it replicated it on its online page: it is there that it can be read that the Porto Tattva Design gave a new look to the two historic buildings it occupies, being the largest hostel in Porto having beds for 116 people - all rooms have suites and there is even a restaurant and a bar on the terrace.

In the midst of so much luxury there are also those who notice the hotels dedicated to sustainability. In the early days of 2016 the Trivago search engine made a list of the best ecological hotels in the world and among proposals in Chile and Cambodia was the Areias do Seixo. The hotel of charm with particular interest in taking care of the environment opened the doors in 2010 to bet on sustainable tourism: both the rooms and the villas were designed with ecological materials, and the unit is governed by the use of renewable energies.



The food that convinced the foreign press

Let's face it, 2016 was the first year that Portugal reached the 26 Michelin stars: in all, nine stars were awarded to Portugal, which went from 14 restaurants and 17 stars - 2015 numbers - to 21 restaurants and 26 stars. The Alma restaurants (chef Henrique Sá Pessoa) and Loco (chef Alexandre Silva) in Lisbon, and Antiqvvm (chef Vítor Matos), in Porto, were some of those who received a star for the first time, while Belcanto, in For example, was the one who kept the two stars won the previous year. It should be noted that the Adega, a restaurant dedicated to Portuguese cuisine in San Jose, California, also won a star in 2016.

Speaking of Belcanto, whose cuisine is headed by chef José Avillez, the restaurant has once again ranked among the world's top 100 according to the highly regarded list The World's 50 Best (which, despite its name, covers a hundred spaces dedicated to gastronomy) . If last year Belcanto was in 91st position, in 2016 it went up to 78th. But the news does not stop here, because 2016 was also the year of Avillez: Belcanto was also voted the best restaurant in the world in 2016 by the Spanish edition of the travel magazine Traveler, which belongs to the editorial group Condé Nast.

Outside starry restaurant doors, the successful recipes also seem to reach the rest of the national tables. An example of this was what The Wall Street Journal wrote about the Douro. This time the article did not fall exclusively on the wine that grows in the vineyards that dot the terraces of the region, and has dedicated itself to the food that is eaten there. The US newspaper called that region "the most attractive new gastronomic destination in Europe." CNN, which by this time has inhabited us with beautiful words, went even further considering Portugal the "best kept foodie secret in Europe". The secret of which the British chef Jamie Oliver should be aware, since he intends to open a restaurant in the Portuguese capital in the next 18 months.


Portuguese wine walks in the mouths (and in the glasses) of the world

Perhaps the wine sector is one whose positive news surprises us less: not because of lack of merit, quite the contrary, but because the quality of Portuguese wine is already known among those who drink it inside and outside borders. That said, it always knows well when the nectars born and raised in the wine regions of the country are on the best wine lists, as happened in October this year, when Wine Enthusiast included two Portuguese wines in the top 10 "Best Buy of 2016" To the whole ranking comprised 100 wines, among which were nine well Portuguese nectars.

Similar news (and more recent) was that Wine Spectator, another renowned publication in the sector, chose four national wines to integrate the long awaited annual list of the 100 best wines. Contrary to what happened in 2014, none of them ranked in the top 10, but by the time of 2015, Portugal again had the cheapest wine among the hundred nectars: Hello Cabriz Colheita Selecionada 2014 (red), available at Garrafeira Nacional For € 3.40.

Perhaps that is why The New York Post considered Portugal in November as the cheap California of Europe due to surfing and, of course, the wine industry that, according to the article, is to make envy to neighboring Spain.



Portugal, the destination to visit in 2017

For some or several reasons, the Washington Post, Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Fodor's Travel Guide and the Huffington Post - and the list is already long - decided that Portugal is one of the places in the world to know us Next 12 months.

The Washington Post writes that Portugal is having "a moment" by appearing recurrently, just like a mushroom, in several travel lists. The American newspaper recognizes the good food and good wine, the fado full of soul of those who sing well and the prices affordable for those who visit. There is also a reference to the visit of the Pope who, in May 2017, is expected on Portuguese soil.

Forbes speaks of Portugal as a destination that over time became irresistible, as happened in Paris in the 1890s and with Barcelona in the 1990s. The capital is "one of the most vibrant" and "attractive" in the old Continent, who knew how to make the most of the renovations that he had undergone. The friendly words extend to chefs like Jose Avillez and Kiko Martins who helped to brighten the gastronomic scene of the city that goes hand in hand with an even more "energetic" Lisbon night.

Full of energy was also the "rebuilding" of the city that in 2008 was caught up in the wave of global recession. If, in an immediate response, artists and architects put their creativity to rest - as Condé Nast Traveler points out, adding Portugal and the Azores to a list of 17 destinations by 2017 - it was only a matter of time before "the planning of progressive initiatives Urbanism "to help boost the arts and design. The "innovative architecture" in each corner and nook has changed the urban landscape of the capital: example of this is the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology), recently installed along the banks of the river Tagus.

Lisbon seems to have a thousand reasons to be talked about and one of the most respected guides in the world did not want to stay out of this trend: Lonely Planet writes that the Portuguese capital is little recognized and should be compared more often with European heavyweights, Like Barcelona or Rome. The guide also gives you happy notes about the culture and gastronomy that the city offers, with references to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Berardo Collection Museum. Lisbon is considered by Lonely Planet one of the best cities to visit in 2017, while Porto is designated as a destination of value and the Azores region of choice.

Invicta is also, in the eyes of Lonely Planet, a city that still goes unnoticed, reality difficult to believe given the "affordable and excellent food and accommodation" of Porto. There are also museums where you can miss hours of dazzling, electric trails that charm the past times and wine cellars that offer inexpensive evidence. Of the Azores are other words like "extraordinary nature" and "superlative attractions", with the archipelago being considered the next Iceland.

To speak of the nature of the Azores is also to speak of the greenish and seemingly endless mantle of Minho, which is in the ranking of Fodor's Travel Guide. The region that is "undervalued by tourists" features pristine beaches and communities where "life seems to have changed little over the centuries." The highlight of the guide will invariably go to the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the famous green wine produced there.

It should be noted that there were some international media that anticipated and put their readers to the direction of Camões as early as 2016, such as Travel + Leisure and The Huffington Post. But if there is any doubt, another article from The Huffington Post says that Portugal is the country that "everyone will visit in 2017": there are adventures in nature, historic cities and wine that, as we have already mentioned, goes by word of mouth and Fill up glasses for this world outside.

In short, we are the "Best"

That there are no doubts: for the purposes of this article, 42 news items were cited (collected, identified and reread) to show that 2016 was the year of Portugal and that, quite probably and judging from what has already been written, 2017 will be the year from Portugal. All that remains to be done is to repeat the old slogan that has apparently come back to be fashionable: "go outside in".