Lisbon's New MuDe - Design and Fashion Museum set to open downtown in late 2010

Lisbon’s new Design Museum is one of the world’s leading museums of 20th century design and several critics see its collection as the best in Europe. It opened in 1999 in Belem Cultural Center and closed in August 2006 to reopen in the heart of the city. It will re-open in Rua Augusta (Baixa neighborhood) by the end of 2010. The museum will be housed in the previous Head Office of a Portuguese bank (BNU) and will be renamed the Design and Fashion Museum or simply MuDe (which also means “change” in Portuguese). The design collection consists of works by some 230 designers representing trends in design from around the world. There are works by design icons such as Phillipe Starck, Charles Eames, George Nelson, Arne Jacobsen, Paul Henningsen, Vener Panton, Masanori Umeda, Henning Koppel, and Tom Dixon, and includes almost 200 design classics embracing innovative furnishings, glass, and jewelry from 1937 to the present. And for the first time the museum will also feature Portuguese businessman Francisco Capelo’s fashion collection made up of 1200 couture pieces, including a famous Jean Desses gown that Renee Zellweger wore to the 2001 Oscars and Christian Dior’s landmark 1947 New Look. http://www.mude.pt/en/mude_site.html

Escorted Contemporary Art Tour in Lisbon

Episode Travel with Art is offering a tailored escorted trip to the new and exciting art galleries of Lisbon with encounters with curators and leading figures in Lisbon’s thriving contemporary art scene. These tailored tours give insight into an artistic world as attractive and original as it is alive and allow participants to meet interesting artists that are living and working in Portugal- and go on visits to landmark museums and collections, aw well as selected galleries, private collections, artist studios and temporary exhibitions. All this is built on the latest developments in the Lisbon arts world and provides a perfect introduction to a city with a unique character, fascinating neighborhoods and the most intimate of art scenes. Episode travel also offers a tour on Contemporary Architecture in Lisbon. For more information about other interesting packages visit www.episode-travel.com

New trendy Vincci hotel opens in Lisbon

The Vincci Baixa Hotel is the Vincci chain's first hotel in Portugal and is located in the heart of Lisbon's lively Baixa shopping and banking district. The neighborhood has dozens of shops and open-air bars that are very popular with musicians and artists, giving the area a Bohemian flare. North from the hotel is the Rossio district, which also has a wide range of restaurants choices. The Vincci Baixa covers 5 floors and has 66 fully equipped double rooms decorated in an attractive modern style with attention to detail. Prices start at 118.33 Euros per room. More information http://www.vinccihoteles.com/en/hotels/portugal/lisboa

Take advantage of fall savings at eco-friendly resort

The Aldeamento Turístico de Palmela, an ecologically friendly resort near the Sado Estuary is offering fall specials. In September, a one-bedroom apartment will be 60 euros, in October 52.50 euros and November 45 euros. The property includes 18 studies and 26 apartments, all fully equipped. A restaurant, bar, esplanade, two outdoor swimming pools, two tennis courts and a children's playground are all on-site. http://www.fpalmela.com/

Lisbon's Coach Museum will open in a new location in 2010

Lisbon's famous Coach Museum (Museu dos Coches) will have a new display area come the year 2010 after renovations to a building that was once used by the military. The new museum will be located on Lisbon’s Avenida da India. According to the architect on the project, the museum's interior will be "simple and sober" to allow the coaches to stand out. Plans are to open the museum on October 5, 2010 as part of the Republic Day celebrations. The Coach Museum was an initiative of Queen D. Amélia de Orléans e Bragança, wife of King D. Carlos I (1889-1908), who inaugurated it in 1905. It contains an exceptional and unique collection of richly adorned royal vehicles, from the 17th to 19th centuries (coaches, berlins, carriages, chaises, litters, sedan-chairs), used by the Portuguese other European courts, the Patriarchs of Lisbon and Portuguese noble houses up until the advent of the motor car.

National Horse Fair in Golega - the Horse's capital in Portugal

The huge National Horse Fair of Golegã will open November 7 and run through November 16, one of the largest events of its kind in Portugal. Equestrians and fans from around Europe are expected to watch the competitions and take part in parades and food events. For more information visit http://www.horsefairlusitano.org

Portugal’s airports serving more travelers with more flights

ravelers are discovering Portugal! Three major airports in the country saw substantial increases in passengers passing through in 2007. The Sa Carneiro Airport in the city of Porto had 17 percent more travelers last year, with 3.4 million landing or taking off there. At Libson¹s Portela Airport, 13.4 million people passed through, an 8.8 percent increase over 2007, and the Faro International had 7.5 percent more passengers last year, with a total of 5.4 million. www.ana-aeroportos.pt