Sunvil Discovery Archive
So why did a farmer turn to tourism?
Luis is a Cork Oak farmer. He farms a total of 900 hectares near Grandola in the Alentejo, that’s 2,223 acres or 3.47 square miles of cork trees. He is the vice president of the Cork Growers Association of Portugal, an expert in his field and the
Wish ewe were here? Faroe Islands’ sheep hit the small screen
The Faroe Islands’ association with sheep goes back a long way. In fact the name of the Faroe Islands apparently means ‘sheep islands’ and the woolly creatures have been on the island since they were introduced in the 9th century. Tuck in to a meal in a
On the Norman Trail in Sicily
Visitors to Sicily may be surprised to discover so many signs of Norman influence among the historic sites around the island. While many of us assume that the invasions of the Norsemen, who were initially Vikings but later mixed with English, Frank and Roman stock, were concentrated
The Azores comes to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
For six days in July (from the 3rd to the 8th) Hampton Court Palace will be ablaze with colour and will welcome thousands of visitors for the annual Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show. This year a dedicated section will feature ‘World of Gardens’ and within this area
Alentejo – unapologetically its own self
According to the 93% of the Portuguese population who have the misfortune to be born outside a region that accounts for a third of the country, the people of Alentejo have a most perverse attitude to life. It seems Alentejans are resistant to the idea that life
Italian agritourism: the true meaning of ‘house wine’
Take a holiday in rural Italy and the chances are that the itinerary will at some point include a visit to a vineyard to sample a glass of local produce. Italy’s wine producers have a long tradition of encouraging visitors to become familiar with not only their end
Summer Festivals in Madeira
There are many reasons to visit the green Atlantic island of Madeira. Some come for the excellent walking trails, others to enjoy the slow pace of life and the fresh food and wine for which the island is well known. Stay for a while and you’re bound
The colourful flora of the Azores
Imagine an island filled with the most colourful flowers in bloom where even the hedges that frame the quiet lanes are made of up of miles of vibrant hydrangea bushes. If we add in a sprinkling of banana and pineapple trees you’ll probably have placed your imaginary
Alentejo and an introduction to Portuguese seafood
Alentejo Coast The Alentejo region of Portugal is known for its flat plains dotted with distinctive cork trees and its pretty hilltop villages made up of white-washed houses. Yet many visitors come to the Alentejo to experience the region’s stunning coast. Stretching out from the south of
A night in the woods, Swedish style
‘Washing and cooking facilities are primitive’. You would expect to see such a comment on a negative Tripadvisor review, but it might surprise you to find these words on promotional material written by the owners of a property. Yet this unorthodox approach is exactly how the Kolarbyn