| BUYING IN PORTUGAL |
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Many people tend to forget
that Portugal
was once a great seafaring nation and that they had what is probably the first
great overseas Empire. They made many discoveries in West
Africa, reached India
by 1498 and later China
and Japan
where they began trading very successfully. By the middle of the 16th
century they had annexed Brazil
and were spreading throughout other parts of South America.
Portuguese is now spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide. Most holidaymakers associate Portugal with
the Algarve
but, as nice as the Algarve
is, Portugal
has many more hidden treasures to offer. Portugal conjures up visions of
sun, sandy beaches, luxury hotels, villas, apartments and beautiful golf
courses. There is a splendid choice of fine food and wines and also the port
wine for which the country is famous.
Port wine takes its name from the city of Oporto, the country’s second largest city that lies on the north bank of the River Douro where it enters the Atlantic some 270 km north of the capital Lisbon. The Douro, which runs from the upper reaches near the Spanish border through steep sided valleys, carries much of the wine and port wine produced in that area of Portugal to the wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia on the south bank to Oporto. Oporto is a fascinating city with its historic bridges and many historic buildings including the 12th century Cathedral; the Baroque church – the Igreja dos Clerigos and the adjoining Torre dos Clerigos, a 76m granite tower with 225 steps rising through six floors to the top where you will get some of the finest views over Oporto and the River Douro.
Travel south along the coast for some 60 kms and
you arrive at the historic city of Aveiro,
capital of the district bearing the same name. A
medieval city and once prosperous cod fishing port Aveiro is now an important
industrial city and a thriving seaport. The city was occupied by
the Moors for many years until the 14th century when they were
expelled by the Portuguese although the Moorish influence is still in evidence
there. The city later became popular with the Portuguese royal family and other
members of the nobility. During the late 16th century, Aveiro
suffered a period of very violent storms which created a series of sand bars
and dunes along the coast and resulted in the port being isolated from the sea.
This naturally had grave consequences for the fishing industry and other local
trades that relied upon sea traffic. In the 19th century a canal was
built that once again opened up the port to the sea and thereby gave the
previously lucrative fishing industry a new lease of life. That canal and the others
that have since been built have all helped to revive the city and bring about a
healthy new economy. It is because of the canals and the many colourful and distinctive “moliceiros” boats winding their way
through them that Aveiro is sometimes compared to Venice.
The capital of Portugal is Lisbon built on the ‘seven hills’ at the mouth of the River Tagus about 15 km from the sea. According to legend, Lisbon was founded by Ulysses the Greek, although more reasoned thinking suggests that it was founded by the Phoenicians around 1200BC. Like other great coastal ports and cities, Lisbon has throughout the centuries been occupied by a number of conquerors including the Greeks, the Carthaginians, Romans and Visigoths and later the Moors who held the city from 714 AD until 1147AD. Much of the city was destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1755 and it was rebuilt to give what is now a beautiful and modern city that gives testament to a fine blend of the old and the new. This is evident in the differences between the modern centre of the city, the Pracca Dom Pedro IV (also known as the Black Horse Square because of its equestrian statue) and the medieval quarter known as the Alfama with its 12th Century cathedral and narrow streets. Truly, Lisbon is a city not to be missed.
Just south of Lisbon stretching from the banks of the River Tagus along the Atlantic coast are some of the finest beaches in Europe, if not the world. Thirty minutes from Lisbon is the magnificent sandy beach of Costa de Caprica (including the Praia da Fonte da Telha) stretching for 30 kilometers to make it the largest stretch of beach in Europe. The beach is bordered by impressive fossil cliffs and on top of them a protected area of natural beauty stretching further south along the coast to Lagoa de Albufeira, a natural lagoon separated from the beach by a long line of sand dunes. The seaward side of the beach is excellent for surfing while the lagoon provides ideal conditions for sailing, windsurfing and water skiing.
Other great beaches in the area include the one at Sesimbra, an old town popular for its fish restaurants and nightlife. With its Moorish Castle and the 17th century Fortress, Sesimbra lies at the western end of the Arrabida Mountains, a natural park and area of outstanding beauty. At the eastern end of the Arrabida lies the city of Setubal with its Albarquel beach, arguably the best beach in the area.
Travel south further still and you arrive at the Algarve, one of Europe’s best known and most popular holiday destinations. A golfer’s paradise that boasts some of the finest courses to be found anywhere, it has almost all year round sunshine and provides a superb quality of life. Property here has excellent rental potential for owners who do not wish to live here all year round and Faro Airport has regular flights to and from the rest of Europe. From the Algarve you have the option to explore the rest of Portugal and Spain by car.
Buying in Portugal is
very similar to buying in Spain
both with the legal process and the costs. Before you can buy in Portugal you
have to register with the local authorities and obtain a fiscal number and tax
reference card. You will also need to register an address in Portugal as a
point of contact and for any documentation to be sent to you. This could be
your temporary place of residence, the home of a friend, your bank, your fiscal
or legal representative or even an estate agents office will suffice. Once you
have found the area and property you like then, as usual, we recommend engaging
the services of a legal representative to oversee the process for you. You
should allow 10 percent of the purchase price to cover legal fees, document
registration, stamp duties, surveys and utility charges can
add another thousand or so Euros to your costs. |