The new boutique hotel in Évora is a Noble House

The former Casa dos Condes de Lousã, in the historical center of Évora, is being restored and transformed into a "luxury boutique hotel" and it will open in June.

Source: Fugas - PÚBLICO

The historical center of Évora

The building, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, was purchased by Unlock Boutique Hotels and has been restored since November 2016 to form The Noble House. Évora's new luxury boutique hotel is 200 meters from the city's Cathedral, right in the heart of the historic center, classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The project for the renovation of the former Casa dos Condes de Lousã is in charge of the architect Fernando Coelho, author of several reference projects, such as the Cella Bar on the island of Pico (Azores), distinguished by ArchDaily as Building of the Year 2016. 

In addition to "one of the largest suites of the district", which integrates part of the city's Roman wall into one of the walls, the new housing unit still preserves other features of the historic building, such as the 18th century tiles, the emblazoned portal, the vaulted ceilings. Some "frescões" (which cover the walls of several rooms), the garden or the well used formerly for homemade water consumption.

The landscape of Alentejo region 

For the first time, there are eight hotels distinguished by the Forbes Guide

Lisbon premieres this year at the Forbes Travel Guide Awards with eight distinguished hotels. Bairro Alto Hotel was the only Portuguese to receive four stars, a threshold reserved for "exceptional properties".

Source: Fugas - PÚBLICO 

Each year, Forbes Travel Guide inspectors anonymously visit dozens of hotels, restaurants and spas, scrutinizing them through a thin sieve of "up to 800 objective criteria." At the podium of the Star Rating Awards comes only the crème de la crème of the sector, divided between five-star properties ("extraordinary, often iconic, with a virtually perfect service and incredible facilities"); four stars ("exceptional, offer a high level of service and corresponding facilities"); and recommended ("excellent, with consistently good services and facilities").

This year, the prizes awarded by the international publication have expanded to 20 new destinations, including the Portuguese capital. Lisbon premieres with eight distinguished hotels. None reached the top of the podium, but the Bairro Alto Hotel won the four-star label.

In addition to Bairro Alto Hotel, seven other Lisbon units were "recommended" by the international travel guide. The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon - a good choice for those who want a "quiet place" to stay in the city; The InterContinental Lisbon - with "vast views" over the capital; The Olissippo Lapa Palace - one of the outstanding features is the "exceptional collection of hand-painted Portuguese typical wall murals"; The Penha Longa Resort - a "picturesque hideaway" between the mountains of Sintra; The Pestana Palace Lisbon Hotel - where "palatial luxury and history meet"; The Pousada de Lisboa - "a luxurious look at the past" of the city; And the Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade - "French sophistication in elegant Lisbon".

Besides to Lisbon, new cities such as Bali, Barcelona, Bogotá, Budapest, Cartagena, County Kildare, Dublin, Kyoto, Lima, Manila, Melbourne, Monte Carlo, Munich, Osaka, Santiago, Seoul, Saint Tropez, Sydney , Venice and Zurich premiered in this guide made by Forbes. 

TV and cinema: the most iconic places where we have been without leave our couch

Television and cinema have already transported us to the most unimaginable places. But while many of these scenarios are pure fantasy, a lot of them are real places that you can visit. We mapped out iconic destinations from the 1950s to the present. If you do not want to become an actor to wander through all these sets, you'll be at least inspired for an upcoming trip!

source: LonelyPlanet 

The 1950s

We highly recommend the secluded beach scenes of the Seventh Seal in Sweden, a trip to Rome and the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, from the movie Roman Holiday or the San Francisco Bay, scenery of Vertigo. 

Skane, in Sweden

The 1960s 

A german castle that might have come out from a fairytale inspired the setting for the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In fact, this castle was really the inspiration for the Beauty and The Beast's castle, the Disney movie from 1959.

The 1970s  

Khao Phing Kan put aside his own name and became known by the epithet "James Bond Island". And the blame is on the film directed by Guy Hamilton. We continue with the certainty that regardless of the name, this island is worth a visit!

The "James Bond Island" 

The 1980s

Silverton: or the light is very interesting cinematically, or it's a cliché location for a typical abandoned town. It has already been the stage to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mad Max 2. If this is not quite what you are looking for, there is always the chance to visit Ireland and the Moher Cliffs, where The Princess Bride was recorded.

Moher Cliffs panoramic view 

The 1990s 

Italy is known for so many cities such as Venice, Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre. But the film The Talented Mr Ripley showed that there is beauty beyond that and took viewers to Ischia, a beautiful island in the Gulf of Naples.

Ischia, in the Gulf of Naples

The new century

The location of a gangster drama may not be the best place to go on vacation, but surely the "favelas" from Rio de Janeiro filmed in City of God may be the starting point for a trip in Brazil. If you prefer not to risk, Shinjuku in Japan is a turning point that set Lost in Translation. 

After 2010

Part of the TV show Downtown Abbey's appeal was the celebration of an era of rigid and sharp rules and social differences between aristocrats and servants. But the drama was well set in Hampshire, England. And although you can visit these fantastic places on specific days of the year, the English aristocracy has not disappeared and the house stills belongs to the Earl of Carnarvon.