Alvoco das Várzeas, Lapa dos Dinheiros and Videmonte: these three Portuguese villages, located in the middle of Serra da Estrela Natural Park, are to receive coworking spaces prepared to receive freelancers or digital nomads who want to have temporary work experiences there. The rural coworking hubs will be equipped with connectivity and cutting-edge technology that will allow users to work remotely from any part of the world in the village. To begin with, the start-up will be free.
This is an initiative that has been brought to life by the Integrated Development Association of the Mountain Villages Network (Associação de Desenvolvimento Integrado da Rede das Aldeias de Montanha - ADIRAM) which, in partnership with the Parish Councils, aims to create unusual work spaces or development of ideas in a village environment. The conception and design of the spaces is based on the principles of circular economy through the valorisation of the territory and the involvement of local communities in its materialisation.
An unoccupied primary school in Lapa dos Dinheiros (in the municipality of Seia), a house, under management of the Junta de Freguesia in Videmonte (municipality of Guarda), and a multipurpose hall installed in a building owned by the Junta de Freguesia in Alvoco da Várzeas (in the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital), will all gain a new life with this project. These are spaces currently without any use or functionality, but perfectly integrated in the urban agglomeration of the villages.
Spaces with "state of the art technology"
All of these rural coworking spaces will have wifi and state-of-the-art technology that will allow users to work remotely. Lapa dos Dinheiros, for example, has fibre optic broadband, which will also be installed in Alvoco da Várzeas and Videmonte. ADIRAM has stated that initially, the use of these hubs will be free of charge and then a "symbolic payment" will be charged.
"The local population will be an integral part of the process of restoration and co-creation of these spaces. The potential market for these creative, unusual and inspiring workspaces is being approached through their inclusion in national and international platforms that offer work experiences based on the concept of coworking," says Francisco Rolo, president of ADIRAM.
It is hoped that by September, the spaces will be in full working order to receive the first coworkers who want to have work experiences there. This action is funded by the Juntar + programme in Portugal.
Portuguese wildfires: national alert extended as blazes spread
Portugal is grappling with a series of devastating wildfires that have swept across multiple regions. As emergency services contend with numerous active fronts, official figures show the blazes have already consumed over 140,000 hectares of land. The escalating crisis has prompted the government to request international assistance to bolster firefighting efforts.
Portugal airport strikes cancelled – summer flights to Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Madeira back to normal
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal this summer, there’s good news: the planned airport strikes have been cancelled, ensuring smoother travel for passengers flying to or from the country.
Discover the Algarve's most beautiful fishing villages
What is the most beautiful village in the Algarve? We're about to find out as we explore the Algarve's most beautiful fishing villages – authentic coastal gems where tradition meets natural beauty.
Living in Tomar: life in the Templar city
Tomar feels as if it’s been plucked from a medieval epic and set down gently on the banks of the Nabão River. Located in the Santarém district, about 140km northeast of Lisboa, the magnificent Convento de Cristo might dominate the skyline, but daily life unfolds at a much more human pace down below. With a population of around 43,000 in the municipality, it has the feel of a proper town without the anonymity of a major city. Getting to grips with living in Tomar means understanding this bala
Living in São Miguel: life on the Azores' Green Island
As the largest and most populated island in the Azores, this speck of Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic offers a life quite unlike any on the mainland. It’s not hard to see why it earned the nickname ‘Green Island’. The landscape is a brilliant patchwork of rolling pastures, volcanic crater lakes and lush forests. Living on São Miguel means a lifestyle tied to the rhythms of nature, where a relaxed pace and a deep connection to the outdoors are part of the daily routine.
Living in Ericeira: Portugal's World Surfing Reserve
Just a short drive up the coast from Lisbon lies Ericeira, a traditional fishing town that has earned its place on the global map. As Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, it's a spot where cobbled streets and blue-and-white houses meet a deeply ingrained, laid-back surf culture. For anyone considering living in Ericeira, it’s a place that offers a lifestyle dictated by the Atlantic tides, blending old-world Portugal with a modern, international feel.
Traditional food in Lisbon: what to eat in Portugal's capital
Lisbon’s food scene is a fantastic mix of the old and the new. You have tiny, traditional restaurants tucked down side streets, right alongside busy food markets where you can try a bit of everything. A top tip for eating well and saving some money is to look out for the prato do dia, or dish of the day.