Editor
One of the oldest types of fishing in the Algarve continues to persist on the beach of Meia Praia by the only master of the Xávega art (traditional trawl fishing) who is still licensed in Lagos - José Glória, known as Mestre Zé Bala – the skipper.
The xávega is an artisanal fishery made by trawling from the beach, carried out by human force, with the use of a yoke, or, more recently, by tractors. Around here, the art continues almost the same as it was performed more than 100 years ago, with the human strength of a minimum of 16 people to pull the "calas" (cables used to draw out the nets).
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In the plains of the Alentejo, more precisely in the village of Alcáçovas, in Viana do Alentejo, one can still hear the distinct sound of the cattle bells that wander the pastures. The melodious music that is rooted in the identity culture of Alentejo since the 18th century, when the masters of making cattle bells began to emerge, in the region.
It's August already! And our latest free online newsletter is here, for you to enjoy some of our latest work. - 
Summer is definitely here now in the Algarve and we have our latest newsletter all ready for you to enjoy. With our best wishes, from Dave and Alyson Sheldrake - 
It is in the subtleness of the Portuguese people cultural preservation that Ângela Subtil (subtle) visits the Serra de Aire, more specifically, Minde. It is at the Local Association of Minde that a Portuguese manual loom works the natural wool to make the original patterns of Subtil's products.
Welcome to summer and the brand new edition of our free art magazine. As always we have a wide range of art and artists featured for you to enjoy, and lots of articles and information about upcoming exhibitions and events. We have a new feature 'Behind the Doors' which visits an art gallery here in Monchique for you, and we have our regular 'Pick up a Paintbrush' art lesson too!
Ana Nobre is exhibiting new work at the Manuela Vale Gallery, in Escola de Artes Mestre Fernando Rodrigues, in Lagoa, her adopted town which has helped create a canvas for her colourful bursts of expression.
It is on the stream banks that you can find the necessary material for Mr José Rosa to create his pieces. Alongside a small stream in Monchique, Mr José has planted wicker, which grows in the spring, to be able to work in the handmade baskets he makes in his spare time. This art, he says, he "learned everywhere and nowhere"; which his family's ancestors practised, but it was by his own will that he learned alone to enclose the plants to create all kinds of products: baskets, bottles, among others.
