Born 92 years ago in Arruda dos Vinhos, he grew up on a palatial home near the Parish Church. His name is well known among the Portuguese people as the host of several TV shows about cars and the automobile industry, as well as for his long and continuing collaboration with several newspapers and radio stations.
He was President of the Portuguese Speedboat Racing Federation General Assembly, as well as a sports car and speedboat racer for 25 years, winning the Portuguese Speedboat Racing Champion title for 6 times, along with several good finishes in many international competitions.
He has received a large variety of distinctions throughout his life, in areas such as sport, media and drivers’ education. He was President of the General Assembly of the Arruda dos Vinhos Wine Coop, Board Member of the Estremadura Wine Commission and President of the General Assembly of Unicaro – Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Ribatejo and the West Region. He still lives in Arruda dos Vinhos, at the Quinta da Malafaia, that he personally restored. One of his biggest personal achievements was the purchase of his first Farm, in Caneças, where he lived for almost 30 years. His major future projects include the conservation of the wine culture and production in Arruda dos Vinhos, the construction of a hotel for seniors and continue to collaborate with the Media.
How do you present the Municipality to those that don’t know about it?
Arruda dos Vinhos is a municipality located 22 miles away from Lisbon, with a rural setting and amazingly beautiful; it’s the Enchanted Valley! It’s a council well served by its road network. The Military Fortifications, namely those at Cego and at Carvalha (National Monument), have a panoramic view of the Montejunto Hills, of the Lezíria flood basin, the Tejo River and the Sintra region. It has many charming routes, to be enjoyed on foot or on horseback. I recommend a visit to the Parish Church, to the Morgado’s Palace and the town’s historical area, and to the Cardosas Viewpoint, to see the scenery around Arranhó and by Casal das Neves, where the Arruda Witch was supposed to have been born.
Complete the following sentences:
Only in ARRUDA will I find… good wine and great gastronomy.
A perfect day in ARRUDA includes… a visit to the Parish Church, a walk around the military fortifications, and a good dinner.
We cannot leave ARRUDA without… bringing a wine from Arruda as a gift to someone.
Your best of ARRUDA:
Places that we cannot miss visiting and the reason why:
– a monument: Cego’s Fortress, for the scenery and the historic-military framework.
– a museum / cultural space: Morgado Cultural Center, located in a seventeen century manor house in Arruda dos Vinhos town center. Within, one finds the Tourism Office, the Municipal Library Irene Lisboa, the Municipal Art Gallery, the Interpretation Center of the Torres Lines, the Oficina do Artesão (Artisan Workshop) and the restaurant Mercearia do Prato.
– a garden: the Municipal Garden, with a bicycle path and the opportunity to exercise; it has a Soccer Field, Padel, Tennis and other activities for the youngest.
– a panoramic view: from the area surrounding the Cego’s Fortress.
The best leisure / outdoor activities in ARRUDA: Paragliding, mountain biking and horseback riding, all increasingly popular and an excellent way of promoting and getting to known this rural area just outside Lisbon.
The best hotels: Quinta de Santa Maria and Hospedaria Anagri.
The best restaurants:
– for author’s cuisine: Fuso.
– For Portuguese cuisine: Taberna da Ti’Amélia.
– For fish and seafood: Moleiro’s.
– For international cuisine: Tasca do Beco Torto.
– For appetizers: Taberna do Luís.
– For a “good deal” meal: the attractive price-quality relation in Arruda dos Vinhos is extensive to all the restaurants in the municipality.
– For late night dining: Fuso.
– To enjoy the view: I would like to restore and convert a small dwelling near Cego’s Fortress into an eating place, so that the visitors/tourists could enjoy a restaurant with a view over the Enchanted Valley.
The best coffee houses: “Como Assim”, in the Rotas Urban Park.
The best bares / nightclubs: Casa do Ferreiro.
The best stores for shopping: Oficina do Artesão (regional handicraft). Casa Cavaco and Casa do Ferreiro (wines).
