Celebrating Cultural and Creative Excellence Across Our Region
As a magazine that highlights local culture, Tomorrow loves to see local people and places celebrated for preserving the Algarve´s rich heritage. On Wednesday, 24 June, the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) did just that by announcing the winners of the Make In Algarve Awards, a special initiative distinguishing the region’s best cultural and creative tourism experiences.
Held at the Costume Museum (Museu do Traje) in São Brás de Alportel, the awards ceremony also marked the opening of the Handsome Festival, an international festival dedicated to cultural and creative tourism.
The Search for Authenticity
The Make In Algarve Awards set out to find experiences that cross tradition with contemporary life, bringing tourism and the local community closer together. From an initial 46 applications, 10 final experiences were evaluated by a distinguished jury based on criteria such as sustainability, accessibility, innovation, authenticity, and their connection to the Algarve’s natural and cultural heritage.
Here are the local projects that took home the top prizes across four key categories:
- Cultural Tourism: Vânia Mendonça from the Costume Museum of São Brás de Alportel won with “Flavours and Knowledge of an Ancient Algarve” (Sabores e saberes de um Algarve antigo).
- Creative Tourism: Joana Almeida from Loulé Rural claimed the top spot with “From Rocha da Pena to Caldeirão Honey” (Da Rocha da Pena ao Mel do Caldeirão).
- Local Impact – Barlavento (West): Luís Mota from Seaside Walks was awarded for “Algarve Go West – A Slow Food Journey”.
- Local Impact – Sotavento (East): Carlos do Carmo Unipessoal won for their “Medieval Castro Marim” experience.
Several other fantastic local projects received honourable mentions, including Lais de Guia for their Tuna Route experience, cooking classes celebrating the traditional seafood Cataplana by Good Moments and The Kitchen, and immersive local tours by Herdade Barranco do Vale, Quinta da Tôr, and Rêverie.
A Year-Round Destination
André Gomes, President of Algarve Tourism, highlighted that these projects showcase a highly valued dimension of our region: “the capacity to provide authentic, participatory experiences deeply connected to the territory”. He noted that these initiatives are vital for diversifying our local tourism, valuing the interior regions and local communities, and establishing the Algarve as a sustainable destination that can be enjoyed year-round.
“The Algarve has much more to offer beyond contemplation: it has experiences to do, learn, taste, share, and take with us,” Gomes added.
Get Involved
The Make In Algarve brand is ultimately an invitation to live the Algarve in an active, genuine, and human way. Rather than just observing the territory, the goal is to become a part of it.
If you are eager to try some of these award-winning activities, keep an eye out for a new digital platform that will soon be added to the VisitAlgarve.pt portal, dedicated entirely to promoting these incredible cultural and creative experiences.
Looking for more Arts & Culture news? Check out our latest articles and local events calendar at Tomorrow Magazine.
