a few weeks ago we read of 500 h acres for a theme park..now the algarve observer writes of an up coming extension to vilamoura of 900 h acres.....and oh by the way they will be building an enviromental centre and a place to watch birds.....how thoughtful

well whats next....we can only guess but certainly more development is a certainty......(there probably will no water but thats just a minor hiccup of course)

forgot to add the full text..

Lusort investing 750 million in Vilamoura


Vilamoura is to have one of the biggest golf resorts in the world and the biggest marina in Portugal. Lusort’s new project encompasses an area of 900 hectares and is already one of the biggest urban developments in the Algarve.

The direct investment in this complex in Vilamoura will be 750 million euros, one of the biggest investments of foreign capital in the Portuguese market.

The Lusort mega project will meet the needs of 6,000 permanent residents and over 600,000 tourists per year. It will have a residential area of over 434,000 square metres including everything from 1-bedroomed apartments to town houses, duplex and semi-detached properties.

The project also provides for the construction of more than 213,000 square metres of tourist and hotel villages, where some luxury hotels owned by the world’s main hotel chains will open, along with wellness centres, spas and sports centres. 24,000 square metres were reserved for the business area, where a number of shopping and leisure centres will be built.

According to Rafael Vigueras, the head of Lusort, the new Lusort project is one of the biggest urban developments in the Algarve, covering more than 900 hectares out of a total of 1,700.

The design of the Vilamoura project aims to cater for the main requirements of foreign and Portuguese clients. The priorities of people coming mainly from western Europe are 24-hour security, a location close to the beach or golf course and the availability of large green areas and shopping zones.

Portuguese clients, of whom only a few are golfers, choose Vilamoura because of its beaches and social status.

The project includes different architectural styles, from the traditional to the most avant-garde with different leisure options in order to satisfy the needs of all age ranges.

Rafael de la Hoz, the architect responsible for the design of the new project said that the new Lusort project for Vilamoura was another step in the residential tourism sector, as it aims to integrate all the needs of the market in one place, to make this part of the Algarve a first choice tourist destination.

The Lusort project sector by sector

The project has eight distinct sectors for different target groups. Sector 1, called Aldeia Típica (typical village), is next to the city’s environmental and sports park, where there will also be a nature and environmental study centre. Also planned for this area are a bird watching observatory and a number of paths for walking and cycling.

Sectors 2 and 3 are Vilas do Pinhal Velho in the middle of the Vilamoura pine wood, next to the 4th and 7th holes of the Millennium golf course. Cerro da Vila will be sector 4 of the new Lusort project, where some 500 residential properties will be built next to the Victoria golf course.

The hotel establishments will be in sector 5, which covers 15,000 square metres in the Fonte do Ulme zone. Sector 6 is for Colinas do Golfe between the Millennium and Laguna golf courses. It will also have an area for residential properties, tourist villages and hotel establishments. Colinas do Golfe will also include a shopping area.

60 tourist apartments are planned for sector 7, Canais do Golfe, with wide green spaces and spacious common areas. Sector 8, Cidade Lacustre, completes the project, located near the beach at Praia da Falésia where there will be residential buildings, luxury hotels, and recreational, sports and shopping zones.

the daft thing is that vilamoura even in summer is llike a town where a neutron bomb has gone off..the buildings are standing but there is no sign of any life at all....just deserted and depressing....

Vila Sol as well, drove through one early september night on way to Julias for dinner.
Saw hardly any one or cars on the road " Strange ".

What ever else you might think of Albufeira and similar palces at least there is life and something going on.