Chapter 9 - MODERN TIMES

The ‘Carnation Revolution’ of 25th April 1974 was so called because carnations placed in the rifle barrels of soldiers on the streets of Lisbon signified that the coup d’état had been almost devoid of violence. It was, however, a major turning point in Portuguese history because it immediately transformed the country from a dictatorship to a democracy. Its outward impact was greatest in the cities but it was still of huge social, economic and political significance even in small towns, villages and rural areas.

During the decade before 1974, the country was still relatively underdeveloped with poor infrastructures and inefficient agriculture, but growth rates for GDP were among the highest in Europe. By 1973, the on-going colonial wars were exacting a heavy toll in terms of financial cost and in promoting mass emigration among the better educated and most technically skilled who wanted to avoid conscription. People all across the country were restive and hungry for change.

The revolution was not an instant panacea for the country’s ills. The nationalisation of banks and industries and the expropriation of agricultural estates led to collapse across all sectors of the economy. The country’s growth rate went from the highest to the lowest in Western Europe. Communists and other left-wing groups vied for power with right-wing political forces as conscripted soldiers and Portuguese expatriates poured back home with the end of military action leading to decolonisation in the African territories.

The climate of political turmoil and social uncertainty, caused tourism to falter in Porches and everywhere else in the country. Because of its economic importance, it was not long before it was back on track and growing again. The Hotel Garbe had doubled in size. The four-star Hotel Viking, located on the clifftop overlooking the beach next to the Senhora da Rocha headland became the first hotel to open within the Porches parish. The Vila Nossa Senhora da Rocha apartment and bungalow complex opened 100 metres from the famous headland.

The 1980s saw a return to economic and social stability, especially after Portugal became a member of the European Union. Trade ties increased; structural and cohesion funds flowed in; tourism was on the march as the main economic activity in the south of the country. Two Rosamar aparthotels and the Aparthotel Algar opened in Armação de Pêra. The more modest Albergaria D. Manuel on the road between Porches village and Armação de Pêra added a further option for travellers and tourists. More holiday facilities were added in the 1990s, most notably the Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa in 1992 and the Vila Galé Náutico hotel at the western entrance to Armação de Pêra in 1995.

 Amid the hotels, aparthotels and resorts, and spurred on by the ease of obtaining bank loans, a great many private apartments were built in the 1980s and 1990s. Because planning permission and property taxes were the best way to generate revenue for municipalities, the town halls in both Lagoa and Silves authorised the construction of far more apartment blocks than the areas realistically needed. The resulting over-development massively changed the appearance of the coastal section of the parish of Porches. The change to the skyline was even more dramatic in Armação de Pêra where some of the apartment blocks soared to 20 floors. Most of these apartments were sold to Portuguese as holiday homes for personal use or for rental in the summer months. Many remained unoccupied and shuttered out of the high holiday season – and still do.

Further back from the coast and closer to the village of Porches, more apartments as well as complexes of terraced houses and individual villas of various sizes were built. These were mainly for residential rather than holiday use and they attracted buyers from outside the parish.

By the dawn of the 21st century, the building boom, in tandem with the dereliction of almost every farm property in the area, had resulted in an extraordinary mix of urban mass and rural emptiness. Tangled undergrowth had taken over in dry riverbeds. Rows of old stonewalls on hillsides still hinted of medieval terracing but the fields were devoid of crops. By contrast, the Moorish-style architecture of Vila Vita Parc encompassed sumptuous rooms, suites and villas set in sub-tropical gardens next to a secluded sandy beach and rocky cliffs with unrestricted views over the sea to the horizon. As a part of the New York-based Leading Hotels of the World consortium since its opening, the resort has been honoured with many international awards, including a Michelin Star on for its signature Ocean restaurant in 2009 and again in 2011.

The Hotel Garbe joined the international Holiday Inn chain. The Viking was taken over by Portugal’s largest hotel and resort chain, the Pestana Group. The group also owns the Pestana Porches Praia apartments next door. Vila Vita continued to develop its image of “timeless elegance” while the Vilalara complex specialising in Thalassa health treatments remained wholehearted “dedicated to well-being and the senses.” 

Pestana Viking

Holiday Inn

Vila Vita Parc´

Vilalara