Portugal Doubled the Number of European Heritage Days Initiatives in 2017
Portugal Doubled the Number of European Heritage Days Initiatives in 2017
The three-day European Heritage Days adventure has recently ended in Portugal and the event count is just impressive!
This year’s program almost doubled the offer of registered events – from 800 in 2016 to over 1500 in 2017! The proposals involved 160 municipalities and more than 800 public and private entities, which offered different activities focused on the values of natural heritage.
Following the theme Heritage and Nature: People, Places, Stories, European Heritage Days in Portugal opened up a truly unique perspective on the values of local heritage. The programme's diversity and richness attracted visitors from all across the country to what is one of the most successful European Heritage Days programme so far. The events saw a growing participation in the widest variety of activities – from street animations and guided tours to – film projections and professional gatherings.
More specifically, the programme involved 25 street animations, 457 guided tours, 185 workshops, as well as 2 heritage-inspired competitions. In addition to this, the visitors could enjoy 22 film projections, 86 shows, 144 exhibitions, 5 fairs and 12 traditional games. Culture and heritage professionals were invited to 104 meetings, conferences and seminars, while 61 publication releases and 12 rally papers additionally highlighted the educational aspect of the festival. There were also 36 historical recreations, 145 heritage routes or itineraries, 11 reading sessions, as well as 144 free visits – all of which helped paint a marvellous picture of Portuguese nature, traditions, and lifestyles.
Focusing on landscape patterns, architecture, urbanism, lifestyle, cultures, economies and tradition, this incredible mix of cultural activities offered a truly memorable experience of Portuguese natural heritage! Museums, industrial heritage buildings, archaeological sites, parks, churches and monasteries were just some of the settings where visitors could explore the hidden histories and public treasures of Portugal.
The 2017 European Heritage Days in Portugal took place on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of September, providing a number of opportunities for citizens to learn, have fun and explore the marvelousness of their cultural and historic treasures!