Arts, Culture and Heritage

Jewish shop opens in Tomar's historic Jewish quarter

Sunday, 30 September 2012 00:00

New tourism project “occupies” Lisbon in October

Saturday, 29 September 2012 00:00

Lisbon hosts this October, for seven days, Lisbon Week: a cultural tourism over the seven hills, composed of seven routes, each devoted to a topic such as fashion or food.

Lisbon Week aims to bring "a new dynamic to Lisbon, thus making the trip to the capital a discovery of an active and modern city, offering a new energy to Lisbon's own."

Communications agency XN Brand Dynamics created the project in co-production with the City of Lisbon.

With the hills of Lisbon as a starting point, "for seven days it will be possible to discover seven routes, each dedicated to a theme: art, history, scenery, food, music, fashion and tradition."

The Largo Camões, in Chiado, Sao Paulo Square, Cais do Sodre, the Mirador de São Pedro de Alcântara, in Bairro Alto, and Martim Moniz Square are the starting points of the various routes and will host a series of activities.

In Largo Camões, between 22 and 28 October, there will be outdoor cinema, between short and feature films and documentaries to animated films. For Sao Paulo Square, the scheduled showings are October 25-27 when there will be a series of concerts from radio producer Henrique Amaro and musician and producer John Paul Feliciano.

In Martim Moniz, from October 25-28, there will be a recreated traditional market selling crafts.

The Mirador de São Pedro de Alcântara is the starting point for all routes. This is also where information is available, including maps and newspapers about Lisbon Week. In addition, there will be several activities from Foundation Act Today, a Lisbon Week partner.

The route of the art, that part of Largo Camões, includes the presentation of works by renowned Portuguese artists and exhibitions in various locations. The route of history includes two circuits suggested by Professor José Sarmento de Matos, and lectures.

The scenic route, in Mirador de São Pedro de Alcântara, created by director John Botelho, includes meetings with storytellers in the various sights of the city.

The culinary route of gastronomy was designed by Chef Jose Avillez and all restaurants included will create a dish for Lisbon Week to represent a flavor of Lisbon. Also as part of this route, on October 28, the Market Santa Clara will hold a market with organic fair trade products.

The first edition of the Lisbon Week runs from October 22 to 28, 2012.

Construction concludes on Palácio de Mafra restoration

Tuesday, 04 September 2012 00:00

The works in front of the National Palace of Mafra is completed, in order to apply for world heritage recognition. The project consisted of removing the parking from the front of the palace and paving the wide path to the palace (Terreiro D. João V). The reorganization of car traffic and restriction of this area is only two lanes in both directions. The town said that car traffic has been restored and is missing the construction of pavements and the creation of a visitor reception center, next to military school. 

Between needles and culture in Coimbra

Sunday, 19 August 2012 00:00

Casa da Esquina, a sewing café, opened recently in Coimbra. It is believed to be the first café in the country with four sewing machines, a cutting and sewing table and a library of templates (5 euros/ hour with a right to a cafe). Two or three times a year there is a fair with second-hand clothes, exhibitions, workshops, gatherings, a exchange market for children and, more recently, the studio of Radio kids Fantastic.

CASA DA ESQUINA . Aires de Campos, 6, (junto ao Convento das Carmelitas), Coimbra T. 239 041397  Ter-Sex 11h-19h, Sáb 11h-14h Visit http://nacasadaesquina.blogspot.pt for more information.