Near Arraiolos, Oficina da Terra recently inaugurated its brand-new Earth Village

Saturday, 10 September 2011 00:00

Near Arraiolos, Oficina da Terra recently inaugurated its brand-new Earth Village on June 30^t, 2011 – a city created by two artisans (Tiago Cabeça and Madga Ventura), crafted entirely of terra cotta.

Imagine an entire town, made up of little houses, little people and little cars, all in clay. It is a constant source of surprise and amazement to each visitor and even the Ministry of Culture, who has declared it a Cultural Interest project. The town is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the dry season. In the winter, over 200 characters are pulled from the scene, but nearly 160 buildings created are weather-resistant. This “most Portuguese village” even incorporates a learning element for kids, who are invited to create their own pieces. Earth Village, as the name indicates, is made entirely of clay and a helping of good fun. It is the product of over two years of work and continues to grow everyday. It is well worth a visit. The mayor of Arraiolos hopes and believes that projects such as this will reinvigorate tourism in the area.

Admission: Children under 2 years - Free when accompanied by a paying adult. Children’s price when with school group. Children under 12 - 3€. Adults (13 to 64)- 5€. Seniors (over 65) or handicapped entry 3.50€.