Culture

Handicrafts

Craftsmanship was once a common activity which took part as an important complement for the local rural ways of life. Nowadays, arts and crafts help preserve the memory of this region, keeping alive the richness of this culture and perpetuating the mastery of some artisans. In the Geopark Naturtejo, many of these traditions are still alive, materialized in the production of diverse, beautiful and traditional handcrafted goods.

Many of these products in different types of cloth, which sought to take the most out of the scarce resources available, are still hand made today. Some good examples of that are the traditional rodilhas, the ourelos spreads (Idanha-a-Nova, Vila Velha de Ródão), and the marafona dolls, figures without a face, dressed in traditional outfits (Monsanto).

In the other hand, there are other sophisticated types of embroidery, spread across the region: the elaborated and valuable Castelo Branco embroidery, utilizing silk yarn over a screen of linen; the alinhavados, frioleiras and bilros lace from Nisa; the embroidery and lace from Vila Velha de Ródão and Idanha-a-Nova; and the linen from Oleiros, still produced to this day in the traditional looms.

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- Rodilhas and Ourelos blankets | Idanha-a-Nova and Vila Velha de Ródão
- Marafonas | Monsanto
- Embroidery in silk and linen | Castelo Branco
- Alinhavados, frioleiras and bilros lace | Nisa
- Embroidery and lace | Vila Velha de Ródão and Idanha-a-Nova
- Linen | Oleiros
- Wrought iron art work | Idanha-a-Nova and Vila Velha de Ródão
- Wooden art | Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco, Vila Velha de Ródão and Nisa
- Cork art | Idanha-a-Nova, Oleiros and Nisa
- Pottery | Idanha-a-Nova and Nisa
- Adufe | Idanha-a-Nova
- Alembics and copper pots| Oleiros
- Weaver looms | Oleiros

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Utilizing the local resources, artisans still produce decorative elements and tools for domestic use in diverse materials: wrought iron, wood, cork or clay. The adufe, symbol of regional identity is one of the most characteristic percussion instruments in Portugal, and it’s still handmade in the region of Idanha-a-Nova, maintaining its vitality and still being played by the adufeiras, who fill and delight the Geopark with their engaging music.

Events Calendar

In the territory of the Geopark Naturtejo there are many cultural, historical or sporting events. They are a vital part of the annual cultural programming and of the region’s cultural agenda.

Note: Some dates may be liable to modification

January

Lardosa, Castelo Branco | Coscureis Fair
Medelim, Idanha-a-Nova | S. Sebastião and Chorizo Fair

February

Nisa | Alenterra off road motorcycle trails
Oleiros | 4º Passeio TT Pinhal Total

March

April

Holy Week program and events
The weekend before Easter | Castelo Branco |Alcains Cheese Fair
Two weeks before Easter | Salgueiro do campo - Castelo Branco | Bread and Wine Fair
Idanha-a-Nova | Mushrooms and other Sylvan Products Festival
Idanha-a-Nova | Thematic trip: “Ornithology in Templar Lands”
Idanha-a-Nova | Pedestrian Path “The Soil’s Delicacies”
Idanha-a-Nova | Flower Festival with pedestrian path “May’s Flower”
Idanha-a-Nova | | Spring Festival
End of April | Nisa | Cheese and traditional products fair
Oleiros | Roasted Kid and Maranho Gastronomic Festival
Oleiros | Athletics Grand Prix “Oleiros Running”
Proença-a-Nova | Soup, Maranhos, Enchido and Cheese Fair
22th | World Day of the Earth / Geological Patrimony National Day
18th | International Day for Monuments and Sites

May

June

Zebreira | Sports in the Nature Festival
Proença-a-Nova | Municipality’s festivities: Conferences, exhibitions, handcrafts, gastronomy
Proença-a-Nova | Pedestrian pathVila Velha de Ródão | Economic Activities Fair
1^st | World Children’s Day
5^th | international Day of the Environment
21^st | World Day for the Renewable Energies

End of the month | Malpica do Tejo | Olive Oil fair
Idanha-a-Velha | “Casqueiro” bread festival
Idanha-a-Nova | “Stork birds and mines” pedestrian path
Idanha-a-Nova | Mountain bicycles: Trails across the border
Proença-a-Velha | Accordionists meeting
Oleiros | Chestnut and Apple of Cain Week including: “Chestnut Route” Pedestrian path, Mountain bicycles marathon and Gastronomic exhibition

November

S. Miguel D’Acha | Wine and Liquors festival

Vila Velha de Ródão | Chestnut and “Jeropiga” fair

24th | International Day for Scientific Culture

December

11^th | International Mountain Day

Proença-a-Nova | Christmas fair: handcrafts, music and gastronomy

Note: Please confirme the dates

Religion

In the Geopark Naturtejo religious heritage is filled with rich and unavoidable traditions. These rites, rooted on traditional values, renew the profound and ancestral heritage of these people.

Through times, sacred has communed with profane, where they both give birth to some of the festivities and traditions present across this region. Spread throughout the lands, faith is celebrated assuming different forms of manifestation, from the whisper of many prayers, to the colorful and cheerful environment of religious festivities.

After the ring of the bells and the echoes of the prayers, come the rolls of the drums, leading to the exteriorization of the human joy. These rituals, are after all a mix of emotions and the celebration of life.

Holly Week

With this weeks’ manifestations immerged in the solemnity that characterizes the Passion of Christ, the Easter Season is one of the main periods for catholic Celebration. Involved in devotion, the chants of this season evoke the souls of the deceased, a penitentiary gesture, that seek the protection of those who live by the action of those who are closer to God – the example fake of the Commendation of the Souls.

As the Holy Week approaches, rites are intensified. Among these practices we can find the Palm Sunday, the Holy Thursday, the Hallelujah Saturday or the Easter Sunday celebrities.

Festivities and Pilgr/images

This rites and festivities are usually annual, representing and interpreting ancient practices. These celebrations combine the celebration of people’s devotion and profane traditions, which are worth to explore.

The dates established for the worshiping of Saints are thus privileged occasions for the renewal of communities’ bonds. It’s also a time for the reaffirmation of vows or to ask for divine intervention.

Festivities

Throughout the festivities the commissions who organize the events aim to turn them into a big success. People pray, sing, dance and live intensely. Traditional flavors, sounds and knowledge join together in an experience of celebration of god.

Pilgrimages

Congress Spaces

In the Geopark Naturtejo territory there are several spaces specialy designed for the organization of congresses and other events. These spaces are fully equipped and complemented by a rich offer of culture and leisure equipments.

Whether it’s a social or professional event, a simple meeting or a bigger congress, in the Geopark’s territory companies can find the perfect spaces and equipments for the success of their activities.

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