The Azores, through the External Services of the Regional Directorate for Culture, join the celebrations of the European Heritage Days. This year's edition will be held under the theme "Sharing Memories," featuring an extensive programme of activities between September 19 and 30.
The Angra do Heroísmo Museum promotes another "Conference at Boa Nova" next Wednesday, September 19th, at 8 PM. It will address the theme "National Military Tourism Charter: from Concept to Operation," being delivered by João Pinto Coelho, secretary general of the Portuguese Military Tourism Association.
Military tourism has become increasingly relevant in different national forums as well as in public and private programmes. However, there is an incipient knowledge about the concept itself, namely regarding its inclusion in the national tourism strategy and the possibilities and limits of its operation in the national territory.
This conference intends to report the development of the study/project and its results under the scientific coordination of the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. Moreover, it will also depict the course of military tourism, from its inception to the present moment, with special emphasis on the activities developed by the Portuguese Military Tourism Association.
João Pinto Coelho, holder of a master’s degree in Cultural Tourism Products Development, is conducting a research project in the context of a doctoral programme that focuses on the inclusion of military tourism in the national tourism strategy.
In turn, the Francisco de Lacerda Museum on São Jorge promotes a series of activities between Friday, September 21, and Sunday, September 23, with the purpose of raising the awareness of the population for the importance of protecting and safeguarding heritage.
The celebrations begin with guided tours to the Santa Bárbara Church in Manadas, where visitors may learn about the artistic richness of the church interiors. This religious monument in Portuguese Baroque style is considered one of the most beautiful examples in the country.
On September 21, the guided tours will be directed to several institutions from São Jorge and will be open to the public in general on the following day.
Under the temporary exhibition "'Chavões': bread stamps and history tellers," the Francisco de Lacerda Museum organises a gathering with Clímaco Ferreira da Cunha next Sunday, September 23, at 5:30 PM. There will also be a demonstration on the construction of "chavões" (bread stamps containing Holy Spirit symbols) featuring artisan Rui Teixeira, reviving the memory of this important part of São Jorge's heritage.
The Pico Museum joins these celebrations by promoting an activity to be held under the title "The memories I keep..." on September 28 at 10 AM.
This event, to be held at the Whaling Museum, includes a series of testimonies that were videotaped in the schools of the municipality of Lajes do Pico. It will revive the memories of a recent past through testimonies sharing the experiences and of those who stayed in land waiting for the men who left for the sea.
The Flores Museum hosts an exhibition entitled "Ivory of the Sea" between September 28 and 30 from 10 AM to 5:30 PM to showcase some of the best scrimshaw specimens from the western Islands.
"Franciscan Conventual Memories in the 21st-century Azores" is the title of a lecture to be delivered by Duarte Chaves at the Graciosa Museum on September 29 at 9 PM. There is also an exhibition at the museum to mark this celebration.
In turn, the Carlos Machado Museum in Ponta Delgada will hold three activities to celebrate the European Days.
On September 28, the educational workshop "From milk to fresh cheese" will be held for 4th form students enrolled at Padre José Cabral Lindo Elementary School from 10 AM to 1 PM, under the guidance of Maria de Jesus Costa who will disseminate a local tradition.
On the following day, the Fenais da Luz Museum Centre organises a workshop on the production of corn leaf dolls, guided by Adelaide Costa, from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
On September 30, there will be an ethnographic tour to Fenais da Luz Museum Centre between 4 and 6 PM. This project was created due to the need to congregate in a single space various pieces depicting the collective memories and the experiences of a community.
The Regional Directorate for Culture informs that this and other events may be consulted in the Cultural Agenda of CulturAçores Portal at the following address: www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt.