The Regional Directorate for Culture, through its External Services, joins the celebrations of the International Day for Monuments and Sites to be marked on April 18. This year's edition will be focused on the main theme "Cultural heritage and Sustainable Tourism."
The Angra do Heroísmo Museum marks this day with a specific programme targeted to tourists, promoting a visit to the "From the Sea and Land...a story in the Atlantic" exhibition at 3 PM. It depicts the features of boxes and offices in cedar wood with incised decoration, produced on Terceira island in the 16th and 17th centuries. The activity will be followed by an engraving workshop, where participants will have the opportunity to reproduce those decorative elements.
Participation in this initiative is free but requires prior registration, which must be done by telephone 295 240 800 or at the email [email protected].
The Nossa Senhora da Guia Church will be the venue of another session of the concert series "Jewels of Baroque Music for Key Instruments" at 9 PM; admission is free. Under the artistic direction of maestro Gustaaf van Manen, this concert features works by Zipoli and Pachelbel.
In turn, the Horta Museum, in collaboration with the City Council promotes April 18, promotes a visit to the Clock Tower, an initiative intended to promote the history of this monument and its surroundings.
During the morning, the initiative is aimed at school children, while, between 2 and 4 PM, it will be open to the public. Registration should be made at the reception desk of Horta Museum and Manuel de Arriaga House at the email [email protected] or by telephone 292 202 576.
Still in Horta, the João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive promotes the lecture "Between Brazil and Goa, a visit to Carmo Church and their Families" to be delivered by Tiago Silva at 9 PM.
The Carlos Machado Museum in Ponta Delgada marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites with a walking tour along Baltazar Trail in Sete Cidades, located in Cerrado das Freiras; it was first area where the first inhabitants settled.
In turn, the Pico Museum promotes, with the participation of Madalena Town Hall, a workshop on "Decorative arts and wine bottle decoration." The activity takes place at the Wine Museum at 2 PM and is directed to the users of Madalena Occupational Activity Centre.
The Flores Museum marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites on April 23 with a visit to "tapada das ovelhas" (sheep trail), a walking trail located on the south slope of Pico da Sé. It will include an explanation on the importance of sheep to this island and the use of wool, which gave rise to weaving pieces that make up the Museum's textile collection.
The Graciosa Museum also joins these celebrations by promoting a tour to Caldeira and the Rural Life Museum, from 3 to 4:30 PM, an initiative directed to the young people attending Pedras Brancas Game Library in Luz.
On S. Miguel, Arquipélago - Contemporary Arts Centre marks this day with a conference and two activities organised by the Educational Service.
The conference will take place at 7 PM and will be attended by David Santos, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, João Mendes Ribeiro, the architect responsible for the Contemporary Arts Centre project, and Carlos Marques, the chairman of the Portuguese Architects' Association - Azores Office.
The Educational Service joins the celebrations with the "Lifting Bridges" activity, which takes place between April 18 and 22.
On April 18, the initiative takes place between 10 AM and 12:30 PM and between 2 and 4:30 PM. It starts from the eight-arch bridge, an emblematic monument of the city of Ribeira Grande, in a visit-workshop in which participants will build a bridge with recyclable materials.
On April 22, this activity offers a tour to the city of Ribeira Grande, led by historian Mário Moura, where participants will have the opportunity to know the history of some monuments; it will also includes a sign language interpreter.
Participation in these two activities is free. Those who are interested may register at the email [email protected] or fill in the registration form available on Arquipélago site at the address http://arquipelagocentrodeartes.azores.gov.
The International Day for Monuments and Sites was created by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on April 18, 1982 and approved by UNESCO on the following year. It aims to raise awareness for the diversity and vulnerability of heritage and the need for its protection and safeguarding.
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.