Columbus Festival Porto Santo 12th September

 

 

The Columbus Festival is an historical recreation of the time when Cristopher Columbus (a famous explorer/colonist) lived on the island of Porto Santo, remembering his experiences on the archipelago of Madeira.

It takes place on Vila Baleira, during the month of September more specifically from the 12th to the 14th, the goal of the festival is to remember and celebrate the Portuguese adventurers and their findings.

The event includes: the disembarkation of Columbus, an ancient market that has gastronomy, crafts, circus arts, teathral representations, dexterity games, weapon training, acrobatics, juggling, a lot of music and exotic dances, ensuring permanent entertainment.

On thursday the 12th, there is the disembarkation and reception of Columbus. At night fall, hundreds of people go to the beach to watch the arrival of Columbus. The show begins with the emerging replica of the Santa Maria de Colombo caravel, bringing on board the genoese sailor and his crew. The caravel approaches as close as it cans to the shore and the disembarkment is done to smaller boats. As soon as Columbus steps the sand, the show begins. There is historical dialogues, courtesies and offers to the historical sailor, music and dancing, as well as, inumerous representatives from the different social classes and cleric and several parades.

Mercado Quinhentista

The Mercado Quinhentista is nothing more than a recreation of the frenetic market seen on those ancient times. In addition to the market items, it includes all that goes through the gastronomy, the relationship between merchants and buyers, militar garrison, circus arts, theatral scenes and diverse entertainment as well as constant "arraiais", diverse music and oriental and european dances.

 

August events in Madeira

 

 

Rali Vinho Madeira from the 1st to the 3rd of August. It will take place in Madeira, another edition of the traditional and historical Rali Vinho Madeira, it is an integrating part of the European Rally circuit Trophy by FIA. Organized by Club Sports Madeira, in cooperation with the Portuguese Federation of Automobiles and Karting (FPAK), this sports competition attracts many motoring afficcionates from around the globe that spread out through the regional roads, in order to watch the cars and the dexterity of the drivers. Please keep in mind that some stretchs of road are condicioned to traffic, so we advise visiting the official page of the organization: www.ralivm.com.

 

34.ª Feira Gastronómica de Machico from the 26th of July untill 4th of August. The city of Machico hosts the Feira Gastronómica de Machico, a cultural gathering that has the goal of showing our regional Gastronomy, mainly the traditional spices of Madeira. The event has much more to offer including, entertainment, music concerts and attractions at a regional and national level. A week full of flavours, snacks and typical food by the sea.

 

Gastronomia do Caniço, Caniço de Baixo from 16th to the 20th of August. The village of Caniço is the stage of a gastronomic festival "Gastronomia do Caniço", it is intended to highlight the gastronomic flavours of this region. This iniciative has affirmed itself has a unique touristic attraction of this village. Promoted by the parish council of Caniço, in partnership with some bars and restaurants from Caniço, this iniciative attracts several regional music groups and bands.   

 

Festa do Vinho Madeira | Estreito de Câmara de Lobos and Funchal from the 25th of August untill the 8th of September. This ancestral madeirian winery tradition, takes place anually on the village of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, it integrates a group of etnographic activities, such as harvesting and stepping the grapes, and all the remaining events of a traditional Madeira arraial, providing moments full of excitment and entertainment to the spectators and to the participants. Simultaneously, in Funchal we have many folcloric, wine and parades. You can learn more about the official programme of the event in www.visitmadeira.pt

Another 2 portuguese monuments classified as UNESCO World Patrimony

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The Palácio de Mafra and Bom Jesus em Braga are the new portuguese monuments classified as World Patrimony of UNESCO. The decision was announced on Azerbaijan, where the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) 43.º Patrimony's Comitee session took place.
 
It is important to point out that, in Mafra, the classification includes the group of the Palace itself, Basílica, Convento, Jardim do Cerco e Tapada de Mafra.

From now on, Portugal has a total of 17 different places classified as World Patrimony. Besides Bom Jesus de Braga and Palácio de Mafra, the 15 other places in Portugal on that unique UNESCO list are:

 
1. Historic Center of the city of Guimarães 

2. Historic Center of Porto, Ponte Luiz I and Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar

3. Alto Douro Vinhateiro

4. Pre-Historic sites of rock art of Vale do Rio Côa and Siega Verde

5. Coimbra University - Alta and Sofia

6. Mosteiro da Batalha

7. Mosteiro de Alcobaça

8. Convento de Cristo, Tomar

9. Paisagem Cultural de Sintra

10. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém

11. Évora Historic Center

12. Elvas Garrison and its Fortifications

13. Laurissilva Forest of Madeira

14. Landscape of the Cultura da Vinha da Ilha do Pico

15. Historic Center of Angra do Heroísmo in Azores

 

To this building patrimony it is also important to add the 7 that acheived the distinction of Imaterial Patrimony of Humanity:

1. Fado

2. Mediterranic diet

3. Alentejano Singing

4. Chocalheira Art

5. Falconery art

6. Black pottery of Bisalhães

7. Figurado Barro de Estremoz crafts

 

Which makes a total of 24 patrimony UNESCO classifications in Portugal.