Vila Real de Santo António marks, on May 13, the 239th anniversary of its foundation with a cultural and musical program and the usual solemn session, during which Vila Real citizens who have stood out for their merit inside and outside will be honored from the country.
Celebrations start on the day May 9, at 18 pm, at the Municipal Library, with the conference «The 500 years of Areilha». Conducted by historian Fernando Pessanha, the session focuses on the history of the then existing fishing village called Santo António de Arenilha, located on the Portuguese bank of the mouth of the Guadiana.
Also on the 9th, at 22 pm, the António Aleixo Cultural Center welcomes the show «Tejo-Tietê». In this concert, Portuguese singer Susana Travassos and Brazilian guitarist-composer Chico Saraiva star in a musical encounter that brings the poetic dialogue between the two countries closer together.
On May 11, at 10:00 am, the historic fair, in Praça Marquês de Pombal. Until May 13, between 10:00 am and 23:30 pm, the Square goes back to the Age of Enlightenment, with a set of period recreations.
This will be followed, at 10:30 am, at Centro Cultural António Aleixo, for the opening of philatelic exhibition of the Collecting Section of the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters VRSA, alluding to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Santo António de Arenilha.
In the evening, at 21 pm, the Philharmonic Band Meeting, in Praça Marquês de Pombal.
On May 13, a municipal holiday, the celebrations begin with the Solemn Commemorative Session of the VRSA Foundation, at the António Aleixo Cultural Centre, at 9:30 am. During the ceremony, various personalities of VRSA will be distinguished – including coach Manuel José, who will be honored with the medal of merit – as well as the best students in the municipality.
Also during the formal session, the Domain Area Management Contract of the Vila Real de Santo António Riverfront. The act will be attended by the president of the Board of Directors of the Port and Maritime Transport Institute (IPTM), João Carvalho.
At 11:00 am, also at the Cultural Centre, the seal and stamp commemorating the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Santo António de Arenilha will be presented.
The launch of the book will take place at 11:15 am «Manuel José: a Pharaoh of VRSA», by Neto Gomes. The work pays tribute to the former coach of clubs such as Sporting, Boavista, Benfica, Al-Ittihad or Al-Ahly and highlights the journey across borders in this town.
Also on the 13th, at 18 pm, the Historical and Ethnographic Procession, whose route, starting at the Municipal Historical Archive, will cover the main streets of the city, and will end at Praça Marquês de Pombal.
The program ends on May 23, with the presentation of the book «VRSA 90 years ago: figures, facts and true stories», by M. Tacão Monteiro, at the Vicente Campinas Municipal Library, at 18 pm.
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