In the year that marks the six centuries since the taking of Ceuta, this will be the theme of the eighth edition of the Festival of the Discoveries, which will take place in Lagos, between April 30th and May 3rd. It is also the theme for the celebrations throughout 2015.
The city of Lagos will thus plunge into the 22th century and recall the stage that national historiography has inscribed as the beginning of Portuguese expansion – the capture of Ceuta, on 1415 August XNUMX.
Discoveries Fair, Historical Procession and a cycle of lectures that lasts until November, are the main events scheduled for this year, which mark the six centuries since the takeover of that Moroccan square in North Africa.
Maria Fernanda Afonso, Councilor for Culture at the Chamber of Lagos, the entity that organizes this cycle of events, revealed to the Sul Informação that «marking the 600 years of the taking of Ceuta is a bet that this executive made, for the year of 2015».
In addition to the most popular events – the Feira and the Historical Court – “we have already started a cycle of conferences, which will bring renowned researchers and historians to Lagos, namely one that comes from Ceuta”. The cycle will end on November 13, the date on which the death of Infante D. Henrique is evoked, a figure who, by the way, will be the theme of the final conference.
The councilor added that the Fair and the Parade should involve "more than 400 people, from schools, cultural, recreational and sports associations and even from some IPSS".
On the first day of the Festival (April 30th), an educational and scientific exhibition will also open at Fortaleza Pau da Bandeira on XNUMXth and XNUMXth century military equipment. «These are reproductions of original pieces, which will show us what armor was like, what weapons were used, basically, what war was like in those times», explained Maria Fernanda Afonso.
Among the novelties of this year's edition of the Festival of the Discoveries is the fact that the Câmara de Lagos has "requested the involvement of commerce, restaurants and bars in the city's historic center", which, according to the mayor, will allow the creation of three animation spots over the four days. The main hub will be at Praça do Infante, but the objective is to «take the Festival to all the streets of the Historic Center, namely to Praça Gil Eanes and Praça Luís de Camões.».
The group «The friends of NECI – Education Center for the Included Citizen», coordinated by the Experimental Theater of Lagos, is organizing an activity for which it is looking for volunteers. This is a Royal Court, taking place on the 2nd of May, at 18 pm, with the starting point at Praça Gil Eanes. For more information, interested parties can contact the organization (TEL) via telephone 00 963 808 or email: [email protected].
As for the Discoveries Fair, as in previous editions, visitors can observe and purchase products and delicacies on display in the various tents installed on the grounds, while at the Historical Court, volunteers from different schools and institutions in the county, as well as the mayors, will represent the social classes of the time – Clergy, Nobility, Bourgeoisie and People.
During these four days, episodes will be recreated such as the preparation of the Armada for Ceuta, the Taking of the City of Ceuta, the Battle between Christians and Moors and the moment when D. João I arms his sons Cavaleiros.
The Rules for Participation in the Discoveries Fair are already available for consultation at www.cm-lagos.pt.
Ceuta outlet launched expansion
National historiography has inscribed this phase of the History of Portugal as the beginning of the Portuguese Expansion.
From Lagos, D. João I, accompanied by his sons, made known to the country the purposes of such a great hustle of preparations, both in the construction of boats and the recruitment of men for the fleets (especially the Algarve who had the most later, in the reign of “O Africano” (D. Afonso V) they would be designated as “my loyal and faithful subjects) as in the collection of food, whose purpose would only be made known in the then medieval town of Lagos, next to what is now it is known as the “Cais das Descobertas”, in the middle of Praça do Infante D. Henrique.
D. João I was accompanied by his sons the princes D. Duarte (his heir), D. Pedro (Duke of Coimbra), D. Henrique (Duke of Viseu), as well as D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, O Condestável .
In a group of about 20 000 men and more than 200 vessels (including galleys, naus and other small vessels), the city of Ceuta was taken by the Portuguese on August 22, 1415.
Within the city, the Portuguese flag was hoisted and D. João I elevated to the category of knights his sons who accompanied him on the expedition, in a place that had previously been a mosque and would henceforth be consecrated to the Catholic Faith.
Ceuta was thus transformed, in the first stage of Portuguese expansion, remaining Portuguese until the Restoration, being included in the Spanish kingdom from 1668.
Lecture series:
♦ May 09th | Pre-Portuguese Ceuta
Speaker: Professor Fernando Villada
♦ June 06th | Portuguese military architecture in North Africa.
Speaker: Professor Jorge Correia
♦ September 19th | The material life in Ceuta
Speaker: Dr Joana Torres
♦ October 27th | The Italians and the Henriquin Discoveries
Speaker: Dr. Nunziatella Alessandrini
♦ November 13th | Infante D. Henrique and the Discoveries
Speaker: Professor Francisco Contente Domingues
Location: Noble Hall of the Old Town Hall – Praça Gil Eanes | 15:00 pm | Free entry
Comments