The group “Marafados do TT do Algarve” will hit the road to cover around 3700 kilometers in the “São Brás de Alportel Humanitarian Expedition – Marrakech: João Rosa Beatriz Memorial”, between 26 December and 6 January. The symbolic departure for this adventure will take place this Saturday, the 23rd of November, at the Paços do Concelho de São Brás, at 11:00 am.
«This expedition is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Arab culture, in an incursion into North Africa, which will allow you to broaden horizons and recover the heritage of Al-Andaluz, inspired by the unique story of João Rosa Beatriz, freethinker and republican who founded the municipality of São Brás de Alportel in 1914 and left for Morocco in 1915, where he lived until his death», according to the São Brasense Chamber.
The expedition's participants thus want to «enter 2018 with a unique experience», traveling through deep Morocco and getting to know «the places where João Rosa Beatriz lived and lived», among which «Chefchauen, Ouezzane, Meknés, Azrou, Gorges of the Todra, Todra, Agoudal, Alnif, Remlia, Zagora, Erg Chegaga, Ouarzazate, Marrakech and Tetouan».
João Rosa Beatriz was born in São Brás de Alportel on April 19, 1881. His contact with republican ideals marked his personal and professional path, having participated in the movements of the Rotunda, on October 4 and 5, 1910, which led to its establishment of the Republic. He owed a decisive role in the foundation of the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, on June 1, 1914.
In 1915, he emigrated to Morocco. “Several decades of exile in Morocco never diminished the deep love he felt for the land where he was born, and where he did not return alive, and which he described as the “most beautiful place in the world”, according to the municipality.
He was vice-consul of Portugal in Mazagão (currently El Jadida) and actively participated in the dynamization of various movements in the struggle against dictatorial regimes. He died on July 27, 1960, in Casablanca.
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