Albufeira is marking the centenary of World War I with two joint exhibitions, which will be on display at the city's Espaço Multiusos until the 31st of October.
The initiative is carried out in partnership with Cívica, which brings together four thousand mayors of Portuguese descent who occupy top positions in France. This association brought to Albufeira the exhibition “Of tears and mud- 14/18 in the eyes of a soldier”, “consisting of photographs in stereoscopy, a technique that simulates the sensation of spatial depth that our eyes naturally make”.
“The photographs were taken by soldiers, in the trenches, during the 1914-1918 War. After having traveled through Germany and France, this exhibition arrives in Albufeira with the support of the French Interministerial Committee “Mission Centenaire”, and with the High Sponsorship of the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Defence.
As such, it is an “exhibition that is unique in Portugal”, illustrated the president of Cívica.
«We, as French, grew up marking the First World War, essential to the duty of memory. Since children, we have access to this estate and this reality. I congratulate the Municipality of Albufeira for participating in this exhibition. As the son of Portuguese, born in France, seeing that Portugal was involved in World War I is quite emotional», confessed Paulo Marques, who was in Albufeira, accompanied by 11 colleagues, to inaugurate the exhibitions.
The Câmara de Albufeira, for its part, contributed with a set of panels that describe the Portuguese participation in World War I, with a special focus on the involvement of the region and the municipality. “The March to the Trenches – remember 1914 – 1918” is the title of the exhibition which, according to the mayor José Carlos Rolo, “represents a little of the history of Portugal and Albufeira during World War I. This mural features the names of 125 soldiers born in Albufeira, who were fighting in France».
The mayor of Albufeira called on the council's teachers to «bring students to visit these exhibitions so that children can see these historical facts up close and enrich their knowledge of the history of our country».
The exhibitions also include the exhibition of a set of pieces alluding to the First World War, objects used by soldiers, which were donated by the Elvas Military Museum.
The exhibitions can be visited until the 31st of October, from Monday to Friday, between 9:30 am and 17:00 pm (closed from 13:00 pm to 14:00 pm), and Saturdays and Sundays from 14:00 pm to 19:00 pm. Admission is free.
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