«The bridge that we are building here today temporarily fulfills an old dream of these two peoples», so «I launch the challenge to build a definitive bridge» or «to maintain this structure for a longer period».
The words are from Osvaldo Gonçalves, mayor of Alcoutim, and the structure to which he refers is the floating bridge over the Guadiana river, connecting the Portuguese and Spanish banks, which is the main attraction of the Contraband Festival, which began yesterday and it goes on until tomorrow, Sunday, March 31st.
José Maria Perez Diaz, mayor of Sanlúcar de Guadiana, the mirror village de Alcoutim, on the other side of the river, expressed exactly the same desire: «that the dream may be a reality on a more continuous bridge, which links the two communities in a more permanent way».
And João Fernandes, president of the Algarve Tourism Region, underlined that, during these three days, «the bridge is physical, but it is also one of affections, at a time when many people think that the fashion is to build walls».
The opening of the provisional pedestrian bridge was the high point of the inauguration of another edition, the third, of the Smuggling Festival – Arts Traffic in the Guadiana. Hundreds of people were already waiting for the speeches, given by the river, to end, eager to walk on the water.
But they had to wait a little longer. Bearing in mind that the Contraband Festival is one of the most emblematic events of the 365Algarve programme, the Secretary of State for Tourism recalled the numbers that o Sul Informação had already revealed it firsthand yesterday morning, to underline that “with three months to finish this edition, the results are frankly encouraging”.
The mayor of Alcoutim had also already highlighted the precious support of 365Algarve, stressing that “little nothings make all the difference”.
But it is not just Alcoutim and the Algarve that the Contraband Festival brings benefits. María Eugenia Limón Bayo, Vice President of Coordination and Transversal Policies of the Diputación de Huelva, underlined that "the festival is important for the province's tourism." In such a way that Sanlúcar, the twin village of Alcoutim, just opposite, on the other side of a river made narrower by the floating bridge, is also already receiving support from the province of Huelva for its activities.
When it was time to finally cross, the official entities followed in the first place, with the mayors of Alcoutim and Sanlúcar and Secretary of State Ângela Ferreira at the front. Swaying with the wind and the waters of the river, they reached the other bank, where they were greeted by a Guardia Civil, with a distinctive hat and bushy mustache, and a couple of smugglers. And there was a lot of laughter.
Through the streets of Sanlúcar, hearing Castilian, Portuguese and, above all, Portuguese, the group headed to the village's old inn, where they even danced to the sound of a two-step very excited.
Back at the pier, it was the turn of a Portuguese group to make everyone dance and sing to the sound of “Apita o Comboio”, in one of the cafes in the Spanish village. The secretary of state smiled, but did not dance, while the presidents of RTA and AMAL and the regional director of Agriculture of the Algarve were the most animated in the dance.
Once back across the bridge, it was time to shop at the stalls of marketers in Alcoutim, with bread baked in the oven, homemade sweets and fresh cheeses guaranteeing the delegation's preferences.
But the Festival of Contraband will continue to traffic arts in Guadiana – that is, in Alcoutim and Sanlúcar, this Saturday and Sunday.
Along the streets of the twin villages, there is a lot of genuine handicraft, with artisans working live and even teaching their arts, there are regional products, sweets, bread, liquors, wines, brandies, cheeses, sausages, to buy and eat. And there are also many taverns, where you can regain strength and moisten your throat.
On the streets, there is always entertainment, in Portuguese and Spanish (in fact, almost always in Portunhol), so don't be alarmed if a gray-uniformed tax officer tries to arrest you for contraband. Or if an old lady with a sharp tongue tries to sell you a looted chicken.
Is that, if on the one hand art, culture, gastronomy and the natural heritage shared by both towns are celebrated, on the other hand the illicit activity of trade is seen as the motto for the (re)creation of bygone times, where many are the shared stories of people swimming across the river in order to survive.
Thus, this Saturday, the craft market and the fair open at 11:00 am, the same time that a workshop on Traditional Instruments begins, with Marco Vieira, at the Edifício das Finanças, in Alcoutim. Half an hour later, the Grupo Coral Santa Maria sings in the Igreja Matriz in the Portuguese village.
At 14 pm, the group «Sopas de Bão», from Novo Traditional Circo Alentejano, will perform in Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana.
Then, starting at 16:30 pm, there will be music, theater and circus with groups from Portugal, Spain and even from Chile and Switzerland, on both sides of the Guadiana.
At 21:15 pm, the quay of the town of Alcoutim receives the performance of Artistas del Gremio (Spain), while at 22:00 pm, at the castle of the Algarve village there will be evenings, with Baixinho do Fado and Taberna da Meia Unha, followed by a Chill Out World night Music with DJ Pax Manito.
From midnight onwards, there will be a post-festival at Pego Fundo's Fluvial Beach bar, with disco music from the 60s/70s, with DJ Karlucci.
And tomorrow, Sunday, the 31st, entertainment will once again be a constant throughout the day.
As the mayor of Sanlúcar said, this Festival is really “a good example of coexistence and of how we can be on a frontier working without frontiers”.
Photos and videos): Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
PROGRAMME
Saturday March 30th
11.00 – Opening of the Trade and Fair Market
– Workshop on Traditional Instruments, with Marco Vieira, at Edifício das Finanças, Alcoutim
11.30 – Grupo Coral SANTA MARIA (PORTUGAL), Main Church of Alcoutim
14.00 – BREAD SOUP – New Traditional Alentejo Circus (PORTUGAL), Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana
16.30 – ETXEA-CASA-HOME by AIMAR & CIA CIRCO Y TEATRO (SPAIN), Pozo Nuevo, Sanlúcar de Guadiana
17.30 – TODO PUEDE PASAR, by Mimo Huenchulaf (CHILE), Sanlúcar de Guadiana pier
18.30 – ROJO, by Mireia Miracle (SPAIN), Castelo da Vila, Alcoutim
19.30pm – MANTO, by Compagnie Les Malles (Switzerland), Praça da República, Alcoutim
20.15 – EL TEATRO DE SOMBRA VIAJERO, by ArTEatro (SPAIN), Sanlúcar de Guadiana pier
20.45 – Accordion Gênio & Arte, with Bruno Gomes and Rodrigo Maurício (PORTUGAL), Plaza de Espanha, Sanlúcar de Guadiana
21.00 – Trade and Fair Market Closing
21.15 – Performance of ARTISTAS DEL GREMIO (SPAIN), Vila de Alcoutim wharf
22.00 – Fireside at the Castle of the village of Alcoutim with:
BAIXINHO DO FADO and TABERNA DO MEIA UNHA (PORTUGAL)
Chill Out World Music Night with DJ PAX MANITO
24.00 – Post-festival at the bar at Praia Fluvial do Pego Fundo:
DISCOTE from the 60s/70s, with DJ KARLUCCI
Sunday March 31th
11.00 – Opening of the Trade and Fair Market
– Iberian Ham Cutting Competition, on El LLano Street, Sanlúcar de Guadiana.
11.15 – CHOIR OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF EMIGRANTS (HUELVA, SPAIN), through the streets of Sanlúcar de Guadiana and Alcoutim
11.30 – Traditional Instruments Workshop, with Marco Vieira, at the Edifício das Finanças, Alcoutim
14.30 – BREAD SOUP – New Traditional Alentejo Circus (PORTUGAL), Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana
16.30 – MANTO, by Compagnie Les Malles (Switzerland), Sanlúcar de Guadiana Pier
17.30 – ROJO, by Mireia Miracle (SPAIN), Castelo da Vila, Alcoutim
18.30pm – TODO PUEDE PASAR, by Mimo Huenchulaf (CHILE), Vila de Alcoutim pier
19.00 – Trade and Fair Market Closing
19.00 – Performance of Grupo Coral BAFO DE BACO (PORTUGAL), Vila de Alcoutim pier
AT MARKET HOURS
Exhibition Atelier do Accordeão, Casa dos Condes, Alcoutim
Exhibition Memories of Sanlúcar at the Old Inn, Plaza de España, Sanlúcar de Guadiana
Arruadas, musical entertainment in the two villages with:
SATURDAY
BANDO DA TERRA VELHINHA / PILHA GALINHAS / MUSICAL GROUP TERRA BELA / GUADIANA CORAL GROUP / VOLTA E MEIA / CUARTETO MARAVILLA / GUADIANA SWING QUARTET / TAMBORILEROS LOS BRAVOS / ACCORDIONISTS ANTÓNIO MANUEL E MEIAL / CLARIPTORNESTO
SUNDAY
BANDO DA TERRA VELHINHA / PILHA GALINHAS / MUSICAL GROUP TERRA BELA / CAVAQUINHOS DO MIRA / VOLTA E MEIA / CUARTETO MARAVILLA / GUADIANA SWING QUARTET / TAMBORILEROS LOS BRAVOS / ACCORDIONISTS ANTÓNIO DE CANTAO DE CARNAPTES AND ERNESTO GROUP / OUTERNESTO
Theater and street entertainment in the two villages with:
Smugglers, Tax Guards and Carabineros / Street vendors and masters of other trades present the goods to the people of the land / Living in taverns, social satire and exchange of information / Popular games and stick brawls / Jogo Do Pau / TOKAjogar- Jogos traditional and ancient / Workshop and demonstration of cracked cane / Pote game and traditional games / Ferris wheel of the era / Circus workshop for children / Robertos Theater / performances of theatrical training workshops in Alcoutim
For the groups Água Ardente and local actors from Alcoutim, Terra Velhinha, Ofícios com História, Jogo do Pau, Compañia LATANANA
WORKSHOPS Project TASA:
March 30 day
In Alcoutim, Casa dos Condes:
12.00 - 13.00 Pottery Workshop
14.30 – 15.30 Construction of Windmills in Cana
16.00 – 17.00 Creation of Miniature Palm Broomsticks
March 31 day
In Alcoutim, Casa dos Condes:
11.30 - 12.30 Pottery Workshop
In Sanlúcar de Guadiana, on the pier:
14.00 – 17.00 Chair Wheel – meeting of chairs and experimentation of the stuffing craft
FLOATING BRIDGE TIME:
Saturday 9.00 am to 11.30 am – 13.00 pm to 18.00 pm
Sunday 9.00 am to 11.30 am – 13.00 pm to 18.00 pm
TICKETS HOURS:
Saturday 8.00 am to 10.30 am – 12.00 pm to 17.00 pm
Sunday 8.00 am to 10.30 am – 12.00 pm to 17.00 pm
Taverns & period market
Traffic of Arts Photography Contest in Guadiana
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