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A new look through the center of Portugal

Portugal is a country rich in artistic terms: the traditional and dramatic fado, for example, is part of the country’s culture. But there is another kind of art that has won the heart of our Lusitanian brothers: street art.

In Central Portugal, graffiti mixes with the everyday life of cities, transforming the region into a true festival of colors that charms tourists and locals.

With the intention of exploring each spot, we prepared a special script for those who seek to expand their horizons in this artistic universe.

Beginning the tour of the friendly Leiria, which is 1:30 am from Lisbon, the visitor can get acquainted with the paintings of Sílvia Patrício. The walls of 13 murals narrate the main facts of the classic book of Eça de Queiroz, The Crime of Father Amaro. It is possible to meet each one on guided tours held on the second Saturday of each month, in a different way to review this masterpiece of Lusitanian literature.

Moving northwards in Figueira da Foz, Add Fuel’s impressive mural “Heritage Living”, made with Portuguese tiles, shows a concept that differs from graffiti. Other artists can also be appreciated in the city, such as Pantónio, Mário Belém, Daniel Eime and Kruella d’Enfer, the latter with works full of mystical creatures and imagination.

In Aveiro, 40 minutes from Figueira da Foz, the revolutionary works of Vhils attract attention. Portuguese uses a unique technique, which consists of sculpting the walls instead of painting them. Using various types of tools that include acid and hammers, Vhils creates textures and reliefs that transform concrete walls in ways never seen before. One of his most popular works, with a rich face in detail, is on the wall in front of the Aveiro Railway Station, a fantastic meeting between art noveau and contemporary art.

Already Estarreja, a neighboring village of Aveiro, has a route with works by several artists, including the pioneer Bordallo II, who turned trash into art, making an incredible representation of the bird guards. The intervention made him ninth in the Top 100 of the WideWalls web site. Most of his sculptures are representations of animals made with various discarded materials, creating a relief in the walls that arouses the interest of all who pass.

Continuing inland, our next destination is Viseu, which is less than an hour from Estarreja. Filled with murals of varied painters, it shows that its heritage goes beyond the wines and historical monuments. Many of them were made at the request of the city hall itself, which invited artists such as AKA Corleone (Balsa District and Catholic University), BASIK (Serpa Pinto Street), the already mentioned Kruella d’Enfer (Neighborhood of the Balsa), among others.

We finished the tour with a visit to Covilhã, with its buildings, walls and houses that became huge canvases ready for renowned artists such as Bosoletti, Doa Oa and Third. The city has become a center of urban art in the region thanks to the Wool Festival, an annual event with various activities for visitors, including guided tours to get to know the concept of each work.

Photos: Divulgação

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