The National Day of Historic Centres officially takes place on 28 March. As in previous editions, Porto is bringing the celebration forward to the weekend, allowing more people to enjoy a full programme of initiatives.
This year, the Historic Centre of Porto, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, will be celebrated on 23 and 24 March, extending the programme to two days, with an even wider range of activities for everyone.
For this weekend, the Soares dos Reis National Museum, the only National Museum located in the city of Porto and in the north of Portugal, is proposing two activities, scheduled for 23 and 24 March, with free admission on Sunday for all residents of Portugal.
On Saturday 23rd, at 4pm, there will be a concert by Síntese – Grupo de Música Contemporânea, presenting a programme dedicated to celebrating Portuguese literature, with particular emphasis on the poetry of Eugénio de Andrade. (Free admission).
The National Day of Historic Centres, created in 1993, is celebrated annually on 28 March, on the date of the birth of Alexandre Herculano, its patron and one of the greatest defenders of national heritage.
Alexandre Herculano is the author of the poem Tristezas do Desterro (Sorrows of Exiled), which inspired António Soares dos Reis to create O Desterrado (The Exiled), the most prominent sculpture in the collection of the Soares dos Reis National Museum.
The date is a reminder of the importance of historic centres as elements of culture and heritage with a high historical value.