Experimenta Paisagem Museum in 3 days
Do you have 3 days to visit MEP and deepen your knowledge of this region?
Then we suggest you start by visiting the places and artworks Véu and Moongate.
On the second day, you can savor the discovery of the trail and the artwork Menina dos Medos.
On the third day, get to know the artworks Farol dos Ventos and Magma Cellar, as well as the landscape and the people from those places.
DAY 1
1. VÉU, Sertã
Start in Sertã and get to know the artwork Véu.
Descend to the Carvalha Park, right in the heart of the town of Sertã. Here, on the Filipina Bridge, you will have one of the most beautiful perspectives of Véu. The artwork, consisting of curved metal sheets, reflects the surrounding landscape. The movement of the sheets was designed and produced with great precision to create the illusion of lightness, as if the breeze was bending the sheets. This artwork is created by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - along with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, the collective that launched the Cortiçada Art Fest project in 2020.
Coordinates of Filipina Bridge: 39.79989004511168, -8.098897595875727
You can approach the artwork and discover a multitude of unexpected reflections! From the Filipina Bridge to the visitors, the sheep, and the water rushing over the weir.
If you take a photo with Véu, share it on social media with #veudasertã.
Also, pay attention to the sounds, under Véu, on the banks, on the bridge... Just like the images mirrored by the Véu, the sounds that surround it reflect an unusual location, emphasizing the boundary between the urban and the rural.
Still in Carvalha Park, upstream of the stream, there is an irresistible river beach on the hottest days. The Ribeira Grande River Beach is a convenient and safe alternative to cool off without taking long journeys.
After swimming, you can have lunch in the vicinity. The town offers plenty of options with excellent value for money.
In the afternoon, you can rest on the banks of the Sertã stream or set off to explore Oleiros.
2. MOONGATE, Oleiros
In Oleiros, there is a pleasant trail along the stream. If you start at the Açude Pinto River Park, you can follow the river to the Torna Bridge, right at the foot of the village of Oleiros.
Behind the bridge, next to a small weir, you will find the Moongate artwork.
This artwork, made of resin, is suspended over the Oleiros stream, next to the Torna Bridge. It is a very tranquil place, perfect for laying out a blanket and relaxing on one of the banks.
Coordinates of Moongate: 39.91627009044408, -7.9108639145692905
At night, when it's illuminated, Moongate appears to gain depth. The amber reflections intensify, creating an electrifying and mysterious sensation.
This artwork, created by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, was inaugurated in 2020 and commemorates one of the most significant figures in the history of Oleiros, the Jesuit priest António de Andrade, the first European to reach Tibet. The letters he wrote about his journey through the East, published in the book "Cartas do Tibete" (Letters from Tibet), inspired the creation of Moongate, which, through its shape, color, and textures, evokes the entrance to a distant garden.
The use of resin in its composition is also a reference to an important resource of the region in past decades: pine resin. Moongate invites both the residents and those exploring the region to reappropriate the place and its memories. If you'd like, share it with your friends and family using #moongateoleiros.
We suggest you spend the night at Camping Oleiros, where you will find a peaceful place to rest and recharge your batteries for the next day.
And so ends a day full of adventure at the Experimental Landscape Museum! Don't forget to share everything with us through our social media.
DAY 2
1.MENINA DOS MEDOS TRAIL, Sobral Fernando
Dedicate the beginning of this day to discovering the stunning landscape surrounding the artwork Menina dos Medos and to embark on the corresponding cultural trail.
Difficulty: high | Distance: 5km
The trail starts in the village of Sobral Fernando, next to the café of the Association for the Development of Sobral Fernando. On the outer wall of the association, there is a plaque introducing the Menina dos Medos artwork and the first QR code with information about the trail.
Coordinates of the start of the trail 39.73564782695492, -7.7628956089729275
On the right, next to the wall of a house with stairs (which used to be a haystack), the beginning of the trail is marked with red arrows on a yellow background, on a narrow street between two houses.
Following the markings, signs, and the map (see here), it's possible to approach the level where the Menina dos Medos is located. The artwork and the trail have, as a starting point, the perception of the landscape on the banks of the Ocreza River, marked by the overlap of times without an easily understandable order or logic. The stories associated with the river, its crossing without a bridge, and the recent precariousness are deeply linked to insecurities and fears, intensified by the excess of that overwhalming landscape.
At each marked point on the map, there are place identification signs and the corresponding QR code, which allows access to the website to view a video presenting a story, memory, or technical explanation about each location. Thus, visitors to the "Menina dos Medos" trail will have at their disposal a guided visit, even if virtual, provided by some of those who know these two banks of the Ocreza River best.
At the Sobreiro das Memórias, get to know the history of the "Medos," as told by José Dias, and challenge yourself to believe!
The orange grove and the olive grove present different moments of agricultural utilization of the slope. Bernardino Dias's orange grove represents not only personal progression but also the development and improved quality of life of the village's inhabitants today. The olive grove also reflects the economy of the past. An interesting exercise that the visitor can do is to look at the mountain and imagine that the riverbanks were all olive groves like José Dias'.
After the olive grove, during the descent, one should be extra cautious because it's a steep and uneven terrain. At the end, there is a rock with "steps" carved into it and a steel cable that makes it easier to climb up to the level, the area where the Menina dos Medos is installed (this part is not difficult or vertiginous).
The sculpture of Menina dos Medos is made of white lacquered aluminium and portrays a delicate and small girl, sitting and observing the riverbed. Surrounded by a steep rocky gorge, this silent figure evokes the human scale amid the excess of geological memories. The artwork, created by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, was inaugurated on Environment Day, June 5, in 2021, as a statement to raise awareness about the need to clean the Ocreza River.
Following the trail, the next ascent requires some care as the path is made of rolling stones (it's not dangerous if walked carefully).
Until you reach Portas de Almourão, it's worth savoring the landscape slowly. Spot the griffon vultures in the sky, discover clear water pools on the riverbanks, sit and listen to the sounds around you. At times distant, at times close, enjoy the proximity to the river and the sensations it evokes.
At the Portas de Almourão, a geo-monument where the river "carved through the quartzite cliffs," we suggest taking a longer break, having something to eat before starting the ascent of the mountain.
The trail is circular and easily accessible from here. By following the dirt road, you'll arrive directly at the village of Sobral Fernando. If you want to discover a little secret of this mountain, we suggest going to Poço da Lapa, completing the entire trail circuit. At Poço da Lapa, the water never runs out, even in the summer; there is a stream that flows from the top of the mountain. On days with heavy rainfall, it transforms into a lush waterfall.
On your way back to the village, share your adventure with us using #trilhomeninadosmedos on social media.
If you want to know more about the tail, contact Marta Palhim (walk.with.marta@gmail.com).
DAY 3
1. FAROL DOS VENTOS, Chão de Galego
On hot days, the best time for a hike in Serra das Talhadas is early in the morning.
The ascent to the Farol dos Ventos is done from the Chão do Galego caravan park via a dirt road. It's possible to drive up the mountain using this dirt road. The first stop can be made at the widening near the fork to Buraca da Moura.
A short walk will take you to the base of the rock where Farol dos Ventos is installed, right next to Buraca da Moura. The artwork's proximity to the cave suggests to the visitor a potential reflection on the identity of the place. The transition from the uplands to the lowlands, facilitated by Serra das Talhadas, is a significant landmark in the territory, not only geographically but also culturally.
Being close to the Farol dos Ventos, it's possible to discover new natural perspectives and be surprised by the colors of the cables in contrast with the sky and the rocks. You can also understand the level of difficulty in executing the artwork, how the cables are attached, aiming to minimize damage to the rock.
This artwork, created by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, is one of the most emblematic pieces at the Experimental Landscape Museum. It measures 37 meters in length and is composed of nautical cables produced in Portugal.
We invite the visitor to choose a rock near #faroldosventos to rest and contemplate the ascent of the mountain. To see the nearby villages and their relationship with the more distant ones. Catch your breath to continue the visit.
After this moment of observation, it's possible to continue the ascent of the mountain by car and catch a glimpse of the watch-tower designed by the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Se optar por subir a pé sugerimos que contorne a rocha onde está instalada a obra Farol dos Ventos
e suba a serra até à torre. A torre é um local maravilhoso para ter uma vista panorâmica sobre o território e conhecer o trabalho dos guardas florestais Pode continuar pela crista da serra até à aldeia de Rabacinas, ou descer até Chão do Galego. Se for almoçar no restaurante da Catraia, sugerimos que faça um pequeno desvio, passando pela aldeia de Montes da Senhora.
Esta aldeia fica a 5 minutos de Chão do Galego e é um ponto de paragem obrigatório para quem quer tirar uma fotografia à serra das Talhadas com o Farol dos Ventos iluminado pelo sol e a torre de vigia do arquitecto Álvaro Siza Vieira atrás.
Coordinates for the view of the Farol from Montes da Senhora: 39.774469, -7.801727
If you want to know more about the tail, contact Marta Palhim (walk.with.marta@gmail.com).
2. MAGMA CELLAR, Cunqueiros
After lunch, if you want to have some fun in a cool space, plan your visit to Cunqueiros with the Recreational and Cultural Association of Cunqueiros (contact Nuno Caldeira, Luís Sequeira, Margarida). You can visit the wineries, taste the products from the #texturasdexisto brand produced by the residents of Cunqueiros, and finally, relax at the Magma Cellar installation.
This is a work that celebrates the encounter, and unlike the others, it is, in itself, a shelter where one can sit and even lie down. The interaction of the visitor with the artwork can create very amusing photographs, and we challenge everyone, with care, to let their imagination run wild and share #magmacellar with their friends.
Coordinates of Magma Cellar: 39.8155652351444, -7.842102567097951
The metal structure of the piece is covered with shale heated in a ceramic oven. The authors of the work, MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, used shale to enhance the value of the old urban cluster of the village. We suggest following the stream and discovering the alleys formed by the old shale houses.
We hope you enjoyed this journey through the places of the Experimenta Landscape Museum.
Any suggestions you may have regarding our itineraries are welcome!