Experimenta Paisagem Museum in a day
Each person will create their own opinion on the best way to visit the museum on the territory, but our team suggests how to make the most of 1 day in the MEP territory.
Let's then visit the MEP in one day and get to know the works of art Véu, Magma Cellar, Farol dos Ventos, and Moongate!
1. VÉU, Sertã
Start with Sertã and get to know the artwork Véu.
Go down to Carvalha Park, right in the heart of the town of Sertã. Here, on the Philippine bridge, you will have one of the most beautiful perspectives of Véu. The artwork, made 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 work was 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 the Philippine bridge: 39.79989004511168, -8.098897595875727
You can approach the work and discover an array of unexpected reflections! From the Philippine bridge to the visitors, the sheep, and the water rushing over the weir.
If you take a photo with the Veil, share it on social media with #veudasertã. Also, pay attention to the sounds under the Veil, on the banks, on the bridge... Just as the images mirrored by the Veil, the sounds that surround it reflect an unusual location that highlights the boundary between urban and rural areas.
After strolling through Carvalha Park, we suggest you head to Proença-a-Nova, specifically to the village of Cunqueiros, to visit the Magma Cellar. Between Sertã and Cunqueiros (30 minutes away), there are several restaurants along the way!
2. MAGMA CELLAR, Cunqueiros
Continue to Cunqueiros and descend into the valley to the bridge over the stream, where the artwork Magma Cellar is located.
This is a work that celebrates encounters and, unlike the others, it is itself a shelter where everyone can sit and even lie down. The interaction of the visitor with the work 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 stale heated in a ceramic oven. The authors of the work, MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - along with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, used stale to enhance the value of the old urban agglomeration of the village. We suggest that you follow the stream and discover the narrow alleyways formed by the old schist houses.
3. FAROL DOS VENTOS, CHÃO DE GALEGO
In the middle of the afternoon, it's the ideal time to see Farol dos Ventos from Montes da Senhora.
This village is located 15 minutes from Cunqueiros and is a must-visit spot for those who want to take a photograph of the Serra das Talhadas with Farol dos Ventos illuminated by the sun and the watchtower designed by the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira in the background (39.774469, -7.801727).
Coordinates for the view of the Lighthouse from Montes da Senhora: 39.774469, -7.801727.
The ascent to the Farol dos Ventos is done from the Chão do Galego caravan park via a dirt road. You can drive up the mountain using this dirt road. The first stop can be made at the widening with the bifurcation to Buraca da Moura.
In a short walk, you can reach the base of the rock where the "Farol dos Ventos" is installed, right next to Buraca da Moura. The proximity of the artwork to the cave suggests a possible reflection on the identity of the place. The transition from the highlands to the lowlands, made through Serra das Talhadas, is a significant landmark in the territory, not only geographically but also culturally.
Being close to the Farol dos Ventos, it is possible to discover new natural perspectives and be surprised by the colors of the cables in contrast with the sky and the rocks. It is also possible to understand the level of difficulty in executing the artwork, how the cables are connected, with the aim of causing the least possible harm to the rock.
This work, authored by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, is one of the most emblematic pieces of Museu Experimenta Paisagem. It is 37 meters long 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. Take a moment to catch your breath and continue your visit.
After this moment, it is 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.
If you want more information about the trail, please speak with Marta Palhim (walk.with.marta@gmail.com).
4. MOONGATE, Oleiros
To end the day, we suggest a visit to the Moongate artwork at sunset.
This resin artwork is suspended over the Oleiros water stream, next to the Torna bridge. It's a very peaceful place, perfect for laying out a blanket and relaxing on one of the banks.
Coordinates of the Moongate: 39.91627009044408, -7.9108639145692905.
At night, when it is illuminated, Moongate gains an apparent depth. The amber reflections intensify and create an electrifying and mysterious sensation.
This work, authored by MAG - Marta Aguiar and Mariana Costa - with Sofia Marques de Aguiar, was inaugurated in 2020 and signals one of the most relevant 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," inspired the creation of the Moongate, which, through its shape, color, and textures, evoke the entrance to a distant garden.
The use of resin in its composition also references an important resource of the region in past decades: pine resin. Moongate invites both residents and those exploring the region to reconnect with 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 Museu Experimenta Paisagem! Don't forget to share everything with us through our social media channels.