Jardim da Parada, in Campo de Ourique, will once again host Portugal’s only Poetry Book Fair, from March 19 to 22, with free admission!
And the best part is that poetry will not only be presented in its largest form, which is literature; cinema, workshops, and outdoor activities will also serve to promote this form of writing that is so dear to us.
The epicenter of national poetry
The Jardim da Parada will once again be filled with verses between March 19 and 22, celebrating World Poetry Day (March 21) with cinema, workshops, and books in the open air.
This historic neighborhood thus becomes the epicenter of national poetry, bringing together booksellers, publishers, and readers in an event that is already a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar.
Organized by Casa Fernando Pessoa in partnership with the Campo de Ourique Parish Council, this event stands out as the only one in the country dedicated exclusively to the poetic genre, where, for four days, in addition to stalls with various offerings, it dedicates a program that extends to the Library/Cultural Space Cinema Europa and Casa Fernando Pessoa itself, through a guide that includes:
- Presentations of new titles;
- Creative workshops;
- Film screenings;
- Staged readings and performances.
Program highlights
Around 20 publishers and booksellers will be present at this Poetry Book Fair, with offerings ranging from immortal classics to the freshest voices in contemporary Portuguese and foreign poetry. Independent editions that rarely reach the best-known stores will also be available.
Cinema and various performances are also part of the program, with the official opening on March 19 (at 6:30 p.m.), featuring the screening of the film “Bruta Aventura em Versos” (Brute Adventure in Verse) by Letícia Simões.
On the same day, half an hour later, at 7 pm, at Casa Fernando Pessoa, you will be able to see the performance “Todo o cais é uma saudade de pedra” (The whole pier is a stone longing), starring Cláudia Andrade and Pedro Salvador, in a moment that promises to elevate the sensory experience of the spoken word.
On March 21, World Poetry Day, the highlight will take place at Casa Fernando Pessoa, at 4 pm, with all visitors also being able to take part in a guided tour of the museum that preserves the legacy of the neighborhood’s most famous inhabitant.
Another highlight is one of the most “colorful” traditions of this event: “Extended Poetry,” which consists of colorful flags with verses selected by the public, decorating the facades of buildings in Campo de Ourique.
This year, in addition to the words of Fernando Pessoa, the streets will also be made more beautiful by those of Manuel António Pina, Gisela Casimiro, Ana Paula Tavares, and Miguel Manso.
Useful information:
Address: Jardim da Parada, Casa Fernando Pessoa, and Cinema Europa (Campo de Ourique, Lisbon)
Times: March 19 to 22
Extended Poetry Hours: from 11 a.m. on the 19th to 7 p.m. on the 22nd
Tickets: free
Program: on the website