Next week, the focus shifts to the Torreão Sul. From November 5 to 8, the Mafra Literary Festival returns to the Royal Palace of Mafra for its 4th edition, with a fresh new look, author meet-and-greets, poetry, theater, traditional storytelling, and a Book Fair.
The festival is curated by Mafra-born poet José Fanha, and it begins before opening its doors to the general public. From November 2 to 4, it will visit several schools in the municipality with traditional storytelling sessions for children, led by Jorge Serafim and Luzia Rosário.
Fado, poetry, and conversations about the present
The official opening is scheduled for the 5th at 6:00 p.m. at Torreão Sul. The program begins with a conversation about fado featuring Rui Vieira Nery, followed by a poetry recital by actress Maria Henrique, accompanied by piano.
In the days that follow, roundtable discussions and author talks will invite the public to discuss current topics. Among the guests are Inês Fonseca Santos, Carlos Fiolhais, Aniceto Afonso, Luísa Sobral, and António Carlos Cortez. Topics for discussion will include:
• the challenges of Artificial Intelligence;
• the current book market;
• women’s literature;
• “writing” about war;
• the inspiration behind poetry.
Book Fair and theater
From November 5 to 8, the Torreão Sul will also host the Book Fair, with free admission, featuring books from various publishers and on a range of topics.
The festival also extends to the Beatriz Costa Municipal Auditorium in Mafra, which will host the show “Fernando Pessoa(s),” a theatrical production inspired by the work “A Mensagem.”
How to participate: The events are free, but require prior registration. The full program and registration details are available on the Mafra City Council website.