[introduction]
Q: Could you please briefly introduce your city’s cultural and creative DNA?
A: Amarante’s cultural and creative DNA is shaped by a rich and diverse artistic heritage, where tradition, landscape, and contemporary innovation converge. The city is the birthplace of several major cultural figures, including the modernist painter Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, the poet and philosopher Teixeira de Pascoaes, the acclaimed novelist Agustina Bessa-Luís, and the renowned photographer Eduardo Teixeira Pinto. This legacy continues to inspire a vibrant creative ecosystem. As a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Amarante embraces artistic expression as part of its identity, promoting cultural vitality in dialogue with its extraordinary natural setting—what we proudly call “Natureza Criativa” (Creative Nature).
Q: How would you define creative tourism from your city’s perspective?
A: For Amarante, creative tourism means offering authentic, participatory experiences that invite visitors to interact with the city’s cultural and artistic life. It is about creating space for co-creation and cultural exchange—whether that involves making music with local performers, attending a literary talk in a vineyard, or taking part in traditional crafts workshops. It’s tourism as a creative journey, grounded in local identity and open to global dialogue.
Q: What are the key creative tourism assets that contribute to your city’s development strategy?
A: Our strategy draws on a constellation of creative assets: the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Municipal Museum, the Solar dos Magalhães, an emblematic building in the city that bears witness to the historical period of the Napoleonic invasions, was recently restored for cultural purposes in a project shaped by the hand of master architect Siza Vieira. Heritage buildings throughout the historic centre, dynamic cultural associations, artist residencies, and international festivals such as the MIMO Festival and the International Classical Guitar Festival. As a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Amarante also invests heavily in musical education, public performances, and international collaborations that reinforce its role as a creative destination. Local gastronomy, oral traditions, and the natural landscape further enrich the creative tourism offer.
Q: Could you share some successful initiatives or best practices that illustrate your city’s approach to creative tourism?
A: Amarante has been developing a consistent programme of events and initiatives that reflect its commitment to creative tourism. One example is the MIMO Festival, an international event that brings together music, cinema, literature, and educational activities in a free and accessible format, attracting both residents and visitors. The Festival Internacional de Guitarra Clássica de Amarante, promoted by the municipality, highlights the city’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, while creating learning and performance opportunities for musicians.
The Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Prize and Exhibition, organised biennially, supports and showcases contemporary visual artists, attracting national attention and reinforcing Amarante’s artistic legacy. Additionally, throughout the year, the municipality and local partners promote creative workshops, concerts in heritage spaces, art exhibitions, and community-based cultural programming, particularly within the scope of the UNESCO Creative Cities network. These activities create immersive, participatory experiences that connect visitors with the city’s cultural fabric in an authentic way.
Q: How do local communities participate in or benefit from creative tourism projects?
A: Local communities are at the heart of our creative tourism model. They participate as cultural ambassadors, creators, and hosts. These projects contribute economically by supporting small businesses, local artists, and craftspeople, but they also have a powerful non-economic impact: strengthening cultural identity, encouraging youth engagement, and fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer. Creative tourism becomes a shared space for connection, belonging, and pride.
Q: What are your future goals or visions regarding creativity and tourism in your city?
A: Our ambition is to continue positioning Amarante as a benchmark for sustainable and creative tourism, rooted in authenticity and innovation. We aim to deepen our participation in international creative networks—particularly within the UNESCO Creative Cities framework—while expanding opportunities for community-based tourism, interdisciplinary artistic projects, and year-round cultural programming. With Natureza Criativa as our guiding principle, we envision a city where tourism fuels cultural enrichment, environmental respect, and inclusive growth.
