[introduction]
Q: How would you define your destination’s cultural DNA in some words?
A: Barcelos is a culture and creative destination due to its profound connection with Portuguese folk traditions. The local handicraft, namely Pottery of Barcelos, Figurative Art of Barcelos and “Crivo” Embroidery of S. Miguel da Carreira, are true manifestations of cultural identity. In its DNA, as cultural destination, one can find imagination, creativity, resilience and capacity to innovate.
Q: What makes your destination so unique for creative tourists ?
A: What make Barcelos so unique as creative destination is the capacity to combine tradition with innovation, thus creating a living cultural ecosystem where the past handicraft co-lives with contemporary creative expressions.
The facilities created for creative tourism are also a fundamental point of uniqueness, namely: the Medieval Tower, a space for appreciating exhibitions of local handicrafts; the Tourist Office, a space for promotion and dissemination; the House of Creativity, a space for education, artistic training and creative workshops open to the artisan community and the local community; and the Pottery Museum, a space for exhibiting and sharing the ceramic’s culture.
Q: Could you please mention some unique creative experiences to be enjoyed in your destination ?
A: Painting Barcelos roosters; moulding a piece in clay on a potter’s wheel; clay modelling; creations in S. Miguel da Carreira’s Crivo embroidery; artistic figuration in iron; creation of pieces in wood; modelling with paper pulp; learning a traditional Folklore dance; wine tasting visit; traditional grape harvest; visit and workshop at the Avianense Chocolate Factory and Museum.
All the details about the activities can be found at this link: https://www.cm-barcelos.pt/visitar/o-que-fazer/experiencias-criativas/
Q: How can creative tourism benefit your destination-s residents ?
A: The symbiosis between creative agents, visitors and residents translates into the sustainable and dynamic development of craft areas, thus valorising local resources. The exchange of knowledge, experiences and ideas between visitors and locals is very important as it promotes job creation and helps small local businesses, fosters artistic activity and supports new generations of artisans.
Q: Why is creative tourism important for your destination
A: Barcelos, a UNESCO Creative City in the area of Crafts and Folk Arts since 2017 and a member of the Creative Tourism Network since 2019, is a centre of reference for creative tourism, thanks to the work of local agents. Working as a network, the focus on creative tourism has been growing and developing, contributing to the construction of new ideas and projects. An example of this was the organisation of the XVI Conference of UNESCO Creative Cities (2024) in Braga, together with Barcelos, Amarante and Santa Maria da Feira, as well as the Barcelos Crafts and Ceramics Exhibition, which welcomes artisans from the European UNESCO Creative Cities every year, enriching this event and once again reaffirming the importance of creative tourism in the municipality.
