After a four-year journey through the history and the landscape of Aljezur two gifted men, photographer and writer, have produced the most stunningly exquisite illustrated book about the area in which we live: “Aljezur; The Heart Of Costa Vicentina”.
Described as “the book of Aljezur” and presented as “an expression of love for our home”, the impressive publication was unveiled at a ceremony in the town’s civic HQ on Friday.
Now, at €50 plus IVA, nobody is going to pop into the town’s newsagent for their morning paper, and buy a copy as an afterthought.
But it is the kind of coffee-table conversation piece that many people, both the Portuguese locals and those who have chosen to move across Europe to make their home on the Algarve’s west coast, will be proud to own.
Indeed the writer does say with complete justification that the final production would not be out of place in the high-class bookshops of cities like New York.
It would certainly make an ideal birthday, Christmas or anniversary present for anyone keenly interested in the history and culture of this area.
It is an outstanding book, sumptuously photographed and beautifully written as it takes us on a breathtaking photographic journey (with the text accompanying the photographs presented both in Portuguese and in English) that enables the reader to see the history, traditions—and, yes, the beauty—of this area in a new light.
Whatever your political persuasion you will find yourself agreeing with Aljezur Mayor José Amarelinho when he calls it "an expression of love for our home" and says “this book was made for the people of Aljezur, put together in such a way that even those people who have been born here will discover things they never knew existed.”
The book originated from an initiative by the Lisbon Government encouraging councils in Portugal to be funded in order to create such a volume promoting their council area.
Amarelinho says: "This is the best one I have seen on a national scale," and in the words of Mandy Rice-Davies, he would say that, of course.
But it’s hard to imagine any better productions across the length and breadth of Portugal.
This collaboration between the Camara and local marketing company 1000olhos, IS a work of art with the superb photographs of João Mariano and the compelling, beautifully-written descriptions of João Paulo Sacadura.
Photographer Mariano is from this area but he admits his four-year journey led to discoveries of places he himself did not know existed!
He told a specially-invited audience, which included Amovate secretary Ian Bedford and Press Officer Matt D’Arcy: “The team was made up of people from Aljezur for this project that took four years searching and discovering and photographing to put together."
“I was able to go to places that even surprised me, by walking, cycling, travelling by boat or by car."
“I found that there was so much to be discovered and so many surprises. I had so much help from the locals, from gastronomy and the preparation of dishes, to being taken by boat to places, to traditional bread making, to areas that I didn't know existed, many of them historical areas that were brought to life for us by the stories from locals who had passed them down through the generations.”
João Paulo Sacadura, who says he writes with the old Portuguese spelling of many place names to heighten the authenticity of this journey through the region, admitted:
“At first I wasn't sure about taking on this project, as I am not from the area. But then I realised it was probably good for an outsider to write about these places."
“I encountered and discovered many beautiful things and interesting people and with the use of the amazing photographs and the sheer numbers of them, there could be many more volumes."
“This book has been done so well that it could be sold anywhere—from the high class bookshops of New York—to all the foreigners who visit this area. The council have done a fantastic job in maintaining the image and wonderful secret that is Aljezur.”
The Introduction to the book reads:
“The publication of this book is part of the numerous responsibilities bestowed on the town council; publication of works that interest and respect the history and identity of the municipality.
“In both the writing of João Paulo Sacadura and in the photography of João Mariano this work is a true journey around the council of Aljezur with its legends, history, heritage, ethnography, traditions, cuisine, biodiversity, fishing, farming, beaches, cliffs and our people.
“It succeeds in being disconcerting for the writer and he shows it! ‘On the one hand we should spread the word about Aljezur’s amazing landscape, share its wonderfulness, reveal the hidden enchantment; and on the other hand we feel like keeping it safe, guarding it, protecting it even more’.
“Either way we are opening another window of opportunity that shows we are different, able to reinvent ourselves by always asserting our identity, with a profound respect for our memory and by prospecting our future.
“The reality we show you is filled with the enchantment, romanticism, love and poetry that this land and its people enclose. A lot—and I mean a very lot—of what actually counts and distinguishes us is here.”
The first image in the book shows an illuminated manuscript, the beautifully illustrated Aljezur Charter granted to the town more than 500 years ago by King D Manuel I on June 1st 1504.
The publishers say the book’s graphic designer, Bruno Fernandes, was inspired by this document, explaining: “Of an unquestionable historic and aesthetic value, these elements have been given a modern touch”.
NOTE: Aljezur first obtained a foral (charter) from 12 November 1280, issued by King Denis of Portugal, in Estremoz. It was the first charter issued by the king in the Algarve. On 1 June 1504, King Manuel reformed the diplomatic map issued by King Denis, and promoted the town with the title Nobre e Honrada (Noble and Honoured)
