The “Historical Festival - Vila Real de Santo António - 18th Century” transports the Algarve city to the time of its foundation, with the Pombaline centre “gaining new life” and being the stage for “markets and dozens of cultural activities”, said the city council, promoter of the initiative.

“For three days, the streets and squares of Vila Real de Santo António will be filled with nobles, bourgeoisie, peasants and artisans, in an event that celebrates the Enlightenment heritage and the founding history of the municipality,” said the city hall.

Vila Real de Santo António was built from scratch by decision of the Marquis of Pombal, between 1774 and 1776, during the reign of D. José I, according to the Enlightenment model, and anyone visiting the city centre will have a “unique opportunity to revisit local history, with recreations, period entertainment, banquets, live music, processions and large-scale shows”.

The organization has prepared a festival that is based on rigorous historical research and will have “strong involvement from the local community,” the city hall highlighted.

With free entry, the 18th Century Festival begins on Friday at 10 am with an Enlightenment Conference in the Main Hall of the Vila Real de Santo António City Council, which will mark the official opening of the event and also provide “its historical context”.

The highlights are scheduled for Saturday, starting at 5 pm, including the “great historical procession, which will travel along the main streets” of the city, also involving schools and communities in the municipality.

On Sunday, at 10 pm, the musical show “Maestríssimo” will take place, in which attendees will be able to hear a “mixture of classical music, humour and interpretation, in the style of the great European orchestras of the 18th century”.

During the event, participants will also be able to visit an 18th-century market, with traditional crafts, gastronomic spaces with local and seasonal products, and watch the “various recreations and performances that will take place in Praça Marquês de Pombal and Avenida da República, highlighted the municipality.

“The 18th Century Festival is a distinctive mark of Vila Real de Santo António and an example of how it is possible to value local heritage and identity through culture. At the same time, it contributes in a concrete way to combating seasonality, being a tourist and economic attraction for the municipality”, considered the mayor, Álvaro Araújo, quoted in the statement.