July in Sintra

As the Sintra Festival of Music (Vienna before Mahler: from Haydn to Brahms) continues until the 10th,  Cascais Music Festival is held between the 18th and the 29th of July - it is a series of outside concerts that bring in musicians, international and national, that are in between rock and jazz.  Some of the artists are Pink Martini, Erykah Badu, Morrissey, Manu Chao, Antony and the Johnsons - and the Portuguese fado singers Carlos de Carmo and Mariza.  Tickets are between 20 and 55 euros.  A sampler here is from Pink Martini http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lle_GA1cg20.


Also many other interesting things have been scheduled for the month.  Here are a few:

The Sintra town council is once again organising Sintra's Medieval Fair, which will take place ar the square of São Pedro.  Between the 13th and the 15th of July, the Court's stay in Sintra  in 1428, during the reign of King John 1st will be recreated. A delegation sent by Philip the Good was received in Sintra  - the aim of the delegation was to  prepare Princess Isabella's marriage  to Philip the Good.  This was celebrated with many festivities, both in the court and by the people.   The Medieval fair will recreate the celebration of this event by the people.  Throughout these three days, and through the interaction of visitors with artisans, tradesmen and actors, visitors will be able to get to know, experience and be part of local history within wider context of Portugal's history.  This is one more initiative of the Sintra Romantic Capital trademark.

The 14th of July is once again the stage for night time visits at the Archeological Museum of Odrinhas.  The visits recreate the Roman times; the pater families salute their guests and encourage them to follow his domus' matronas in a ritual visit to his ancestors' tombs and to the altars of the gods. Wreaths are put on the graves, incense is burning on the altar's stones, and liberations are poured. The trembling light of the lamps creates mysterious moving shadows.  Called by their own names, the ancient Romans and their gods come to life and present themselves.  Stones can talk! at 9 pm and 10 pm.

Booking is necessary, tickets are 3 euros each.   

The collective photographic exhibition 'Cape Roca - The Atlantic Frontier' is an exhibition of seashore photography of the Sintra and Cascais coast that is on exhibit at the Municipal Galery of Sintra between July 7 and August 1. Its origin lies in  a group of six photographers with acknowledged talent and portfolios, with published and award-winning works in Portugal and abroad. They have crossed the natural landscape for years, in a continuous search and with constant dedication.  The enormous passion with which they photographed resulted in these unique photographs, in which nature and the photographer are perfectly aligned, combining each artist's vision and style, as well as his own way of expressing the art. 

In the Monserrate Palace, on show until August the 26th, is another photographic exhibition.  This is of the best images of the ''International Garden Photographer Of The Year'' international garden photography competition, open for both professionals and amateurs. 

As every month, Café Saudade showcases a different national talent in their Art Gallery. In July the exhibit is by ritacor, whose craft focuses on the art of quilting and patchwork.   Her detailed work showcases the love that certainly goes into every stitch.  

Theater can be seen at Quinta da Regaleira: Alice in Wonderland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 5 pm and Sunday at 11am and Romeo and Juliet onTursday, Friday, Saturday and Friday nights at 10 pm. Though these pieces are in portuguese only, the setting in the gardens is spectacular, and music as well - so it is worth seeing, even if Portuguese is not your language.  Like in Shakespearan times, all the actors in Romeo and Juliet are male.