The Algarve Archaeological Association is presenting two lectures in English on Tuesday, March 1 by Tiago Fraga, Marine Archaeologist.
Titled ‘The Lost City of the Ria Formosa’, the first lecture will be at 2.30pm in the Museu do Trajo in São Brás and the second at 5.45pm in the library in Lagoa.
The lecture will explore the hidden story of the Ria Formosa and its maritime cultural landscape. It will look at the Ria Formosa as an artefact that has been shaped by several generations of struggle, adaptation and co-existence of mankind with nature.
The Ria Formosa lagoon is one of Portugal’s most beautiful natural harbours, situated between Quinta do Lago and Cacela Velha in the central Algarve.
It stretches for 60km and lies inside a string of natural barrier islands (Faro, Barreta, Culatra, Armona, Tavira and Cabanas) which protected Faro, unlike other Algarvian coastal towns, from serious damage from the tsunami of 1755 which accompanied the great earthquake.
Although activities such as fishing and sea-salt harvesting have been undertaken in the locality for at least the last 2000 years, the islands have only been settled more permanently since the 19th century.
The lecture will investigate the hidden stories and meanings of the Ria Formosa.
Lunch in São Brás can be arranged in advance – call Maxine on 917 267 948. For more information contact [email protected] or visit www.arqueoalgarve.org
