Frequency: All year round

 

Duration: 2 days

 

Price per person: From 122,00 €

Bisalhães, neighbouring village by Vila Real, which was one of the most important pottery centres in the North of Portugal.

 

The bowls, pots and pans that were made here were carried by women on their heads in baskets and sold all around the district. Even today the elderly tell how hard it was to weave their way along torturous paths, up to Marão, vast distances covered by barefoot potters with pots and pans on their backs.

 

And baking pots in an oven dug into the ground (cozedura na soenga) which gives the clay its black colour. After firing, the pottery ware is smothered in moss and earth which gives it its final look.

 

It is still the man’s job to work the potter’s wheel. He uses river pebbles to polish the burnished pieces.  And it is with stones too that the women then polish and decorate them.

 

Bring your family along and discover the potter that’s in you!

Program

1st Day

Departure towards Bisalhães, land of the Black Clay declared UNESCO Intangible Heritage.

09h30 Reception at the village by the potter and walk to the clay pit to discover the raw clay material.

Guided visit around the village and public ovens where the clay is baked.

12h30 Picnic.

Start of “Be a Potter for the Day” activity in which participants will find out how to treat raw clay and then go on to do a pottery workshop with the potter and each one will use their hands to set their creativity loose!

Continuing to Largo da Capela Nova in Vila Real, the famous place where the St. Peter’s Fair is held, the fair where potters meet to sell clay, known as “feira dos pucarinhos” (Potters Fair). Here the participants will play traditional games, ‘Pots & Pans’ and ‘Staves’.

20h00 Dinner served from black clay utensils.

Accommodation.

 

2nd Day

Check-out, departure for Alvão Nature Park. (suggestion)

More info

Responsibility of the program -  Available & Incredible, Lda - RNAVT: 6738

Frequency: All year round

 

Duration: 3 days

 

Price per person: From 166,00 €

Bisalhães, neighbouring village by Vila Real, which was one of the most important pottery centres in the North of Portugal.

 

The bowls, pots and pans that were made here were carried by women on their heads in baskets and sold all around the district. Even today the elderly tell how hard it was to weave their way along torturous paths, up to Marão, vast distances covered by barefoot potters with pots and pans on their backs.

 

And baking pots in an oven dug into the ground (cozedura na soenga) which gives the clay its black colour. After firing, the pottery ware is smothered in moss and earth which gives it its final look.

 

It is still the man’s job to work the potter’s wheel. He uses river pebbles to polish the burnished pieces.  And it is with stones too that the women then polish and decorate them.

 

Bring your family along and discover the potter that’s in you!

Program

1st Day

Departure towards Vila Real.

Free time for dinner.

Hotel check-in and accommodation.

 

2nd Day

Departure towards Bisalhães, land of the Black Clay declared UNESCO Intangible Heritage.

09h30 Reception at the village by the potter and walk to the clay pit to discover the raw clay material.

Guided visit around the village and public ovens where the clay is baked.

12h30 Picnic.

Start of “Be a Potter for the Day” activity in which participants will find out how to treat raw clay and then go on to do a pottery workshop with the potter and each one will use their hands to set their creativity loose!

Continuing to Largo da Capela Nova em Vila Real, the famous place where the St. Peter’s Fair is held, the fair where potters meet to sell clay, known as “feira dos pucarinhos” (Potters Fair). Here the participants will play traditional games, ‘Pots & Pans’ and ‘Staves’.

20h00 Dinner served from black clay utensils.

Accommodation.

 

3rd Day

Check-out, departure for Alvão Nature Park. (suggestion)

More info

Responsibility of the program -  Available & Incredible, Lda - RNAVT: 6738