Vila Verde Arts and Culture Centre

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Arts Centre

District: Braga > Vila Verde > Vila Verde > Chelo

Location

The Vila Verde Arts and Culture Centre is located in the Chelo urbanization, a landmark in the heart of the town of Vila Verde. Its position on Avenida Professor Machado Vilela integrates it into the town's urban fabric, making it accessible and visible to anyone exploring the municipality.

From Former Prison to Cultural Hub

This building has a peculiar history and a remarkable transformation. Originally, it functioned as the old District Prison, a space of confinement. However, it was carefully redeveloped to be converted into a vibrant Arts and Culture Centre. The architecture retains some original features, testaments to its past, but now takes on a new and more inviting appearance, symbolising the transition from a place of captivity to a true space of freedom and artistic expression.

Symbols on the Facade

On the Centre's facade, an element of particular interest is the municipal coat of arms, which offers a window into Vila Verde's identity. The colour green predominates, evoking the region's natural exuberance. The coat of arms also features the design of two poplars and two grapevines, elements that reinforce the community's strong connection to nature and agricultural production. In the centre, a millstone stands out, symbolising the tradition of cereal processing. At the bottom, a wavy blue band represents the abundance of water from the Homem, Cávado, and Neiva rivers, as well as the fertility of the soil and the importance of irrigation for this verdant land.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt