Stone Art Festival

Category: Nature > Stone Park

District: Leiria > Porto de Mós > Serro Ventoso > Codaçal

Location

The Stone Art Festival is situated in the small village of Codaçal, part of the locality of Serro Ventoso, in the municipality of Porto de Mós. This location is nestled in the heart of the Maciço Calcário Estremenho (Estremadura Limestone Massif), an area with remarkable geomorphological characteristics. The landscape is defined by Jurassic rock formations, approximately 160 million years old, which testify to the existence of a warm ocean in this region in remote times. The environment is distinctly rural, benefiting from its proximity to the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, which contributes to a unique natural setting.

The Essence of the Festival

The Stone Art Festival is an artistic initiative born in a rural setting, with the purpose of creating a perfect harmony between public artworks and the nature that surrounds them. The stone extraction industry is a pillar of the local identity, shaping the territory and reflecting a culture with centuries of existence. The festival thus seeks to stimulate the artistic and cultural life of the region, establishing a public art circuit. It represents a multidisciplinary celebration where visual arts profoundly dialogue with the natural park and its natural and landscape resources.

Art and Territory

This event offers a new perspective on the extractive stone industry, transforming quarry areas into natural stages for creativity. Far from being seen merely as industrial spaces, these zones become canvases for national and international artists, who carry out direct interventions on natural stone. The sculptures integrate organically into the park's landscape, while the contrast between urban art, such as graffiti, and the traditional elements of the natural environment creates a fascinating visual dialogue. The limestone blocks, fundamental to the region's economy and culture, serve as unique supports for these artistic expressions.

A Cultural Legacy

Pioneering in its approach, the Stone Art Festival had its first edition in 2021. This event fosters a connection between the region's industrial heritage and contemporary art, making various forms of art more accessible and extending their reach beyond conventional spaces. The long history of stone extraction, which is a central aspect of local identity, is celebrated through this artistic dimension. Furthermore, the festival area itself is rich in archaeological remains, spanning from the Jurassic periods to the Upper Palaeolithic, adding a layer of historical depth to this cultural initiative.

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