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TERRAS SEM SOMBRA

FESTIVAL DO ALENTEJO

SEASON 22

«O Happy fields and green woods»: Music and the Biosphere (From the Middle Ages to Contemporary Creation)

FEBRUARY  TO DECEMBER 2026

​“O Alentejo não tem sombra,

senão a que vem do céu;

Assente-se aqui, menina,

à sombra do meu chapéu.”

 

(moda popular)

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Next Concert:

 

28/02 — 21:30

ARRONCHES

Igreja Matriz

ONE PIANO, FOUR HANDS: WORKS BY POLISH AND PORTUGUESE WOMEN COMPOSERS FROM THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES

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ZAREBSKI PIANO DUO

GRZEGORZ MANIA (piano)

PIOTR RÓŻAŃSKI (piano)​

HERITAGE

BORDER CROSSING, IDENTITIES AND SMUGGLING: THE INVISIBLE BORDER

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28/02 — 15:00

ESPERANÇA

​MEETING POINT

Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora da Esperança

ACTIVITY GUIDED BY

 

Dulce Lopes

(Antropóloga e investigadora integrada no

Instituto de Etnomusicologia — Centro de Estudos em Música e Dança, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas,

Universidade Nova de Lisboa)

José António Falcão

(Historiador de Arte e investigador do Centro de Estudos Globais, Universidade Aberta)

BIODIVERSITY

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: GUARDIANS OF HUMANITY'S COMMON FUTURE

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​​01/03 — 09:30

ARRONCHES

MEETING PONT

CEIRA — Centro Interativo da Ruralidade de Arronches

ACTIVITY GUIDED BY

Inês Dragão

Maria João Valentim

Cristina Venâncio

(Empresárias agrícolas)

Popular
Recipes

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Established in 2003, the Terras sem Sombra Festival is a civil society initiative dedicated to showcasing the Alentejo region, renowned for its exceptional environmental, cultural, and scenic qualities, and recognised as one of Europe’s best-preserved territories. True to the values and mission that have guided it since its foundation, the Festival maintains its itinerant nature, with an emphasis on cultural decentralisation, audience development, inclusion, and sustainability. The programme includes classical music concerts, masterclasses, conferences, visits to cultural heritage sites, and biodiversity conservation initiatives — all free of charge and open to the public.


The Festival bridges historical masterpieces with contemporary artistic expression, supports emerging composers and performers, regularly commissions new works, promotes interdisciplinary arts, collaborates with the scientific and technological sectors, revives musicological heritage, deepens the understanding of regions and local communities, and embraces an ecumenical vision of the Sacred.

 

Recent seasons have seen an enhanced international presence, welcoming guest countries such as the United States, Brazil, Spain, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy, and the Philippines. Additionally, initiatives like Terras sem Sombra Kids offer educational and entertaining experiences for young audiences and families.

Terras sem Sombra Festival

One Festival, Three Dimensions

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Music

Each edition of the Festival features a classical music season with acclaimed national and international performers. Renowned repertoires, spanning from the medieval to the contemporary, are showcased in churches and historic sites across Alentejo, selected for their acoustics and cultural significance.

Heritage

The Festival celebrates and promotes the safeguarding of the Alentejo’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. From Cante singing to the art of making cowbells, from civil and religious architecture to archaeology, from cork oak woodlands to artisanal fishing, the region’s heritage comes to life through activities that invite participants to explore its rich cultural diversity, guided by local experts and specialists.

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Biodiversity

The Festival is equally committed to raising awareness of the landscapes, ecosystems, and natural resources of the region, recognising that knowledge is essential to appreciation and preservation. Local communities, audiences, and artists are invited to take part in outdoor activities that highlight the most critical, fascinating, and authentic aspects of the territory — fostering a deeper connection with and commitment to biodiversity conservation.

Mission

The Terras sem Sombra Festival seeks to:​

  • Expand access to culture and the arts in rural and low-density regions;

  • Position the Alentejo region within European cultural and artistic networks, while strengthening its identity;

  • Build, broaden, and diversify audiences;

  • Promote and safeguard cultural memory.

  • Raise awareness of biodiversity protection.

Values

  • Respect and authenticity in celebrating and preserving the region and its communities;

  • Empathy and inclusion in appreciating local uniqueness;

  • Accessibility and equality in engaging with all audiences;

  • Cooperation and solidarity with all internal and external stakeholders.

Missão e Valores

Terras sem Sombra International Award

The Terras sem Sombra International Award, established in 2011, honours individuals or institutions globally recognised for their outstanding contributions in the following categories: Music Promotion, Cultural Heritage Enhancement, and Biodiversity Conservation.

 

The award consists of a diploma and a commissioned contemporary artwork, presented annually at a formal ceremony led by distinguished national or international figures.

Country of Honour

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REPÚBLICA DA POLÓNIA

Comemorações do V Centenário do Nascimento de Luís de Camões

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Ano mulher agricultora

Estrutura financiada por:

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This project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland through the Cultural Promotion Fund.

Com o apoio de

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INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

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RIBERA DE ARRIBA

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SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL PARTNERS

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MEDIA & COMUNICATION PARTNERS

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