Culture

Feira do Livro do Porto has begun, this year with a “more emotional feature”

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The 2022 edition of Feira do Livro do Porto has already begun, marked at its opening, as usual, by the visit of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira. The tradition of visiting each of the stands present in the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal was fulfilled – not only to see and buy books, but also to greet and take pictures with everyone who asked it. Emotions are felt in the tribute to the recently deceased Ana Luísa Amaral, the honored author of the event.

Early in this Friday’s afternoon, the Feira do Livro do Porto venue once again witnessed the traditional moment when Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Rui Moreira celebrate the book and literature: accompanied by the coordinator of Feira do Livro programming, Nuno Faria, and the president of the Municipal Assembly, Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, as well as other elements of the municipal council, both visited all the stands of the event, buying books and talking to the publishers and second-hand booksellers present.

“I take some books from here, and I think that they are all good. Either you like books or you do not. There are no half feelings. I am passionate about books, I am a collector, I have already sent more than 200 thousand books to Celorico de Basto throughout my life so that others, not just me, can benefit from what is fundamental for the formation of all of us”, underlined the President of the Republic, considering it “worrying” that an “overwhelming majority of Portuguese people” do not have reading habits. “It is improving, but it is worrying. There are ways to read, you can read on the internet, you can read on paper, you can read anywhere,” he added.

Back in town after travelling to Brazil, where he travelled with the heart of D. Pedro, temporarily transferred within the scope of the celebrations of the bicentenary of Independence of Brazil, Rui Moreira expressed his satisfaction on another visit by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: “Tradition is still what it used to be, the President of the Republic came here to inaugurate Feira do Livro. We were incredibly pleased, he never fails.”

“More emotional feature”

Recalling that this edition of Feira do Livro is dedicated to Ana Luísa Amaral, the Mayor of Porto regretted the loss of the author a few days after being at the presentation of Feira do Livro. “Even because of that, it will have a more emotional feature,” he acknowledged.

“This is not just a book fair, it is in fact a cultural festival. We call it book fair because it is the most traditional name, but there is a huge set of activities that range from music, visual arts, there is a lot to see”, recalled Rui Moreira, expressing the desire for the public to attend the event: “We no longer have those difficulties we had during the last two years, which forced us to take special care. We always managed to keep the Feira do Livro. I hope that people who were afraid to come will be able to return to Feira do Livro this year.”

“One of the happiest moments of the year”

Rui Moreira also admitted that Feira do Livro is “one of the happiest moments of the year, always. Because I really like books. The book is something irreplaceable. I often see children, these days, with games and more, but the book is something that always stays, that we can always turn to. It is much more than an object. The book is a source, and sources are important.”

“We have a lot of people, many visitors. I see many people buying books. When I see young people buying books, it is a guarantee that the book will endure,” noted the mayor, concluding that the culture is the best way to bring people together. “We have a space here that I think the people of Porto love, it is well cared for, it is inviting. The weather is fine, and it is time for people to mingle. There is nothing better than culture for people to mingle, that is what brings us all together. I also like football, but in football there is antagonism – here there is no opposition, it is different. Feira do Livro is a tree, with many branches, with fruits and flowers. That is what I hope people to find here,” he said.

Before the tour of the 84 stands – including bookstores, publishers and second-hand booksellers from all over the country – the delegation had visited the exhibit Escrevo para um amigo que virá, dedicated to the life and work of the essayist Manuel Gusmão. The exhibit is curated by the programming center of the Museu da Cidade by Helena Carvalhão Buescu and will be on display until the end of the year at the Biblioteca Municipal Almeida Garrett. This Saturday, August 27, at 3 pm the Tília award ceremony will be held in tribute to the poet Ana Luísa Amaral, the honored author of this edition of Feira do Livro. The ceremony led by the Mayor of Porto will be followed by a double tribute session, in the BMAG auditorium, with the screening of the film “Entre dois rios e outras noites”, presented by Nuno F. Santos, director of the documentary, and the conversation “O som que os versos fazem a abrir”, with Rosa Maria Martelo, Isabel Pires de Lima, Teresa Coutinho, Nuno F. Santos and moderation by Luís Caetano.

The schedule of Feira do Livro do Porto has more than 100 activities, with free access, in a calendar full of conversations, lessons, workshops, concerts, films and activities for babies, children and young people.