An initiative that includes activities promoting the region’s industrial heritage, together with the working industry that is still open today, continues until April 14.
Museums, tours and exhibitions encompass life as it was in Algarve for those working in industries that include canning, olive pressing, manufacturing goods from cork and mining rock salt.
Many industries are still open today, such as the Cork Eco-Factory (Eco-Fábrica de Cortiça) in São Brás de Alportel.
This factory prepares cork and manufactures bags which they sell in the factory shop.
Tours and workshops are available plus visits to cork oak groves. For more information check out the website and to find out more about cork in general, click here.
A working rock salt mine in Loulé is also part of the initiative where an exhibition of contemporary paintings is being held 230m below ground, in the mine itself.
Dedicated to the patron saint of miners, Saint Barbara, the twelve paintings depict her story through a contemporary approach, interpreted by Klaus Zylla.
Offering the opportunity to also wonder at the 230-million-year-old geological formations along a 1.3 km walk, visitors can learn about the oldest, and of course the current, mining processes
To book your visit to see the mine and paintings click here.
A third industry open to visitors is close to Lagoa on the Arade estuary – canning.
Saboreal is opening its doors on April 14 for 20 visitors to see how canning is carried out in their artisanal factory with a 10% discount on goods available in their onsite shop. Visits must be prebooked via this link.
For history on the area’s canning factories a must is a visit to Portimão Museum, which is included in the 50 most influential European museums.
Continuing the food theme, Monterosa is opening its doors on April 8, 12, 13 and 14 for guided tours of their olive groves and the mill where the olive oil production process starts.
The tour will end with a tasting and the opportunity to buy goods at a 15% discount. To book your place click here.