In them: Castle Tower target of safeguarding and protection action: Gazeta Rural

As part of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, whose theme this year is “Catastrophes and Conflicts in the light of the Venice Charter”, the Municipality of Nelas, through the Tourism and Cultural Heritage Service, chose the Castle Tower, in the Parish of Senhorim, for an action to enhance a medieval archaeological site with traces of a fortification in ruins and which is constantly attacked by forest fires due to the steep area in which it is located.

This action will allow the cleaning of the plant material that resisted the fire in August last year, making it possible, after cleaning, to carry out a comprehensive topographic survey of the rocky spur and allow for an in-depth technical study of a site with notable historical potential.

Integrated into the PR1 – Moinhos do Rio Castelo Pedestrian Route, this point of interest will provide more information through the placement of an explanatory panel to be created with the collaboration of CCDRC and support from the Parish Council of Senhorim who visited the site.

Framework of activity at institutional level:

“CATASTROPHES AND CONFLICTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE VENICE CHARTER” is the theme proposed by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for the International Day of Monuments and Sites 2024.

PATRIMÓNIO CULTURAL, IP is, from 2024, the entity responsible for the National Coordination of the celebrations of the International Day of Monuments and Sites in Portugal, thus continuing the work of recent years, developed by the extinct Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC ).

As usual, and in collaboration with ICOMOS Portugal, PATRIMÓNIO CULTURAL, IP, understanding Cultural Heritage as a citizenship project, calls for the participation of all partners in the celebration of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, through activities that raise awareness among different audiences about the importance of preserving, safeguarding and enhancing Cultural Heritage.

The theme “Catastrophes and conflicts in the light of the Venice Charter” invites us to reflect on the shared Cultural Heritage that emanates from this international convention, in the year in which it celebrates 60 years, and what role
still performs today.

The Venice Charter was adopted in 1964, two decades after World War II, at a time that promised unlimited progress and economic development. Six decades later, the world is facing a climate emergency, a growing number of natural disasters and conflicts, leading to the destruction of cultural sites and the mass displacement of populations.

Living testimony to the centuries-old traditions of a people, historical monuments are a common heritage, which must be safeguarded for future generations, with all the richness of their authenticity.

The Venice Charter thus presents the international guiding principles for the conservation and restoration of historical monuments, understanding that “the conservation and restoration of monuments aims to safeguard both the work of art and the testimony of history” (article 3).