Xistopedia

“You can read a book anywhere. But few places are as beautiful as this one”

“You can read a book anywhere. But few places are as beautiful as this one”
villages and territory
For four days, the VIAGEM ao INTERIOR for books, people and the country swept through the Aldeias do Xisto to share books, stories and moments that remain fixed in our memory.

It was at the wheel of a white van, which was colourfully illustrated and loaded with books, that, on the morning of 7 May, João Ferreira Oliveira arrived at the Aldeia do Xisto, Figueira, in the county of Proença-a-Nova, and started the VIAGEM ao INTERIOR for books, people and the country.

As fate would have it, the beginning of this adventure coincided with the return to work of librarian Nuno Marçal, who has been touring the county’s villages with his Mobile Library for about 15 years. Over time, previously unknown faces appeared at the open doors of their homes and became family. These people “carry a lot of knowledge and know-how. They are in fact human libraries, even if they cannot read or write”, says Nuno. “I am very privileged to have gained their friendships”, he concludes.

 

The arrival of the Mobile Library provides “moments to meet and share”, says Joana Pereira, from Casa Ti’Augusta. He has enjoyed reading for as long as he can remember, and so waits joyfully “for the news that Nuno brings every fortnight”.

And in the afternoon, it was with joy and enthusiasm that the children of the Sarzedas Primary School received the Travelling Library. A demanding public, who were not backward in coming forward with their questions, they gave their opinions about the books, choosing the next story or providing an account of their daily life, drawing smiles from the adults present. “Every evening I read to my sister”, said one of the little ones.


“You can read a book anywhere. But few places are as beautiful as this one” . João Ferreira Oliveira is referring to the Lavandeira Fluvial Park in the Aldeia do Xisto of Janeiro de Cima. Here, the Zêzere reigns over a landscape whose stillness invites you to a dip in the books and a reading that captivates little human beings walking through it.


There was also the opportunity to share stories with the students from the EB1 School in Janeiro de Cima, where the enthusiasm was echoed.
 

 

In the Aldeia do Xisto of Fajão, in the county of Pampilhosa da Serra, the churchyard was the meeting point. Kids and grown-ups have got to know this project and certainly contributed to one of its objectives: arriving at the end with the van empty of books, but full of stories.


The Itinerant Library also went to the Aldeia do Xisto of Cerdeira, in the serra da Lousã, to learn the story of Kerstin Thomas, a German woman who settled there more than 20 years ago and learned Portuguese through books.

“It was intense. It went well. It was beautiful. I have read dozens of stories. I gave away almost 100 books. I saw in the kids a sparkle in their eyes and an ease with the stories that you don’t always find in the large centres. Moralistic speeches aside, I came to value even more the work of teachers and librarians who walk from one area to another doing what I am doing for jthis one time”, João Ferreira Oliveira writes in his summary on the Instagram page of the initiative, which is now heading to the Terra Fria Route (Trás-os-Montes) and will also pass through the Alentejo Interior and the Algarve Interior.

explore

restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
offer
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
tour
Panoramic Road:   Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
tour
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]
village
Figueira
Figueira
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel

next events

event
Exposição Habitar o Interior
Exposição Habitar o Interior
13 sep 2024 - 13 oct 2024
Proença-a-Nova
event
Moonlight Talasnal
Moonlight Talasnal
20 sep 2024 - 13 dec 2024, 20:30
Talasnal
event
Festival de Caminhadas da Serra da Lousã
Festival de Caminhadas da Serra da Lousã
04 oct 2024 - 06 oct 2024, 18:00
Castanheira de Pera
event
XX Festa da Castanha
XX Festa da Castanha
12 oct 2024 - 13 oct 2024, 21:00
Aldeia das Dez
event
Alambicada in Aigra Velha
Alambicada in Aigra Velha
13 oct 2024, 10:00
Aigra Velha
event
Festival do Achigã em Vila de Rei
Festival do Achigã em Vila de Rei
18 oct 2024 - 27 oct 2024
Vila de Rei
event
AXTrail na Serra da Lousã
AXTrail na Serra da Lousã
18 oct 2024 - 20 oct 2024, 10:00
Aigra Nova, Aigra Velha, Candal, Casal Novo, Cerdeira, Chiqueiro, Comareira, Gondramaz, Pena, Talasnal
event
Festival Gastronómico Sabores de Outono
Festival Gastronómico Sabores de Outono
18 oct 2024 - 27 oct 2024, 11:00
Lousã
event
Festival Gastronómico do Bucho Recheado
Festival Gastronómico do Bucho Recheado
18 oct 2024 - 20 oct 2024, 18:00
Pedrógão Grande
event
Feira Franca de Fajão
Feira Franca de Fajão
19 oct 2024, 10:00
Fajão
event
ART&TUR – Festival Internacional de Cinema de Turismo
ART&TUR – Festival Internacional de Cinema de Turismo
22 oct 2024 - 25 oct 2024, 20:00
Lousã
event
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas: Olhar a Brama
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas: Olhar a Brama
27 oct 2024 - 01 dec 2024
event
Festa das Nozes em Casal de S. Simão
Festa das Nozes em Casal de S. Simão
27 oct 2024, 08:00
Casal de São Simão
event
Colcurinho Epic Trail
Colcurinho Epic Trail
27 oct 2024, 08:00
Aldeia das Dez
event
XVIII Feira de Doçaria Conventual
XVIII Feira de Doçaria Conventual
01 nov 2024 - 03 nov 2024, 10:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Feira do Porco e do Enchido de Meruge
Feira do Porco e do Enchido de Meruge
09 nov 2024 - 10 nov 2024, 15:00
Meruge
event
Feira do Mel e da Castanha
Feira do Mel e da Castanha
22 nov 2024 - 24 nov 2024, 18:00
Lousã