WHY IS THE REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY OF ? The variety and the nutritional value of the Mediterranean Diet result from the consumption of products according to each time of the year. WHICH ARE THE CYCLICAL FESTIVITIES Tavira was chosen by Portugal OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET? to represent the Mediterranean diet in UNESCO for several reasons. This geocultural space hosts cyclical festivities hand in hand with the celebration of food, people’s WHICH ARE THE interaction around the dining table, highlighting SPECIFIC FOODS OF THE cooperation and sharing cultures. MEDITERRANEAN DIET? The Mediterranean Diet has a relation with the astral cycles, which strongly influence These are usually foods of plant origin, agricultural activities, planting and harvesting, The food landscapes of the vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fruits, olive the fisheries affected by the tides, the correct Mediterranean Diet testify as the main dietary fat, the wine, the bread, relationship between men and nature which the physical and social identity. dairy products, eggs, poultry meat,… structures the religious and profane festivities Soups and aromatized aqueous dishes (Carnival, Easter, Popular Saints, “Magustos”, are very characteristic of the Christmas,…), as well as the food and dishes Thecoastline includes The intermediate The “serra” (mountain Portuguese gastronomy. characteristic of each time of the year. Parque Natural da Ria “barrocal” , with clay range) with the features Formosa (Ria Formosa and chalky soils, keeps of a forest and Natural Park), an a varied flora adapted Mediterranean internationally listed to the climate; olive, woodland, still keeps The celebration, the feast and the and protected almond, carob and fig activities of community ecosystem, made of trees, family farming, farming, livestock dining table are core elements in the barrier islands and “telheiros de cerâmica” rearing, apiculture, Mediterranean cultures. marshlands, biologically (ceramic sheds) mark the hunting, handicrafts,… very rich. landscape of these territories. To visit: Tavira’s salt pans landscapes, boat journeys on ria Formosa with To taste:seaside, “barrocal” and serra” restaurants provide a diverse and very To discover and to take part in: “charolas” (chants to celebrate To be visited: Historic Centre of Tavira, the Castle, dozens of churches, shrines migratory birds watching, bicycle or car trails throughout inland areas, where it rich Mediterranean gastronomy: the octopus, tuna fish, xarém (a kind of the New Year, Singing of the Kings) in January, celebrations and processions and convents, Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo, “barrocal and serra” itineraries is possible to see olive groves, orchards and home vegetable gardens, clay polenta), cataplanas (round sealable copper recipients), fish or shellfish soups, in Easter, the Mays, “dia da espiga”, “São João e a moura encantada do castelo” and , Cabanas and , Barril beach and the anchor cemetery,… lands, villages and small settlements.,… For more information on tourist bivalve mollusks, “gaspachos” (cold soups) and cold salads, sweets of almond (23rd June to 24th June), “São Martinho e os magustos”, Christmas Celebrations entertainment companies refer tocm-tavira.pt site. and fig, Food and Wine festivals of “Serra” (March/April) and of the Sea (May). and New Year Celebrations.

ALONGTAVIRA... INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE DISCOVERING THE OF HUMANITY BY UNESCO. WHAT IS THE The “Mediterranean Diet” was inscribed on UNESCO’s List MEDITERRANEAN DIET MEDITERRANEAN DIET? of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, during the 8th Intergovernmental Conference held in Baku on 4th THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET, ordíaita ofthe December 2013. Tavira is the community representing ancient Greeks, which means life style, is the set Portugal in this inscription such as are Sória /Spain, Koroni of traditional knowledge and techniques of /Greece, Cilento /Italy, Chefchaouen /Morocco, Agros civilizations and peoples of the Mediterranean /Cyprus and Brac and Hvar /Croatia. culture, resulting from the millenarian community experiences, passed down from The Intangible Cultural Heritage defines the experiences generation to generation. It is a way of living of the communities, which due to their ancestry should be MEDITERRANEAN DIET which keeps a healthy food standard, passed on to the future generations, such as traditions and INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY recognised by WHO – World Health oral expressions, including the language, performing arts, TAVIRA Organization, based on the consumption of social practices, rituals and festival activities, knowledge fresh, seasonal and proximity products. and habits related to nature and the universe and artisanal techniques.

To be visited: “Mediterranean Diet – Millenary Cultural Heritage” Exhibition in “Museu Municipal de Tavira”, Mediterranean Diet Fair on the first half of September,…

Portugal faces the Atlantic Ocean

Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento but is deeply Mediterranean in the fundamental features of its climate, landscapes, economies, culture and dietamediterranica.net ways of living. MEDITERRANEAN DIET ALL YEAR TAVIRA