Discovering Water Heritage at Fonte Filipe
On Sunday 20th September, the Portuguese pilot site of the WatHer project celebrated European Heritage Days with a guided tour of the Fonte Filipe WHS.
This was a participatory and collaborative activity organised by the University of Algarve (PP4) in conjunction with local stakeholders (QRER Cooperative, Rêverie – Experiences EcoWellness), with the aim of bringing the community closer to its heritage. The interpretative route focusing on water heritage – which includes irrigation canals and a watermill – was led by PP4 with the collaboration of the local population and attracted 17 participants of different nationalities (Portugal, Italy, France and the Netherlands).
At the start of the activity, the field trip was contextualized within the objectives of the WatHer project, and the role and importance of the Fonte Filipe WHS for future generations, in tackling the climate challenges and for the socio-ecological sustainability of the Algarve’s inland region, were discussed. The participants showed great interest in the WatHer project and offered to collaborate on future initiatives and activities to be held in the pilot site.
The activity concluded at the watermill with a tasting of local produce typical of the Mediterranean diet, recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The lead partner of the WatHer project is Politecnico di Milano – Department of Architecture, Built environment and Construction engineering (IT), and the project partners are University of Padova (IT), University of Granada (ES), University of Algarve (PT), IN LOCO Association (PT), OTRA – Island Development Agency Ltd (HR), BSC – Business support centre Ltd, Kranj (SI), Cyprus University of Technology (CY), Laona Foundation for the Conservation and Regeneration of the Cypriot Countryside (CY), Selenica Municipality (AL), Chambre d’agriculture des Bouches-du-Rhône (FR) and Terres en villes (FR).
