Social

SOCIAL EVENTS

Lisbon / Lisbonne / Lisboa
Social Events / Programme social / Eventos sociais

Lisbon | Lisbonne | Lisboa

[EN] Located in a beautiful area along the Atlantic coast, Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, a Southern European nation-state with stable borders since the 13^th century and a current population of 10.5 million. This metropolis has been a crossroads throughout its history for countless peoples and cultures. Comprising 18 municipalities and with a population of 2.6 million, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area is the heart of the country’s economy and showcase of great cultural, architectural and natural heritage. Due to its geography and history, Lisbon is a European capital that is particularly skilled in encouraging dialogue, promoting international co-operation in co-development initiatives and facing the challenges raised by the democratic management of an evermore diverse society. A point of departure to all parts of the world since the time of the Discoveries, in recent decades Lisbon has also become a harbour to a growing number of immigrants of diverse geographical and socio-cultural origin, namely Portuguese-speaking Africans, Brazilians, Eastern Europeans, Indians and Chinese. With the 11th International Metropolis Conference, participants had the opportunity to enjoy this warm and pleasant city by visiting our charming neighbourhoods, historical monuments, museums and gardens.

[FR] La ville de Lisbonne, capitale du Portugal, est une ville splendide, située sur les sept collines à l’embouchure du Tage, au bord de l’Atlantique, au Sud de l’Europe. Les frontières portugaises sont définies et stables depuis le 13^ème siècle. Actuellement le pays compte une population totale de 10,5 millions de personnes. Durant toute son histoire la métropole de Lisbonne a été un lieu de croisement d’innombrables personnes et cultures. Divisée en 18 municipalités et avec une population de 2,6 millions de personnes, l’aire métropolitaine de Lisbonne constitue le cœur de l’économie nationale et la gravure de tout héritage culturel, architectural et naturel. De par sa géographie et son histoire, Lisbonne est une capitale de l’Europe particulièrement bien située pour encourager le dialogue pour la promotion de la coopération internationale en matière d’initiatives de co-développement et pour faire face aux défis imposés aux gestionnaires de la démocratie dans une société de plus en plus diversifiée. Point de départ vers tout le monde depuis l’ère des découvertes, Lisbonne s’est transformé, au long des décennies récentes, en terre d’accueil d’un nombre croissant d’immigrés d’origines géographiques et socioculturelles bien distinctes. Les plus nombreux sont notamment les Africains de langue portugaise, les Brésiliens, les immigrés des pays de l’Europe de l’Est, les Indiens et les Chinois. La 11ème Conférence Internationale Metropolis a été une bonne occasion de connaître cette ville agréable ainsi que les charmantes villes voisines, les monuments historiques, les musées, les parques et jardins.

[PT] Localizada ao longo da Costa Atlântica, numa área de rara beleza, Lisboa é a capital de Portugal, um país do Sul da Europa com fronteiras estáveis desde o século XIII e uma população actual de 10,5 milhões de habitantes. Esta metrópole tem constituído ao longo da sua história um ponto de encontro para inúmeros povos e culturas. Abrangendo 18 municípios e uma população de 2,6 milhões de habitantes, a Área Metropolitana de Lisboa é o centro económico do país, sendo ainda caracterizada por uma significativa herança cultural, arquitectónica e natural. Devido à sua posição geográfica e ao seu protagonismo ao longo da História, Lisboa é uma capital Europeia particularmente adequada para encorajar o diálogo e promover a cooperação internacional no que diz respeito ao co-desenvolvimento e aos desafios colocados pela gestão democrática de uma sociedade cada vez mais diversa. Ponto de partida para as mais diversas partes do mundo desde a época dos Descobrimentos, Lisboa tornou-se também recentemente um local de chegada para um número crescente de imigrantes das mais diversas origens geográficas e socio-culturais, nomeadamente Africanos de língua portuguesa, Brasileiros, Europeus de Leste, Indianos e Chineses. Aquando da 11ª Conferência Internacional Metropolis, os participantes tiveram a oportunidade de desfrutar desta cidade acolhedora e agradável, visitando os nossos agradáveis bairros, monumentos históricos, museus, parques e jardins.

Social Events | Programme social| Eventos sociais

[EN] Participants were invited to special events organised in the evening during the week of the conference.

> Monday, 2 October: Welcome Cocktail Reception at the Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum) in Lisbon's Historic Belém Quarter

[EN] The conference's welcome cocktail reception, hosted by His Excellency the Minister of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Pedro Silva Pereira, was held at one of the most visited museums in Portugal and certainly of Lisbon, the Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum). The National Coach Museum houses and exhibits, in the exquisite ambiance of the old Royal Riding Arena of Belém Palace, an exceptional collection of ceremonial vehicles from the Royal family, dating from 17th Century to late19th Century. Belém is linked to Portugal’s Golden Age of Discoveries as the site where the famous navigators set sail to discover the world. Today it is home to many gardens, parks and monuments that are well worth a visit. Amongst Belém’s attractions are the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Torre de Belém, the Belém Cultural Centre and Rua Vieira Portuense.

Special honoured speakers included: Mr. Charles Buchanan, President of Metropolis Portugal and Director of the Luso-American Foundation (FLAD); Mr. Howard Duncan, Co-Chair of the International Metropolis Project; Mr. António Carmona Rodrigues, Mayor of the City of Lisbon; Mr. Pedro Silva Pereira, Minister of the Council of Ministers.

Located at: Museu Nacional dos Coches, Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Belém (Lisboa). Visit the Museu Nacional dos Coches website and the Lisbon Tourism website for more information.

> Tuesday, 3 October: Evening of Portuguese Music at Trindade Theatre in the Bairro Alto / Chiado Quarter

[EN] Conference participants had the opportunity to get a taste of the range of music Portugal has to offeron the evening of Tuesday, 3 October, at the Trindade Theatre, located in the lively, bohemian Bairro Alto and Chiado quarters of Lisbon. Talented fado singer, Katia Guerreiro, took to the stage followed by the versatile voices of the duo Maria João and Mário Lajinha.

The South African-born Portuguese fado singer Katia Guerreiro released her first album, Fado Maior, in 2001. In 2006, Guerreiro released third album, Tudo ou Nada, which includes music set to the words of famous Portuguese poets like Sofia de Mello Breyner, Vinicius de Moraes and Lobo Antunes. Maria João, began her career at Lisbon's famous Hot Club jazz school and is known for her eclectic mix of ethnic music, modern jazz and avant-garde music. Her first album, Sol, came out in 1991. Her most recent album, Undercovers (2002), does a new take on music as varied as Björk, Caetano Veloso, Joni Mitchell, Alejandro Sanz and Tom Waits. Mário Laginha, piano player and composer, is among Portugal's most creative contemporary jazz musicians. His first album, Ao Encontro, was released in the early 1980s and he launched a solo album, Canções e Fugas, in early 2006.

Located at: Teatro Trindade, Largo da Trindade, 7a, Bairro Alto / Chiado (Lisboa). Visit the Teatro Trindade website for more information.

> Wednesday, 4 October: Organ Concert at the Sé (Lisbon Cathedral) in the Alfama Quarter

[EN] Conference participants were invited to a special musical evening to be held at Lisbon's beautiful 12th century cathedral, a national historic landmarkthat was built by the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques. A selection of works by Bach, Bohm, Seixas, da Conceição, Frescobaldi, Couperin and Correa de Arauxo was played on the Sé's 18th century organ by classical organist Nuno Oliveira. This was also a wonderful opportunity to get to know one of Lisbon's most charming quarters, Alfama. See the concert's programme [PDF].

Located at: Sé de Lisboa, Largo da Sé, Alfama (Lisboa). Visit the Lisbon Tourism website for more information.

> Thursday, 5 October: Closing Dinner at the Estufa Fria (Conservatory) in Parque Eduardo VII

[EN] The conference's closing dinner, hosted by the City of Lisbon, was held at the Estufa Fria (Conservatory) located in Parque Eduardo VII in downtown Lisbon. Opened in 1933, the verdant Estufa Fria's grounds are spread over one hectare and harbour various greenhouses and other natural environments for a rich variety of temperate and tropical plants. Following a speech by a representative from the City of Lisbon, a buffet dinner was served.

Located at: Estufa Fria, Parque Eduardo VII, Lisboa.