The celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Filigree Route in Gondomar took place yesterday, October 17th, as part of the commemorations for the International Day for the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The event included the inauguration of the Gondomar Nautical Station, a new step in valuing the Douro River and the municipality's tourism potential.
The ceremony began at the Casa Branca de Gramido with the unveiling of a plaque at the Gondomar Tourist Office and the hoisting of the Nautical Station's flag. This was followed by a cruise on the Douro River, where participants celebrated a decade of filigree valorization. The session was led by actress Melânia Gomes and featured a musical interlude.
Established in 2016, the Filigree Route aims to preserve traditional know-how, promote artisans, and enhance Gondomar's goldsmithing. Key milestones include the creation of the World's Largest Filigree Heart, the inauguration of the Municipal Filigree Museum, and the classification of this art in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The application to UNESCO and Gondomar's designation as an «Authentic European Town» in 2026 further underscore the recognition of this heritage.
The celebration also included the renewal of protocols with the five workshops adhering to the Filigree Route, reaffirming the joint commitment to preserving this centuries-old art. The Gondomar Nautical Station, with approximately 37 kilometers of riverfront, saw athletes Gustavo Gonçalves and João Santos appointed as Ambassadors, along with the adhesion of ten new local partners.
The ceremony featured speeches by Luís Filipe Araújo, President of the Municipal Chamber of Gondomar, Luís Pedro Martins, Executive Director of Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal, and Gisela Sousa, National Coordinator of Fórum Oceano. The program concluded with a convivial lunch and a musical performance by Fado Nostrum.
