Vale de Ílhavo returns to receive the Route of the Bakers, from 19 to 22 March, for four days dedicated to traditions still maintained by 15 bakeries and 2 handmade grinds.
The event, promoted by the Municipality of Ílhavo in partnership with the Cultural and Recreational Association "Os Baldas", has in the first days (Thursday and Friday) two specific audiences: students and seniors. On the weekend, the 21st and 22nd, bread is for everyone.
Friday night kicks off with the smell of a wood oven that invades Ílhavo Valley and leads visitors to the "Open Door" initiative (free registration slates in artesanato@cm-ilhavo.pt). Five bakeries open doors to visitors to show how Padas, Folares and Ílhavo Valley Bread are made.
At the "Os Baldas" site, the march 21-22 schedule is aimed at the whole family and includes music, community theater, exhibition, guided visits and various workshops. In addition to the long-awaited performance of carders.
On Saturday, the official opening is at 14:30, followed by the percussion of Toca Baldar, scheduled for 15:00, thus marking the start of the 2020 edition of the Rota das Padeiras.
The program continues into the afternoon outside, with several actions in which, more than seeing, the public is invited to participate and literally put their hands in the dough. Both on Saturday and Sunday at 16:00, the cloth lunchbox sewing workshop "Cosipa your bread envelope" is held for people with or without experience. This is also a way to contribute to the reduction of the ecological footprint, avoiding the use of plastic or paper bags. Registration (limited to 10 participants) can be made by e-mail artesanato@cm-ilhavo.pt or by phone 234 329 641 or 234 325 911.
Also on both days of the weekend, at 5:30 p.m., the tradition joins innovation in the workshop of Padas, Bread of Salicorn and Folar of Ílhavo Valley: "Put your hand in the dough". In this workshop, limited to 15 participants, of all ages, each is invited to roll up their sleeves and knead the bread, wearing the skin of a true Baker of Ílhavo Valley.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also guided by various moments of music and dance.
At 3:30 p.m., the real superman of music appears at the head of "Os Baldas." "Da Cruz... One man band" is the traditional and unique man-orchestra in our country: it plays in progress, with his hands, feet, mouth, leaps and elbows.
By 5:30 pm there is "A Chiclateira", (repeating at the same time on Sunday), a true gourmet menu of gastronomic songs starring the chefs Chocolatela and Chico Laitinho, arrived in Vale de Ílhavo directly from Chocolatonga da Serra.
On Saturday, at 6:30 pm, Diana Azevedo challenges everyone to dance at the Baile das Padeiras, between group and pair dances.
The evening presents a novelty in this year's edition. The "Toca Baldar" and "Os Cardadores de Vale de Ílhavo" join for the community project "Pão p ´ra toda a obra", with the signature of Rui Souza. The paths will be made of stones, dust, drums, bread and wine water, to which are added the voices, hugs, joys and sorrows. And so lives are built and that reality is much more than you see.
On Sunday, the day begins with another edition of "Sentidos de Mar", this time under the theme "Bread of Ílhavo Valley and herbs of the sea". Departing from Cais da Malhada, in Ílhavo, the tour, which takes place by bike, explores the connection between the "herbs of the sea", biologically produced in Terra d'Avó and the traditional Valente Milling that, for four generations, produces flours in stone grindstone. The visit includes the tasting of these flavors combined by the hand of chef Ricardo Marques. Registration, limited to 20 participants, can be made by e-mail visitas.mmi@cm-ilhavo.pt or by phone 234 329 990 and cost 11 euros per person (includes insurance). Bicycles are available by the organization.
The bread tradition is added to another tradition also of Ílhavo Valley – the Carders who, in their way of being irreverent, will be present on the Route of the Bakers, at 15:00 hours on Sunday.
The following are the initiatives scheduled for the 21st ("Da Cruz – One Man Band"; "Cosipa o teu saco"; "Get your hands on the dough" and "A Chiclateira"), ending the afternoon of March 22 with the performance, at 6:30 pm, of the Ethnographic Ranch of Gafanha da Nazaré.
Throughout the event there will be bread sales, bar service and two exhibitions will be exhibited: The "Confectioner" of Bread and Gives Color to the Cardador.