March 16, 2022 is the date set for the inauguration of the renovation and restoration works of the new Camillian set that is being born in S. Miguel de Seide, Vila Nova de Famalicão, consisting of the Farm and the House of the Farmers, to the original design of the building. The Mayor, Mário Passos, last Friday, during a working visit to the works, announced the date, which marks the 197th anniversary of the novelist’s birth.
Visibly pleased with the result of the architectural intervention, the mayor stressed "the enormous importance of this investment, which reflects the cultural commitment of the City Hall in preserving and enhancing the Camillian heritage".
With an investment of about 320 thousand euros, the works aimed the remodelling, expansion and exterior arrangements of Camilo's House. "The restoration of the caretakers' house and the renovation of the farm will allow not only to offer visitors a scenario as similar as the one Camilo lived, but also to allow that with these new infrastructures we can diversify even more the educational and pedagogical offer", as explained by the director of Casa de Camilo, José Manuel de Oliveira. According to him, the Casa dos Caseiros will have two essential features: one dedicated to educational services and another composed by a kitchen that will make possible to serve meals with a Camillian menu. There will also be a new space consisting of a dryland and patio for the development of 19th century daily activities.
The construction work is part of the application "Camilo Route: Enhancement of the House-Museum and Lapa Cemetery", recently approved under the North 2020 operational programme, and is co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
It should be noted that Camilo Castelo Branco lived in the house of Seide for about 26 years. He arrived here for love, wrote here, lived here with his family and ended his life here. Considered the most emblematic living memory of the greatest writer of Portuguese romanticism, Casa de São Miguel de Seide has gained a historical significance of fundamental importance for the deep understanding of all Camillian themes.
In addition to this project, the candidature presented together with the Venerable Brotherhood of Lapa, in Porto, also envisages the qualification of the Lapa Cemetery, a monument of public interest, where the vault containing the mortal remains of Camilo Castelo Branco is located. The City Hall also saw approved to the North 2020 the candidacy "Camilo Route: Territorial Qualification and Promotion". Altogether, the famalicense municipality will benefit from an investment of over 700 thousand euros, with ERDF contribution of around 500 thousand euros. The projects involve, in addition to the municipality, a set of partner institutions with important links to the life and work of the novelist.