On the next World Tourism Day, September 27th, Thursday, at 10:00 am, in the town of Lousada, the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque, promoted by the Route of the Romanesque, will open its doors to the public.

Over the last few years, the Route of the Romanesque has been emerging as a national reference project, being recognised as a paradigm of regional development, in various areas of intervention: from heritage conservation to tourist promotion, from scientific research to the dissemination of knowledge, from cultural promotion to heritage education.

In 2018, European Year of Cultural Heritage, this supramunicipal project will celebrate two milestones of its history. On the one hand, the 20th anniversary of its creation and first institutional steps. On the other hand, the 10th anniversary of its public presentation at the Monastery of Saint Peter of Ferreira, in Paços de Ferreira, on April 18, 2008, International Day for Monuments and Sites.

To celebrate these milestones, achieving a long-awaited goal, on September 27th, Thursday, the Route of the Romanesque will open the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque, located in Praça das Pocinhas, in the centre of Lousada.

The exhibition concept behind this major venue for the dissemination of historical-cultural heritage stands out for the boldness of its architecture, but also for the multiple interactive experiences provided by its museographic contents.

In addition to a reception, a bar and a library, the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque comprises an exhibition area with approximately 650 square meters, organised in large central foyer and six theme-based rooms: Territory and Establishment of Portugal; Medieval Society; The Romanesque; The Builders; Symbolism and Colour; Monuments Over Time.

Thus, the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque emerges as the ideal setting for you to start your journey of discovery of the Route of the Romanesque and its territory of influence, as well as of the art and symbolism that marked Portugal and Europe over several centuries in the Middle Ages.

This Centre represents a total investment (studies, projects, contracting, museography...) of around 1.9 million euros, 85% co-financed by European funds, through the 2007/2013 (ON.2 - O Novo Norte) and 2014/2020 (Norte 2020) Regional Operational Programs for Northern Portugal.

Currently, the Route of the Romanesque comprises 58 monuments, located in 12 municipalities (Amarante, Baião, Castelo de Paiva, Celorico de Basto, Cinfães, Felgueiras, Lousada, Marco de Canaveses, Paços de Ferreira, Paredes, Penafiel and Resende) of the Sousa, Douro and Tâmega valleys, in northern Portugal.