Marvão hosts Al Mossassa festival

Marvão is decked out this weekend to host the Al Mossassa Festival, the festival that remembers its founder and takes the town of Alto-Alentejo on a journey back in time to the 9th century.

During 3 days, and until Sunday October 7th, dance, fire, circus arts, historical recreations and medieval games fill the beautiful village of Marvão, bringing a lot of animation for all ages to the walls and streets of the village that stands on the cliff top like an eagle’s nest.

The synchronism of the pyrotechnics with the various moments of the staging, as well as the illustration of the show, using a technique of light amplification by electromagnetic emission, will be the differentiating elements of this show.

With the unique setting of Marvão Castle and its preserved architecture as a canvas, it will allow various action plans that will make the show unforgettable.

In the imposing dungeon of the Castle, equipment will be installed to project drawings and stylized messages, which will appear at various moments of the show and which will embellish and frame the story.

In addition to all the entertainment, another highlight will be the “3 Cultures Market”. A space with about 60 points of sale where you can find products and objects somehow related to the Islamic, Jewish and Christian cultures that distinguish Marvão.

With the Al Mossassa Festival, Marvão thus pays tribute to its founder, Ibn Marúan, the rebel, who also founded the city of Badajoz, which last weekend also paid tribute to its founder.

Ibn Marúan was a military and religious leader of Al-Andalusia who rebelled against the emir of Cordoba and ruled over a territory that stretched from the Spanish city to Marvão. It was he who built the castle of Marvão between 876 and 877 and gave his name to the town.

The official opening of the thirteenth edition of Al Mossassa Festival is scheduled for 11am tomorrow, October 5, at the Paços do Concelho building.

After the opening ceremony and as part of the commemorations of the Implantation of the Portuguese Republic, the Municipal Assembly of Marvão promotes, from 11h45, in the session room of the old Court (Casa da Cultura), the Tertúlia “The 1st Republic and other stories of justice”, with António Canêdo Berenguel.

The 13th Al Mossassa Festival will close on Sunday, 7 October, at 8 p.m., after the final closing show, with the participation of musicians, dancers, jugglers, fire manipulators, birds of prey, snake charmers and typical figures of the time. A truly medieval parade worthy of closing this incomparable event celebrating the three cultures.