Abstract

Poverty in Alentejo's historic centres: built narratives and predictable outcomes

For ages, Alentejo (South of Portugal) has been regarded as a poor region in terms of economics, which translates into low employment rates and, as a result, low population density. This atavistic condition also extends to the region's cultural and artistic legacy, bringing together other topics reminiscent of “Estado Novo” ideology, in which poverty was synonymous with what is honourable, folkloric, traditional, naïve, and rural, a portrait of the country's peasantry.

This (almost) “ennoblement” of poverty has shaped our perception of Alentejo's artistic history, what should (or should not) be preserved, and, as a result, the policies developed for the region's sustainability.

However, the cultural heritage, particularly the tangible heritage, that still exists in the major urban areas defies this perception. At various points in its History, Alentejo was far from a poor region, but rather a vibrant nexus of stylistic confluences, artists (both national and foreign), and patrons who aspired to connect themselves with the best of what was being produced in the main European artistic centres.

Tourism is now viewed as the only answer to overcome stagnation. Still, it is simply a temporary solution to the region's requirements, projecting an image of wealth that can be deceiving because its long-term viability is dependent on external causes. Urban centres are today under enormous pressure from the real estate business, which has transformed everything to a logic that promotes crowds of tourists over the requirements of residents. We are thus confronted with another level of poverty for which there are no easy solutions: the loss of cultural identity.

Finding alternative mechanisms for increased regional resilience is crucial to preventing endemic poverty. This can be achieved through heritage education, as well as a concerted effort involving academia, civil and religious institutions, and, more importantly, local society. In this paper, we will use specific examples to illustrate various interventions in Alentejo’s built heritage that have attempted to eradicate poverty in some urban centres. We will also reflect on the outcomes of these measures and their likely future development.

Biographic note

She's a member of the ICOMOS - Portugal (2019) and an auxiliary researcher in the Centre for Lusophone and European Literature and Cultures (CLEPUL) at the School of Arts and Humanities of Lisbon University (DL 57/2016/NT-CLEPUL-02).

Patrícia Monteiro has a PhD in Art History (2013) and a Master in Art, Heritage and Restoration (2008), from the School of Arts and Humanities of Lisbon University. Between 2015 and 2019 she carried out a post-doctorate on decorative stuccos in Alentejo. Since 2004 she has been participating in multidisciplinary projects with research centres from national and international universities and cultural associations.

Patrícia Alexandra Rodrigues Monteiro

Centro de Culturas Lusófonas e Europeias (CLEPUL)

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa

patricia.monteiro@edu.ulisboa.pt