Xistopedia

“The key to your success is the perfect integration of private investment in the project.”

“The key to your success is the perfect integration of private investment in the project.”
villages and territory
At the invitation of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Portugal, the Aldeias do Xisto welcomed a group of Argentinians, as part of the K2 - YRP - Youth Workers and Rural Heritage Promotion project, under the aegis of the European Union Erasmus+Programme.

At the invitation of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Portugal, the Aldeias do Xisto welcomed a group of Argentinians, as part of the K2 - YRP - Youth Workers and Rural Heritage Promotion project, under the aegis of the Erasmus+ Programme set up by the European Union. The project, which involves Spain, Italy, Poland, Argentina and Brazil, aims to promote cultural heritage in rural areas and the importance of their economic and social development. Mari José, Sebastian and Rita shared with us their impressions about their visit to the Aldeias do Xisto.


Rita Achinelli lives in Rosario (Argentina), and works as a tourism and hotel management trainer, as well as being involved in community-based tourism projects. Her main area of interest is responsible tourism.
“The experience here in the Aldeias do Xisto was very interesting... in fact, I’m having trouble finding the right words now because I’m so moved. When a project has the ability to move people and really touch their soul, well, that says it all! All the work you are doing is very interesting, because every part of the support infrastructure has been designed to be in harmony with the places, both environmentally and culturally. And every single thing you do expresses that culture. I know it is a very difficult, time consuming and demanding job, but you have managed to think of every detail, it is clear that nothing has been done by chance and everything has been thought through with the utmost attention to detail, contributing to complete project integrity. This was a very enriching and productive experience, not just professionally but mainly in human terms, and I am returning to Argentina with more energy to consider my projects.”


Mari José Murias studied politics and specialised in urban project development and “project management”. She is dedicated to planning and managing productive projects for the social inclusion of the most vulnerable sectors of the population. She coordinates the actuation of the NEXO Productive Units Program - Opportunity in the Municipality of Rosario (Argentina), through the Secretariat for Social Development. She also works as a consultant for civic associations, entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses.
“Throughout this visit we have learnt a lot of things that fundamentally derive from being in different geographical areas: for example, there are huge economic and funding differences in Europe compared to Latin America; there are also issues regarding institutional capacity and structure based on communication that you put in place, and that enables action through rules established and recognised by all. But, essentially, what is most significant is the capacity to think of projects over a broad time span, and not for fixed periods. We are still trying to do this in pilot projects, while you have been doing it like this for a long time, which provides another scale and depth to the application of public policies from local to regional level. Another issue that is also interesting to me is practice based on a brand, a corporate identity that is recognised not only at a territorial, productive level, but fundamentally by the community itself. It is a marketing concept that, for us, is still some way away, as we have not had the context to be able to develop this. I think this is one of the key learning points about a way of thinking and building a community from the inside and the outside that is very interesting and would be very useful for us to replicate.”


Sebastian Tordul comes from a small village near Rosario (Argentina). He is an agricultural engineer and works for an intensive farming company.
“What I will remember from my visit to the Aldeias do Xisto s how they have managed, together with the residents, to preserve and at the same time transform the image of these types of communities and develop them in a sustainable way - this was the most innovative aspect that I saw throughout this whole trip, especially the connection between tourism and the growth of small economic enterprise. In fact, I believe that the key to your success is the perfect integration of private investment into the project, because it not only avoids expenditure by the state but also stimulates growth. The experience was very enriching.”

Text and photos: Bruno Ramos

explore

restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
tour
Mining Territory [GRZ - MTB sector 3]
Mining Territory [GRZ - MTB sector 3]
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
village
Figueira
Figueira
offer
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
Night Canoeing on the Santa Luzia Dam
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
tour
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]
Irrigating Cova da Beira [GRZ - MTB Sector 2]

next events

event
A VER Figueiró dos Vinhos: Tradições Populares, Costumes e Eventos Festivos
A VER Figueiró dos Vinhos: Tradições Populares, Costumes e Eventos Festivos
23 nov 2024 - 12 jan 2025, 11:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Natal e Ano Novo nas Aldeias do Xisto
Natal e Ano Novo nas Aldeias do Xisto
29 nov 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 10:00
event
Christmas Collectibles
Christmas Collectibles
29 nov 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 10:00
Oleiros
event
Oliveira do Hospital - Concelho Natal
Oliveira do Hospital - Concelho Natal
29 nov 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Natal é na Aldeia das Dez
Natal é na Aldeia das Dez
30 nov 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Aldeia das Dez
event
Retratos de Natal em Góis
Retratos de Natal em Góis
30 nov 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 18:30
Góis
event
Sertã Espírito de Natal
Sertã Espírito de Natal
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 09:00
event
Natal em Vila de Rei
Natal em Vila de Rei
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 10:00
event
Christmas in Candal
Christmas in Candal
01 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Candal
event
Natal da Fantasia 2024
Natal da Fantasia 2024
01 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 14:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Natal no Fundão
Natal no Fundão
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 15:00
event
Natal com Arte na Covilhã
Natal com Arte na Covilhã
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 15:00
event
Natal na Lousã
Natal na Lousã
01 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Há Natal em Pedrógão Grande
Há Natal em Pedrógão Grande
04 dec 2024 - 10 jan 2025, 09:00
event
Natal em Arganil
Natal em Arganil
05 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Natal em Castelo Branco
Natal em Castelo Branco
06 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 17:00
Castelo Branco
event
Concertos de Natal em Proença-a-Nova
Concertos de Natal em Proença-a-Nova
07 dec 2024 - 20 dec 2024, 16:00
event
Penela Presépio 2024
Penela Presépio 2024
08 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Penela
event
Natal na Aldeia
Natal na Aldeia
08 dec 2024 - 12 jan 2025, 15:00
Castanheira de Pera
event
O Natal do Xisto
O Natal do Xisto
08 dec 2024 - 23 dec 2024, 18:00
Aigra Nova
event
Natal Serrano 2024
Natal Serrano 2024
11 dec 2024 - 22 dec 2024, 18:00
Pampilhosa da Serra
event
Natal em Oleiros
Natal em Oleiros
13 dec 2024 - 23 dec 2024, 11:00
event
Passeio Pedestre Natal Rota Gourmet
Passeio Pedestre Natal Rota Gourmet
15 dec 2024, 08:00
Proença-a-Nova
event
Desafio Picos do Açor
Desafio Picos do Açor
15 dec 2024, 08:00
Arganil
event
Mercado dos Sabores de Natal
Mercado dos Sabores de Natal
21 dec 2024 - 22 dec 2024, 15:00
Proença-a-Nova
event
Ciclo pelas Igrejas
Ciclo pelas Igrejas
28 dec 2024, 20:30
Aldeia das Dez
event
A Um Cortiço do Céu - Passagem de Ano em Fajão
A Um Cortiço do Céu - Passagem de Ano em Fajão
31 dec 2024 - 01 jan 2025, 11:00
Fajão
event
Ceramics Workshop for Beginners
Ceramics Workshop for Beginners
13 jan 2025 - 19 jan 2025, 10:00
Cerdeira
event
Workshop Construção de Fornos Rudimentares
Workshop Construção de Fornos Rudimentares
24 jan 2025 - 26 jan 2025, 10:00
Cerdeira