SAL Festival – On Freedom in the Schist Village of Benfeita
  • workshops
  • shows
  • concert
  • art and culture
  • music
event
event

SAL Festival – On Freedom in the Schist Village of Benfeita

Benfeita

Freedom will blossom in the streets of Benfeita, inviting reflection, art and shared memories.

The SAL Festival – On Freedom is a multidisciplinary platform which, on 18 and 19 April, will transform the Schist Village of Benfeita, in Arganil, into a stage for celebrating the values of the Carnation Revolution. Organised by the multicultural women’s choir Canto d’Eira in collaboration with the Benfeita Improvement League, the event explores the meaning of the word “Freedom” today through film, music and the visual arts.

Over the course of two days, the village will be filled with creative workshops, performances and documentary films, taking place in various iconic venues across the Schist Village, including the River Beach, the Manuel da Costa Centre and the headquarters of the Benfeita Improvement League.

Programme
Saturday, 18 April

6.00 pm: Official opening
6.00 pm – 6.30 pm: Performance “As Portas que Abril Abriu” by Lotte Kauffman and Sara Marques (based on the poem by Ary dos Santos)
6.30 pm: Soup & Snacks
7.15 pm: Canto d’Eira songs
7.30 pm – 10.00 pm: Feature film followed by a discussion

Sunday, 19 April

11.00 am – 1.00 pm: Poster and Screen Printing Workshop with Alberto Péssimo
2.30pm – 4.00pm: Coro da Hora Workshop: Traditional Community Singing with Vânia Couto
4.00pm – 4.45pm: Creative Writing Workshop with Roshnii
4.45pm – 5.00pm: Vale da Cerejeira Songs
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm: Short Film Screening
6.00 pm – 7.30 pm: Dinner: Jonathan’s Burritos
7.15 pm – 7.30 pm: Canto d’Eira Songs
7.30 pm – 10.00 pm: Film followed by a discussion

Ongoing Activities (Saturday and Sunday):

“Voz do Açor” Exhibition
Felt workshop with Colectivo Arte Viva


For further details on the programme or to register for the workshops, please visit the official programme link. The initiative is organised by the Canto d’Eira group and is supported by the Benfeita Improvement League, the Benfeita Parish Council, Xinema da Benfeita and the Municipality of Arganil.

Immerse yourself in the spirit of the mountains and make the most of this festival to extend your stay in the heart of the Serra do Açor. Discover the tranquillity and comfort of our accommodation and plan your visit via bookinxisto.com.

 

explore

restaurants
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Cerdeira, Arganil
restaurants
O Pascoal Restaurant
O Pascoal Restaurant
Fajão
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
restaurants
A Malga
A Malga
Aldeia das Dez
lodging
Casa da Moenda
Casa da Moenda
Benfeita
lodging
Casa do Alto
Casa do Alto
Benfeita
lodging
Casa do Rosmaninho
Casa do Rosmaninho
Pardieiros
lodging
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
Arganil
lodging
Casa da Mata de Fajão
Casa da Mata de Fajão
Mata de Fajão
lodging
Casa dos Medronheiros
Casa dos Medronheiros
Cepos
lodging
Casas do Rio
Casas do Rio
Fajão
lodging
A Boa Vida do Campo
A Boa Vida do Campo
Tábua
lodging
Adcasinha
Adcasinha
Adcasal, Arganil
lodging
Casa de Campo Memórias da Comarca
Casa de Campo Memórias da Comarca
Arganil
lodging
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Aldeia das Dez
heritage
Peace Tower
Peace Tower
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Benfeita
Junta de Freguesia de Benfeita
Benfeita, Arganil
tour
Panoramic Road: Benfeita - Piódão
Panoramic Road: Benfeita - Piódão
tour
PR 1 AGN -  Benfeita Schist trail - The freshness of waterfalls
PR 1 AGN - Benfeita Schist trail - The freshness of waterfalls
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
associations
Comissão de Melhoramentos de Monte Frio
Comissão de Melhoramentos de Monte Frio
Monte Frio
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P34 - Black)
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P34 - Black)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P33 - Red)
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P33 - Red)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P31 - Green)
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P31 - Green)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P32 - Blue)
Cyclin'Portugal Center of Serra do Açor - Coja (P32 - Blue)
tour
PR4 AGN - Schist Path of Vila Cova de Alva
PR4 AGN - Schist Path of Vila Cova de Alva
institutional
União de Freguesias Vila Cova de Alva e Anceriz
União de Freguesias Vila Cova de Alva e Anceriz
Vila Cova de Alva, Arganil
village
Vila Cova de Alva
Vila Cova de Alva
tour
PR4 OHP - Schist Path of Avô - Around the Alva
PR4 OHP - Schist Path of Avô - Around the Alva
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
institutional
União de Freguesias de Cepos e Teixeira
União de Freguesias de Cepos e Teixeira
offer
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
offer
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
associations
Serra do Açor Mountain Biking Club
Serra do Açor Mountain Biking Club
Arganil
tour
Estrada Panorâmica: Fajão - Janeiro de Baixo
Estrada Panorâmica: Fajão - Janeiro de Baixo
tour
PR2 PPS - Schist Trails of Fajão- Along the Ceira River
PR2 PPS - Schist Trails of Fajão- Along the Ceira River
institutional
Câmara Municipal de Arganil
Câmara Municipal de Arganil
Arganil
village
Fajão
Fajão
tour
PR1 PPS - Caminho do Xisto de Fajão - Ascent to the Penedos
PR1 PPS - Caminho do Xisto de Fajão - Ascent to the Penedos
Casas do Rio
heritage
Ponte de Fajão
Ponte de Fajão
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Fajão
Junta de Freguesia de Fajão
Fajão, Pampilhosa da Serra
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
village
Aldeia das Dez
Aldeia das Dez
heritage
Casa do S
Casa do S
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Aldeia das Dez
Junta de Freguesia de Aldeia das Dez
Aldeia das Dez, Oliveira do Hospital
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
tour
PR3 OHP - Schist Path of Aldeia das Dez In the Hermit's Steps
PR3 OHP - Schist Path of Aldeia das Dez In the Hermit's Steps
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
PR1 OHP - Aldeia das Dez Schist Path - Pelas Várzeas do Alvoco
PR1 OHP - Aldeia das Dez Schist Path - Pelas Várzeas do Alvoco
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
PR2 OHP - Aldeia das Dez Schist Path - Imperial Route
PR2 OHP - Aldeia das Dez Schist Path - Imperial Route
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
Panoramic Road:   Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
João Brandão
tour
Panoramic Road:  Aldeia das Dez - Benfeita
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Benfeita
João Brandão

next events

event
Nunes Pereira and the Line: 1927-2001
Nunes Pereira and the Line: 1927-2001
03 feb 2026 - 09 dec 2026, 09:00
Coimbra
event
Exhibition: ‘Massa Mãe – Between Traditions and New Beginnings’
Exhibition: ‘Massa Mãe – Between Traditions and New Beginnings’
23 mar 2026 - 31 mar 2026
Talasnal
event
Festival Gastronómico Sabores da Páscoa
Festival Gastronómico Sabores da Páscoa
28 mar 2026 - 05 apr 2026, 09:00
Fundão
event
Easter in Figueiró dos Vinhos
Easter in Figueiró dos Vinhos
29 mar 2026 - 04 apr 2026, 19:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Plogging Challenge Portugal 2026 – Aigra Nova
Plogging Challenge Portugal 2026 – Aigra Nova
03 apr 2026, 09:30
Aigra Nova
event
Moonlight Talasnal
Moonlight Talasnal
03 apr 2026 - 18 dec 2026, 20:30
Talasnal
event
Easter at Sobral de São Miguel
Easter at Sobral de São Miguel
03 apr 2026 - 04 apr 2026, 21:00
Sobral de São Miguel
event
Easter is in Janeiro
Easter is in Janeiro
04 apr 2026, 08:30
Janeiro de Baixo
event
Travessia da Grande Rota do Zêzere em Kayak
Travessia da Grande Rota do Zêzere em Kayak
05 apr 2026 - 24 may 2026
Barroca, Álvaro, Pedrógão Pequeno