In July, it is mandatory to visit Palmela! There is (or you can listen to) good music throughout the small town. The FISP saxophones – Festival Internacional de Saxofones de Palmela (Palmela International Saxophone Festival) - set the rhythm until July 13th, and from 19th to 21st July, the sounds will echo again in the Castle of Palmela with Palmela Wine Jazz.
Masterclasses, workshops and conferences in various places of the small town, plus 30 concerts and free shows invite the public to "follow" the sounds and visit various places of the small town from July 8th onwards. Casa Mãe da Rota de Vinhos, Sociedade Filarmónica Humanitária (known as Saxophone Village these days) and Igreja de Santiago, in the Castle of Palmela, are some of the must-go places, in this musical route that brings several internationally renowned musicians to Palmela.
Today, culture fills the streets with the great show "Pássaros" (Birds), a creation of Teatro O Bando (O Bando Theatre) which will invade Largo de São João, at 9.30 pm, and will be followed by two concerts by the Brazilian Quartet 4 Morenas and Universidade Lusíada, performing at Casa Mãe da Rota dos Vinhos.
Tomorrow, July 13th, the party starts early, at 3.30 p.m., in the Saxophone Village, and at 5.00 p.m., in the auditorium of Biblioteca Municipal de Palmela (Municipal Library of Palmela), the saxophone is the "meeting point" of music and animation in the didactic concert "123 ... Fantasy” addressed to the young ones.
From 7.00 p.m. onwards, the music alignment is diverse and promises to please all music lovers. The sounds of Phantasmagoria Ensemble and The Heartbreakers are followed by Jullian Arguelles and José Menezes jazz, the saxophones of Palmela Sax Assault and the Argentinian tango of Carla Algeri Tango Trio.
Next weekend, July 19th-21st, jazz will once again be a host in Palmela, with the 6th edition of Palmela Wine Jazz. Relaxing late afternoons, accompanied by music and excellent wines are the suggestions of this long awaited Festival that features the performance of Maria João, on July 20th, at 10.30 pm, in Igreja de Santa Maria.
But there is much more to listen to and taste: Isabel Rato Quinteto, LooSense, Body & Soul, Sexteto Palmela Six Jazz, Ruben Garção Duo, Quarteto Desidério Lázaro and Quarteto Edgar Caramelo are all part of this year's poster, along with fifteen local wineries that will guarantee the regional wine tasting and sale.
And on your route through this land of music and wines, take some time to visit one of the local restaurants. This is because, until July 28th, Palmela’s Fruit inspires several menus and provides "flavoured experiences" as part of another edition of the Gastronomic Weekends.