The Fair of the Mediterranean Diet is back in Tavira, from 5th to 8th September.
The Importance of the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is a living, dynamic part of our heritage that has been growing in
importance both in Portugal and internationally. Researched by a range of different sciences, it
is a legacy of the civilizations that shaped our cultural identity, language, lifestyles, diets
, and modes of production, and is crucial for enriching and strengthening regional economies.
At present, the Mediterranean Diet is recognized not just for its significant contribution to
environmental sustainability and the mitigation of climate change, but also because it
represents a paradigm of sustainable agriculture and a healthy diet.
Programme of the Fair and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The program of the Fair reflects the collaborative work carried out by the organizing
committee.
The Fair will be attended by different countries, national and regional institutions,
representatives, and expressions of intangible heritage recognised by UNESCO, and will also
include exhibitors of handicrafts and traditional products, and displays of plants and seeds.
There will also be demonstrations of gastronomy and Mediterranean music with live concerts
from Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Macedonia… Portuguese music, as well as traditional
dance, performing arts, exhibitions, natural heritage visits, seminars and many other activities.
In addition, this year’s event will include a stage organised by the INATEL foundation, where
the focus will be on Portuguese music.
For the second year, the Mediterranean Diet district walk/run will take place, organised by the
Portuguese Sport and Youth Institute.
In the Praça da Convivialidade (Conviviality Square) and in 18 restaurants in the municipality,
there will be an opportunity to sample Mediterranean flavours from menus specially created
for the Fair.
As far as SDGs are concerned, work has been done to ensure that the Fair of the
Mediterranean Diet contributes to the sustainability of the planet. The Mediterranean Diet is
one example of the way in which an ancient lifestyle can mitigate the negative impacts of
human activity in symbiosis with nature. This lifestyle represents an opportunity to integrate
our grandparents’ wisdom and beneficial practices, and to combine them with contemporary innovations, with the knowledge and the goals that we need to achieve if we are to survive on
the planet.
Intangible Cultural Heritage and Activities for Children
The Fair will also comprise a number of forms of cultural expression that appear on the
National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as the Carnival of Podence, Fado,
Singing from the Alentejo and the Dom Roberto Puppet Theatre.
For children and young people, there will be educational shows, traditional games and
environmental workshops to provide opportunities for fun and learning.
Come and discover and try out everything that Tavira and the Mediterranean Diet have to
offer.
Welcome to the Fair of the Mediterranean Diet!
