Contacts
Rua 5 de Outubro, 40-44
7920-368 Vila Nova da Baronia
(Alvito)
Portugal
HERITAGE CAMPS
The Heritage Camps propose an innovative methodology: Conservators-Restorers with a pedagogical focus, volunteering, heritage education, cultural exchange, an Open-Site model, and alternative financial solutions — all based on the commitment of civil society to safeguarding this Collective Asset.
In Portugal, approximately 34,000 monuments remain without any protection (Cultural Heritage in Portugal: Assessment of Economic and Social Value, GONÇALVES; CARVALHO; TAVARES, 2020) .
This means that any person or entity can intervene with them without restrictions; that there is no institution responsible for these assets; and that they are not eligible for public support that requires heritage classification. So how should this heritage be cared for?
Inspired by the French experience of the Chantiers du Patrimoine, created almost 60 years ago, the Heritage Camps propose a model of community-based and collaborative intervention, grounded in proximity management. The actions involve qualified teams—conservators-restorers, architects, engineers, or archaeologists—who guide groups of volunteer citizens, regardless of age, origin, or training. In France, this model has already enabled the restoration of more than a thousand monuments, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the direct participation of local communities.
The Heritage Camps thus propose a concrete response to the lack of protection for most of Portugal's heritage: a methodology that combines technical teams with an educational approach, promotes heritage education for younger generations, adopts the Open-Site model, stimulates cultural exchange and the involvement of young people in the areas of conservation and restoration, and explores alternative financial mechanisms to make interventions viable.
A response in which civil society plays an active and essential role in safeguarding our common heritage.
What do we do?
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Heritage Camp - Frescos Route
The Heritage Camps of the Fresco Route invite each participant to touch, care for, and learn from cultural heritage, while sharing experiences with volunteers from different countries. Under the guidance of specialized technicians, restoration becomes practice, exchange, and connection with local communities.
International Heritage Campuses | ERASMUS+
Since 2024, Spira has organized the International Heritage Volunteer Camps, in partnership with the French association Union Rempart. These camps invite young people from all over Europe to immerse themselves in the preservation of cultural heritage. Under the guidance of specialized technicians, participants learn conservation and restoration techniques, experience cultural exchange, and contribute to the appreciation and protection of heritage.
Heritage Camps
Since 2022, Spira has organized Heritage Camps, initiatives that bring together national and international volunteers in conservation and restoration projects. These camps combine hands-on learning with direct interaction with local communities, strengthening cooperation networks, transmitting traditional skills, and fostering a shared sense of responsibility for heritage.
