Rede de percursos pedestres Entre a ria e o mar

Facing the ocean, Ílhavo is a maritime city and a municipality with a heritage deeply connected to the sea, to the fishing activities of small villages, and to cod fishing in the North Sea.

In a time when the development of new technologies seems an urgent and indisputable imperative, and when the trend among the population, especially the younger generations, appears to be one of increasing disinterest in safeguarding traditions, what is the future for this (and other) cultural paradises?

The enhancement and promotion of cultural heritage, the integrated management of resources, their accessibility, and dynamic engagement should represent an important step in the planning process for the socio-economic development of these areas. Beyond the benefits related to revitalizing traditional economic activities and generating employment, the appreciation of heritage addresses the need to teach new generations not only how to use modern communication tools, but first and foremost, the content to be communicated. This means transmitting their cultural references as a necessary foundation for encountering other realities, recovering the process the ancient Greeks called paideia, the formation of the "free man," free to fully assert himself based on his cultural heritage, for a fair competition and collaboration with others.

It is based on these assumptions and reflections, aiming to make cultural heritage more accessible and dynamic for visitors and the local population, that HERA – Association for the Appreciation and Promotion of Heritage is collaborating on a project promoted by the Municipality of Ílhavo: the creation of a Network of Walking Routes, consisting of Nature Trails and Urban Trails, within the municipality's territory.