Portugal is currently participating in the iHERITAGE project, aiming to promote and enhance the Mediterranean UNESCO cultural heritage through innovative experiences by creating cross-border living labs for research and innovation. Represented by the University of Algarve, the focus of the Portuguese team is to promote the Mediterranean Diet and its importance for the cultural identity of the Mediterranean.

The focus of the case study in Portugal is currently centered on Tavira, which has a cultural heritage element of the Mediterranean diet, with a particular emphasis on the production and consumption of olive oil in the municipality. This includes exploring the recipes, flavors, history, and places that mark the journey of a natural ingredient, present on every table!

To celebrate the importance of the Mediterranean Diet, Tavira Council is calling on local restaurants and eateries to participate in three major gastronomic festivals that will be held in the borough in 2023.

The first festival is the 16th Sea Gastronomy Festival, which will take place between April 28 and May 28. Participating restaurants and eateries will present a special menu for the event, including an appetiser, main dish (using fish or seafood and Mediterranean Diet ingredients), and dessert (using regional ingredients).

The council is also accepting registrations for Mediterranean Flavours, which will be held between September 7 and 10 as part of the town’s Mediterranean Diet Fair, and Mountain Gastronomy Festival, which will be held from October 27 to November 26. 

Social interactions during meals and exercise are basic cornerstones of the Mediterranean style of eating, which includes eating with friends and family, socialising over meals, mindfully eating favorite foods, and creating events that connect us all!

The iHERITAGE ICT Mediterranean platform for UNESCO world heritage is a strategic project funded by the EU through the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme.

As part of iHERITAGE, the digitalization of cultural routes has begun to provide an alternative way of showcasing the heritage of different cultural universes, through innovation-driven growth processes and brand strategies that affirm and improve understanding of intangible cultural realities. For Portugal, this means developing digital platforms to enhance the cultural experience, history of the landscape, and sense of identity and continuity of knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet, with a specific focus on Tavira as the country's geographic case study.

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Represented by the University of Algarve, the focus of the Portuguese team is to promote the Mediterranean Diet and its importance for the cultural identity of the Mediterranean. The iHERITAGE ICT Mediterranean platform for UNESCO world heritage is a strategic project funded by the EU through the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme.