What’s autumn without roasted chestnuts? The weekend of November 8–9 brings the annual Feira da Castanha (Chestnut Fair) to the hills of Marvão in Portugal’s Alentejo region. As the country’s largest celebration of the chestnut tree and its fruit, the fair aligns with the chestnut harvest and offers regional dances, photography exhibitions, street theater, live music, and a wide variety of chestnut-based treats. Visitors can also sample local wines and fruit liqueurs infused with autumn flavors.
In Lisbon, the Museu Cloacae Berardo, located at Praça do Império in Belém within the Centro Cultural de Belém, is an excellent reason to plan a cool-weather getaway to Portugal’s capital. Running through February 1, 2015, the exhibition An Infinite Conversation: Artists’ Books, Ephemera and Documents showcases books, posters and archival material from the Teixeira de Freitas Collection. The show explores how artists use printed matter and ephemera to create meaning and how context and surroundings influence artistic expression.
After exploring the exhibition, take a short walk to the historic Pastéis de Belém to enjoy a warm drink and the bakery’s iconic custard tarts—creamy, cinnamon-dusted pastéis de nata that pair perfectly with tea or coffee. Between the seasonal fairs in the regions and the thoughtful cultural programming in Lisbon, autumn in Portugal offers both sensory pleasures and artistic discoveries.