On show in Tavira until May 31, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the intersections between food and spiritual traditions.
A new exhibition entitled “Bread. Oil . Wine: Rituals of Faith” was inaugurated at the Church and Casa Museu da Misericórdia de Tavira this week.
Open to the public until May 31, the show is an initiative of the Office of Heritage, Worship and Culture of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira, with the support of representatives of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Celebrating the diversity and richness of traditions that unite cultures and histories through these three elements, “Bread. Oil. Wine: Rituals of Faith” invites visitors to explore the intersections between food and spiritual traditions.
The exhibition highlights the importance of bread, olive oil, and wine in everyday life and religious rituals and celebrations, revealing how these elements have symbolised sacredness and unity throughout the ages.
The collection features pieces that illustrate the evolution and meaning of these foods over the centuries, with an expository narrative covering different eras and regions, highlighting how each religion incorporates these elements into its practices and rituals.
“The Mediterranean trilogy – bread, olive oil and wine – has been preserved and transmitted through generations, profoundly influencing agriculture, production techniques and culinary practices. From pressing olives to fermenting wine and making bread, each process represents a rich expression of culture, faith and tradition,” a statement from the Santa Casa da Misericórdia read.
“These three pillars of the Mediterranean diet nourish the body and soul, uniting people around tables and altars over time. They have become powerful symbols of faith, identity and communion in the three revealed Abrahamic religions,” the note concludes.
