35 rooftops in Faro will be part of ‘Açoteia’
‘Açoteia – Faro Rooftop Festival’, a festival which will bring several events to 35 rooftops across Faro, will make its triumphant return for a third edition between Friday and Saturday (July 5-6).
The festival is named after a typically Algarvian type of flat roof which were used to dry fruits and fish and collect water from the rain. “Over time, these spaces were forgotten or became used as storage areas or drying racks,” organisers say. However, they can still be found across the Algarve, giving many homes their unique regional twist.
Organised by Faro Council and the municipal theatre, the event aims to allow residents and tourists to explore 35 rooftops, most of which are usually not accessible to the public, thus offering a different perspective of Faro and the opportunity to enjoy “various unique initiatives and experiences.” Among them is the ‘açoteia’ of Carmo church, which will be open to the public for the first time and will host stargazing events and kora (a West African instrument) concerts, as well as the lookout tower of the municipal museum, “the only place where the cloistered nuns of the former convent could get a glimpse of the outside world,” organisers say.
As each rooftop is different, some will be able to welcome around 100 people at once, while others are so small that they can only accommodate two.
All in all, around 200 activities are planned for the two days of the festival, including concerts, poetry readings, live radio broadcasts, gastronomic experiences, an artists and flea market, a rooftop film screening and exhibitions.
The initiative is also supported by the European Creative Rooftop Network (ECRN), which Faro is a part of along with several other European cities, including Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Antwerp, Chemnitz, Nicosia, Belfast, and Gothenburg.
The first edition of ‘Açoteia – Faro Rooftop Festival’ took place in 2019 and featured 18 rooftops. In 2023, the second edition of the festival welcomed around 7,000 visitors to the 35 participating rooftops.
This year, 45 associations, public institutions, companies, and people have joined forces to host the event, which aims to “revitalise unused spaces in the town and enhance their creative uses, with three main themes: culture, sustainability, and community.”
The Açoteia – Faro Rooftop Festival will begin at 6pm on both days. Tickets cost €5 per person for each day and can only be purchased on-site. Admission is free for children aged 12 and under at certain rooftops.
