Things to do in the Algarve, Portugal

Visit Sand Fiesa at Pera

A look back at the 6th Internacional de Escultura em Areia 2008

 or …. so you think you can build a sand castle ?

Just closed, at the end of a season which has lasted from May to October, has been  “Fiesa 2008”. Held just outside Pera, a small village near Guia and Albufeira in an area of 15,000 square metres, 30 of the worlds leading sand sculptors have recreated a Hollywood spectacular of gigantic proportions and it's all made of sand.  Yes, just damp sand.  Looking at the amazing structures that were created its hard to believe that no cement or other “glue” was used, especially when you think of the occasional heavy showers we sometimes get at the end of spring and late summer.

Building sand castles on the beach, first as a child and then again with the accumulated knowledge of adulthood, (for the next generation), we always try and build the one that's biggest, more exotic, and above all the one that will survive the first wave as the tide turns.  Well nothing prepares you for a visit to the City of Sand.

30,000 tonnes of sand is used to create the tableaux.  The sand is formed into hard compacted blocks by using vibration and pressure on damp sand in moulds.  The blocks produced are stacked around a natural bowl which looks as if it was a long disused quarry, and then the blocks are carved and sculpted using trowels, knives and finally brushes to give different textured finishes.  This years theme was Hollywood, and in the two hours it took, just to walk around the exhibition, it became a fun game to guess the film title before we actually got to the board with the details of what was portrayed and which artist created the scene.

Entering the site you meet instantly recognisable idols of the big screen.  Steve McQueen on his Great Escape motorbike, alongside James Dean with his Porsche Spider.  A 30 foot tall Marilyn Munroe alongside Charlie Chaplin and Lisa Minelli.  Just look at the pictures - these are amazingly lifelike.

An Egyptian scene some 30 metres long with Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra leads to a display of Superheros.  As well as Superman, Batman (with a 10m Batmobile), Wonder Woman and Spiderman are other not so well know stars like the Silver Surfer.  Rounding a corner is the most amazing recreation of Mordor.  Towers, Dragons, grotesque Orks and, of course, the four hobbits with their companions and Gandalf as the centre piece with Gollum half hidden behind a rock.  We didn't recognise “The Never Ending Story” but maybe because we had never heard of a racing snail.  We had to read the information board for that one.

A James Bond tableau, with Sean Connery fronting the whole exhibit, facing, who else but The Simpsons, sitting on their sofa with the cat, the telly and cans of Duff ale liberally strewn around their feet.  Harry Potter sits astride an enormous eagle with Hermione casting spells in the background and the Hogwarts Express coming out of Kings Cross station.  From Casablanca to the Muppetts, from Temple of Doom to ET, Disney and Hitchcock, everything is here.

At close of the event, mid October, there is a solemn ceremony when the sculptures are returned to just heaps of sand.  The artists don't seem to mind and see their art as ephemeral and part of the natural course of life.  Their reward is knowing that they have created a lasting memory in the minds of  many rather than sculpting a piece from stone or metal for just one owner to see and hold.  There is no pressure to walk round and quickly leave.  After 2 hours we enjoyed a very cheap beer and coffee (€2.40) at the site café, while we watched a few dads trying to emulate what they had seen with their kids, in the sand pit, where moulds and tools were provided for you to have a go yourself.  In fact we enjoyed it so much that, after we finished our drinks, we went round again lingering over the bits we liked best.

Although we have seen the event advertised in previous years, we had never been before and it really was a most surprising event.  We had a great time at Fiesa 2008, and will certainly go again next year.  The theme of the event changes each year so we don't know what it will be yet but we will certainly be there and can recommend this to anyone.  The few photographs included here don't do justice to this exhibition, you really do have to see it for yourself.  You don't have to have children to enjoy this, we're telling you, you will be amazed.

Fiesa 2009 will probably be run between mid May and mid October. Look out for the free newspaper, “The Portugal News”, when you land at Faro.  There is usually a discount voucher inside which will give you 10% off  the modest (7euros in 2008) entrance fee.       

Tony 2008

Would you like more suggestions?  Take a look at our Things to do in the Algarve and Places to go in the Algarve sections for loads of ideas of what to do and where to go

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