An 18th-century Baroque manor in Alto Minho will host an Islamic calligraphy retreat with Rama Duwaji, the first lady of New York. The event takes place at Paço da Glória, a manor perched over the Lima valley, half an hour from Ponte de Lima, in Arcos de Valdevez, whose construction was financed by a fortune made in Brazil.
The retreat costs up to 4,500 euros and promises to "unveil the rich history of Islam in Portugal." This promise emerges in an ironic context, given that Alto Minho is precisely one of the regions in the country where this history almost does not exist, making the choice of location somewhat unexpected for an event of this nature.
The Paço da Glória, a construction from the 18th century, had never hosted an event of this type until now. The presence of the New York first lady thus marks a debut in the history of this Baroque manor, bringing an Islamic cultural element to a space that, given its location and historical context, represents an unconventional choice for this type of retreat.
