The Azores submitted an application for the knowledge associated with the viola da terra to be recognized as National Intangible Heritage. The application was submitted to the body responsible for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Portugal.
The announcement was made by the Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sports, Sofia Ribeiro, who considered this an important moment for the preservation of Azorean traditions.
According to Sofia Ribeiro, the recognition of the viola da terra knowledge represents an ambition of several years on the part of the regional government, which intends to enhance and protect this fundamental component of the archipelago's cultural identity.
The viola da terra is a traditional musical instrument of the Azores, whose transmission of knowledge and techniques of construction and performance is part of the intangible heritage of the region.
