And so, the talk this month of November covers the Bragança Dynasty. The subject of this talk will begin at the year 1640, when this dynasty came to power, and after analysing the 270 years to the Implantation of the Republic, it will then discuss the representatives of the Braganças as they are today. This presentation will take place in the Municipal Library in Tavira at 11:00 on Friday 24 November; and in the Municipal Library in Lagoa at 18:00 on Tuesday 28 November.

In December comes the turn of the earlier dynasties – Burgundy, Aviz and Habsburg. How did the monarchy come to exist in this separate small country next to a much bigger Castile? Why did João the Master of Aviz begin a new line? And how was it that Portugal came under the rule of the Spanish Habsburgs? Did any of them bequeath buildings or monuments by which we should remember them? And are there any other reasons in our present lives that we should reflect on their heritage? I hope that members will become more securely grounded in the development of Portugal from a small breakaway Iberian kingdom in 1140, to one of the first of the modern imperial powers in the fifteenth century. This presentation will take place in the Municipal Library in Lagoa at 18:00 on Tuesday 12 December, and in the Municipal Library in Tavira at 11:00 on Friday 15 December.

We often arrange a lunch after the talks in Tavira. If you wish to join Lynne and me at Jorge and Lia, please let me know beforehand, so that I can inform them of numbers.

Concert Event

Those members who attend our concert series will be aware that Alexander Stewart (Concert Master – Leader) of the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa will be presenting at our next event. Alex has played for us many times before as leader of the Quarteto Lacerda or Capela String Trio. This event will not be a concert as such, but a history of the violin narrated by Alex and illustrated on the violin by Regina Stewart, also an orchestral player. Each of them is a gifted violinist, and Alex is also a witty raconteur of some fame. The language of this event will be English and the address promises to be both historically and artistically interesting, as well as indicating some of the daily life difficulties experienced by performers in Portugal´s orchestras.

This event will take place on Friday 8th December (the national holiday of the Immaculate Conception) at 16h00 at Quintinha da Música. Directions to the Quintinha and tickets at €25 are available from Peter at peterbooker1347@gmail.com.