A collaboration protocol has been signed between the Port of Lisbon and World Monuments Fund (WMF) Portugal, coinciding with the launch of the sixth volume of the Cadernos do Arquivo, focused on the mural works of the artist.
At the ceremony’s opening, Vítor Caldeirinha, chairman of the board of the Ports of Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sesimbra, emphasized the significance of marking “two events simultaneously”: the signing of a protocol between the port and WMF Portugal, aiming at “the conservation and restoration of Almada Negreiros’ murals at the Alcântara Maritime Station,” and the release of the new volume of the Cadernos do Arquivo collection.
Caldeirinha asserted that a modern port “does not exist in isolation,” but should instead engage in “symbiosis with the city” and maintain a “permanent dialogue with its heritage,” contributing to social cohesion, regional enhancement, and the preservation of collective memory.
Regarding the Rocha do Conde de Óbidos maritime stations — comprising six murals whose conservation and restoration began in November 2023 and concluded a year later — and Alcântara, Caldeirinha described them as “unique testimonies of Portugal’s port and artistic history,” highlighting that today’s signed protocol will enable the complete recovery of the murals and frames.
WMF Portugal President Miguel Horta e Costa also emphasized the “two decisive moments for the enhancement of the Port of Lisbon’s heritage” being marked, recalling that since the project’s selection, the organization committed to contribute to the safeguard and international promotion “of the most outstanding set of 20th-century mural paintings in Portugal.”
Horta e Costa stated that this new phase renews “confidence in scientific cooperation, technical expertise, and the strength of institutional partnerships.”
In closing, Secretary of State for Infrastructure Hugo Espírito Santo identified Almada Negreiros’ murals as “the largest set of Portuguese mural painting of the 20th century,” acknowledging the impact of the narratives tied to their history, including episodes from the colonial war.
The official underscored the importance of “keeping this memory alive,” emphasizing the significance of restoring the original colors of the artworks.
Referring to the Portos 5+ strategy, the Secretary of State discussed the Government’s goals, such as a 50% increase in cargo movement, structural improvements, and an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.
“It’s a strategy aimed at reinstating ports at the center of national logistics, increasing cargo movement, involving 4 billion euros of investment, 75% of which is private, through 15 new concessions to be launched in the coming years, alongside a billion euros of public investment in sustainability, digitalization, and closer ties between ports and cities,” he said.
Launched in 2021, the Almada Project is distributed across five nuclei, including the Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, the former headquarters of Diário de Notícias, and the Escola Patrício Prazeres in Lisbon, in addition to the two Maritime Stations.
