Viana do Castelo’s City Council and Healthy City Office are hosting a World Health Organization European Healthy Cities Networks conference.
The event, under the theme “Striving for Health and Health Equity in all local policies” will take place from the 18th to the 20th of June in Viana do Castelo and up to this moment around 280 politicians/technicians have registered.
The conference will help to nationally and internationally ascertain Viana do Castelo’s excellence in urban and environmental quality. The event is also an important stimulus for health professionals and healthy urban planning in Viana do Castelo.
More than 100 different cities and 29 countries have already registered to date. Registrations are open on www.healthydivercity.com.pt till, Friday, the 12th of June. It is worth mentioning that technicians and politicians from two non-European countries have registered as observers (Lesotho and Japan).
The congress includes a video-conference with Sir Michael Marmot, University Professor and mentor of the Healthy Cities, as well as the presentation of the Portuguese Healthy Cities Network Journalism Prize. The occasion also hosts an array of social and cultural events to unveil Viana do Castelo, its traditions and projects as a Healthy City. As such, the council is preparing various presentations, among which an exhibition, under the guidance of the six teams from Viana do Castelo’s Healthy City Office, dance and musical performances and visits throughout the city.
The Portuguese Healthy Cities Network is an association of municipalities with the mission of aiding the disclosure, implementation and development of the Healthy Cities Project in cities that aim to assume the promotion of health as a political priority.
Established on October 10th, 1997 in Viana do Castelo, one of the founding cities of the Portuguese Network, it has gradually increased its involvement with the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, the entity which chose Viana do Castelo to host one of its main events.
Viana do Castelo, June 9th, 2009
Press Cabinet
Viana do Castelo City Council
European Healthy Cities Annual Meeting in Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo’s Mayor, Defensor Moura, and Agis Tsouros, Regional Adviser for Healthy Cities and Urban Governance of the World Health Organization (WHO), met yesterday in Lisbon with the Minister of Health, Ana Jorge, to invite her to WHO’s European Healthy Cities Annual Business and Technical Conference, in June, in Viana do Castelo.
During the meeting the Mayor had the opportunity to inform her about the topics being discussed at the Conference, and also about the importance of the meeting for Viana do Castelo and for the Portuguese Healthy Cities Network.
The Portuguese Network was founded on the 10th October 1997, in Viana do Castelo, by the following cities: Amadora, Cartaxo, Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon, Loures, Oeiras, Seixal and Viana do Castelo (the number of Healthy Cities is, now, 23).
Viana do Castelo, 17th of February 2009
Press Office
Visiting Viana do Castelo
Surrounded by mountain, sea, and river, Viana do Castelo’s proximity to
the Atlantic Ocean, coupled with the benefits of a natural harbour,
produced some of the most famous Portuguese explorers of the 16th and 17th centuries. This exceptional location also explains the strong maritime ties and traditions that this city bears.
Viana is also famous for its folklore and festivals, especially its
costumes, due to the intricacy of colours which are unlike any other.
The festival of Senhora da Agonia, in August, is one of the most
popular in the country.
Staying in Viana is much more than just lounging by the beach, taking
in the beauty of the landscape provided by the river’s estuary,
breathing in the fresh sea air or walking in the luscious green hills.
The historic centre provides unique opportunities to admire numerous
precious monuments of diverse architectural style, testimony of the
many centuries of its history.
The local delicacies are also a must and these include the famous
bacalhau (cod fish) with over 100 different recipes. For those with a
sweet tooth, ‘leite-crème’, a kind of crème brulée, rice pudding and
the delicious Viana cake, to name but a few, are well worth a try.
Served with a nicely chilled bottle of vinho verde, you have the
perfect recipe for an unforgettable meal.
