Introduction
About 10 km from the Herdade da Marmeleira, the place of Foundation OBRAS, begins a region of 50 x 10 km where marble is near to surface level. Its quality was recognized by the Romans and is still highly valued, including by sculptors. Generally the colour is whitish with a flare of rose or almond. Small crystals give it a lively appearance, even after polishing.
You can collect marble for free around the quarries. Be aware that OBRAS only has basic equipment for marble sculpting. But also worth, and sometimes breathtaking is to visit the marble quarries. Of the 400 marble quarries 350 are abandoned. In some cases they leave behind a desolate hole surrounded by rusty mining equipment, but others have an incredible beauty due to their unique shape, colour and silence, and the memory of greatness. Especially the ones with a lake inside are highly attractive. Both the active and abandoned quarries can be visited on your own. |
Some years ago OBRAS proposed to upgrade one of the abandoned marble quarries near to the centre of Estremoz towards a thematic park and use it for several purposes: culture, education, information and leisure. The proposal was ranked as the best in a competition for regional development projects and financial barriers were manageable. But its novelty and the economic crisis made it un-realisable, at least for the time being. Nevertheless, OBRAS informs artists about possibilities on "art & marble" and supports them logistically where needed. The slideshow on this page gives an impression of active and abandoned quarries. On the page Projects & Artists you will find more information and visual impressions on artistic projects by residents of Foundation OBRAS. |
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