Margarida Freitas was born in Almada in 1986…and she began to draw shortly afterwards.
Ever since she can remember, Margarida Freitas has always liked drawing. She graduated in a different field; but one day, when the longing became unbearable, she returned to drawing. Today she combines drawing and travelling: a union of the two things she likes to do most.
Find out more about the Center of Portugal through Margarida’s sketches.
Tell us something you saw that you had never seen before.
The visit to Aveiro lagoon was amazing. Being able to get off the boat and walk around barefoot was an exciting experience. I'd never seen razor clams in their natural habitat; I didn't have the slightest idea how they were caught. It was a very fun morning, and it was a privilege to be able to rely on our guides' experience and knowledge; they provided a world of information about local fauna and flora, as well as being good-natured and having a passion for the place where they were born and where they live.
What was the greatest challenge of this experience? And the greatest reward?
For me, the greatest challenge of this experience was keeping up with the pace and being able to complete drawings on the spot. When you visit places you're unfamiliar with, there's so much information that sometimes it's hard to concentrate. The greatest reward was sharing these moments and all the discoveries with a fantastic team, who as well as being great company provided us with a lot of valuable information about all the places we visited.
What was your favourite moment during this journey?
The Johannine Library in Coimbra was my favourite moment of the journey. Being able to stay without being rushed, take a close look, and alternate between hearing the murmur of tourists and moments of absolute silence was a priceless experience. It was a privilege to sit and draw there.
If you had to recommend the Center of Portugal to friends, what would you say?
I would say that there is a lot to see and discover, and the rich diversity of landscapes will please everyone. The coast and beaches combine sport and nature, a lot of history and heritage to discover, and excellent cuisine. I needed to visit this region and it was great to do so in this fashion. I think it deserves to be explored beyond the main tourist areas such as Nazaré and Coimbra. It should be visited with the time to wander around on foot, without rushing, and with the possibility to discover its nooks and crannies. It's a region that can satisfy a really wide range of interests.
