Poetry has taken over the streets of Porto

Poetic interventions and poetry reading workshops will take over the streets of Porto this Saturday (June 27).

The initiatives "Poetry is in the Streets" and "Poetry to Power" brought poetry into the public realm, transforming Porto's city centre into a stage for reading, performance, and participation. Organised by Porto City Council's Department of Culture, the programme brought together poets, reciters, and dozens of volunteers in a series of interventions that connected literature with the everyday life of the city.

One of the programme's highlights took place on the balcony of Porto City Hall, where local poets gave voice to a range of texts before a live audience.

Blending learning with celebration, the performance drew a lively crowd, demonstrating that, if only for a few moments, the poetic word could govern the world.

Curated by Rui Spranger and João Gesta, the programme also featured performances by Minês Castanheira, Raquel Patriarca, and Raquel Marinho, among other invited guests.

The event concluded on a symbolic note, with Pedro Duarte, Mayor of Porto, and Jorge Sobrado, City Councillor for Culture, each reciting a unique poem.