Venues

The festival is held in the old towns of two locations in the municipality of Sines: the city of Sines (the stages located at the Castle, Avenida Vasco da Gama, Sines Arts Centre and Largo Poeta Bocage) and the village of Porto Covo (Largo Marquês de Pombal).

PORTO COVO – LARGO MARQUÊS DE POMBAL

Marquês de Pombal Square, the heart of Porto Covo, and the entire historic area surrounding it, is one of the wonders of Portuguese Enlightenment architecture. The plans for the square, believed to be from 1789-1794, were inspired by the Pombal model for downtown Lisbon. Its eighteenth-century features are perfectly intact, and this is a must visit. Porto Covo Church, the village´s main monument, lies in the square.

Location: The centre of the village of Porto Covo.

Capacity: Around 2,000 people (standing and seated).
SINES – CASTELO (CASTLE)

Sines' main monument was FMM´s first stage. Located on a site which has been inhabited since the Paleolithic age, it is closely linked to the creation of the city. King Pedro I demanded the castle be built to help defend the coast in exchange for granting Sines town status. Built in the first half of the 15^th century, one of the castle´s first residents was the mayor Estêvão da Gama, father of Vasco da Gama, and it was where the explorer spent his childhood and youth and is believed to be his birthplace. It has housed Sines Museum / Vasco da Gama´s House since 24 November 2008.

Location: Overlooking the bay of the city of Sines.

Capacity: Around 7,000 people (standing and seated).
SINES – AVENIDA VASCO DA GAMA (OR AVENIDA DA PRAIA)

The festival has featured a stage on Sines’ beachfront since 2004. An essential element in the city´s urban fabric and witness to the major events in its history – from the attacks of pirates to King Miguel I sailing to Brazil -, Vasco da Gama beach, adjacent to the fishing port, is a part of the face of Sines and lies deep in the heart of the population.

Location: Alongside the beach of the same name, in the city.

Capacity: Around 15,000 people (standing)
SINES – SINES ARTS CENTRE + PÁTIO DAS ARTES

The Sines Arts Centre is a building, designed by the architects Francisco and Manuel Aires Mateus, featuring four facilities: an exhibition centre, the city library, an auditorium and the city archive department. Opened in 2005, the building was a finalist in the European Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award in 2007. This is where the events held parallel to the festival take place, and it also hosts part of the concert programme. Pátio das Artes is an open area neighboring the centre, and is also used to host events associated with the festival.

Location: At the entrance to Sines old town in Rua Cândido dos Reis.

Capacity: 172 people (Auditorium), 500 people (Pátio das Artes)
SINES – LARGO POETA BOCAGE

Located alongside the main entrance to Sines Castle and the Church of São Salvador, Largo Poeta Bocage is one of the most central public areas in Sines. It used to be part of the churchyard and was a daily fruit, vegetable and fish market until 1981. It has been one of the festival venues ever since the first edition.

Location: Alongside the main entrance to the castle.

Capacity: 800 people.