The Municipalities of Gondomar and Póvoa de Lanhoso, the only centers of filigree production in Portugal, have formally submitted the nomination of “Filigrana de Portugal” to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The nomination aims to safeguard and enhance this ancient goldsmithing art, which transforms fine gold and silver threads into lacework pieces of extraordinary beauty and complexity, now a symbol of Portuguese artisanal excellence.

Passed down from generation to generation, filigree is a living legacy, maintained by master artisans whose dedication continues to enrich the national cultural heritage.

“The submission of the Portuguese Filigree nomination to UNESCO represents a commitment to the safeguarding and enhancement of a cultural legacy of exceptional importance. It is also a recognition of the work and accumulated knowledge of generations of master filigree artisans, whose dedication and excellence deserve to be preserved, promoted, and passed on to future generations,” affirm the Municipalities of Gondomar and Póvoa de Lanhoso, highlighting filigree as an identity element of their territories and of Portugal. 


The joint nomination results from institutional cooperation initiated with the protocol signed between the two Municipalities in 2016, which led to the official certification of this technique in 2018 and its inclusion, in 2023, in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

With this nomination, Gondomar and Póvoa de Lanhoso reinforce their role as guardians of one of the most refined expressions of traditional Portuguese goldsmithing, promoting its preservation and recognition on an international scale.

More information:

Carla Neves de Oliveira | Communication Division

carlaneves.oliveira@cm-gondomar.pt

Catarina Madureira | Communication Division

catarina.madureira@cm-gondomar.pt