Dinosaurs Roam Again in Portuguese Village

What does it signify to coexist with dinosaurs? For **João Marcelino**, the “Giant and symbolic presences” scattered throughout Lourinhã, Portugal, proved an irresistible draw, inspiring his photographic project.

“Dinotopia” Unveiled

“Dinotopia” emerged from **João Marcelino’s** Master of Cultural Management thesis at the School of Arts and Design in Caldas da Rainha. The project highlights the region’s paleontological past, which persists today in advertisements and dinosaur figures spread throughout the Lisbon district village.

The images aim to blend reality and fiction, humorously suggesting dinosaurs have returned. Black and white photos depict dinosaurs’ presence in business names, buildings, and streets. Nighttime color shots portray the creatures as mysterious figures.

Lourinhã: “Capital of Dinosaurs”

Lourinhã, often called the “capital of dinosaurs” due to its rich fossil finds, provides the backdrop for the exhibition at the Lourinhã Municipal Gallery, which is open until July 26.

According to the Lourinhã City Council, the region has yielded fossils from the Late Jurassic period, including some of the oldest evidence of dinosaur embryos (Lourinhã City Council).

Photographer’s Vision

“Here, more than documenting, the goal is to make it imagine: What does it mean to live with these giant and symbolic presences? How do they shape how we see the place?” says **João Marcelino**.

**Marcelino** discovered his passion for photography as a child. Receiving a digital camera at 14, he developed an interest in capturing images. He later attended the Portuguese Institute of Photography, where he now teaches.

“I was always fascinated by the timeless photography and spent hours dissecting those moments trapped in time,” he recalls.

Coming Soon: “Dinotopia” Book

In addition to the exhibition, the project includes a book, partially funded by the Lourinhã City Council, to be published by Stolen Books.