Ponteareas Revives Beloved Camellia Exhibition, Boosting Tourism & Botanical Heritage
Ponteareas, Spain - November 28, 2024 – the Ponteareas Camellia Exhibition officially opened today, marking a renewed commitment to celebrating the “Flower of Galicia” and its critically important cultural, botanical, and tourist value. After years of inactivity, the event is being hailed as a key initiative to attract visitors and promote understanding of the region’s unique heritage.
“The camellia is, without a doubt, a cultural, botanical and tourist resource of enormous value. to know a crop is to understand a territory. This exhibition is not only a space of beauty, but also a space of learning, research and enhancement,” stated the Mayor during the opening ceremony held in the Plaza de la Música at 12:00 h. He further drew a parallel to the region’s past artistry, noting, “a land of carpets made with petals and plant elements…we were weaving our history and making the future hand in hand with this art and now more than ever we know its ability to attract thousands of tourists just like the camellia does.”
The Ponteareas Provincial Council has already begun international promotion of the camellia, presenting it at the Camelliae International Congress in Tokyo. Deputy Mayor Juan Carlos González Carrera emphasized the government’s dedication to the exhibition’s revival, stating, “The Camellia Exhibition is an event that we are recovering…because we want our City Council to be the meeting point for lovers of nature, floral art and the botanical heritage that this flower so special for Galicia represents.”
The exhibition’s programme,running through December 7th,is designed to be both informative and engaging,offering a diverse range of activities including inaugurations,workshops,tea tastings,talks,and musical performances.
Carmen Salinero, President of the Spanish Camellia Society, highlighted the crucial role of such events in species conservation and awareness. “The exhibitions are fundamental: they encourage cultivation, arouse interest and contribute to more and more people knowing and valuing the camellia,” she explained. She credited the collaborative efforts of institutions, producers, and enthusiasts for establishing galicia as an international reference point for camellia cultivation.
Key Dates & events:
* November 28: Exhibition inauguration & Camellia tea talk-tasting (Plaza de la Música)
* December 4: Awards ceremony for the Camelia Illustrated Stories Competition (Sala Multiusos, Auditorio Reveriano Soutullo) – 5:30 pm
* December 6: Official opening at Casa del Concello with tambourine performance (1:00 pm), Exhibition open to public (4:30-8:00 pm), Camellia tea tasting-talk (Reveriano Soutullo Auditorium – 4:30 pm), Camellia Workshop (Casa del Concello – 5:30 pm)
* December 7: Exhibition open (10:30 am – 1:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm), performance by the Rondalla by the Santa Eulalia de Atios Recreational Association (5:00 pm)
The exhibition promises a weekend of party and education, solidifying Ponteareas’ position as a hub for camellia enthusiasts and a destination for those seeking to experience the beauty and heritage of Galicia.
