Freguesias marinas: Children Holiday Camps in Lisbon and the O Século program (1931–45)

Abstract

Portugal's early seaside holiday camps emerged prior to the Estado Novo era, serving as summer destinations for underprivileged children even before the implementation of national educational programs. Educational and charitable associations, supported by private philanthropy and the working class, played a pivotal role in the development of these facilities. Newspapers and cooperatives like Voz do Operário spearheaded social initiatives to address the challenges of the late nineteenth century, targeting workers and their families. These initiatives involved hundreds of children each summer, primarily between June and October, for the care of childhood tuberculosis and the recreation of young guests. These projects found space in existing buildings or gave rise to new buildings along a mostly pristine coastline, often at a considerable distance from urban centers. A significant example is the O Século seaside children's holiday camp, funded by private and public funds, operational since 1927 in S. Pedro do Estoril, between Lisbon and the renowned Cascais. The project went through at least three construction phases, influencing city public life and benefiting from the support of Lisbon’s famous Feira Popular, in operation until a few years ago. Archival documents, historical photographs, and blueprints testify to the evolution of these facilities over time. Transformations between 1944 and 1945 highlight the importance of this camp in the collectivity, its strategies of funding, and its needs, staff, and the children it hosted. Over the years, many of these facilities disappeared due to the tourism expansion in the area, unlike the case of O Século, which still partly continues programs dedicated to childhood.