Santarém to posthumously award Celestino Graça the city's Golden Key

The city of Santarém will posthumously award the ‘Chave d’Ouro da Cidade’ (Golden Key of the City), its highest distinction, to ethnographer Celestino Graça. The ceremony is scheduled for March 19, which is a municipal holiday.

Mayor João Teixeira Leite announced the decision during a reception for the 65th Celestino Graça Festival. Leite praised Graça as a visionary who transformed the region, noting his pivotal role in establishing the Feira do Ribatejo—which evolved into the National Agriculture Fair—and his influence in founding regional folklore groups and the Monumental Bullring of Santarém.

Graça is recognized as a fundamental figure in the history and identity of Santarém and the Ribatejo region, credited with turning ambitious dreams for the city into reality.