International Day for Monuments and Sites

The International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), an initiative of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, will be celebrated on April 18. Its fundamental mission is the protection of monuments and sites on a global scale. Given that crises and vulnerabilities often arise in many parts of the world with sudden and unpredictable intensity, the theme chosen for IDMS 2025 is "The Resilience of Cultural Heritage in the Face of Disasters and Conflicts".

Speaking of resilience, it is worth recalling the history of the Portuguese Navy’s Hydrographic Institute (IH), whose current headquarters in the former Convent of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinas) came about following a devastating and violent fire at the Navy Arsenal in 1969, which almost completely destroyed the Institute's original facilities. Amid the urgency of the calamity, the relocation of the IH to the building of the former convent was a swift solution to rehouse services, personnel, and equipment — and this accidental encounter ultimately saved the building from ruin.

The IH thus became the custodian of the cultural heritage of the Trinas (classified as a Property of Public Interest), preserving its magnificent convent kitchen and its 18th-century tile collections. It actively promotes their knowledge and appreciation through cultural visits. Despite the often-unpredictable and serious circumstances that threaten their preservation, the resilience of heritage ultimately lies in the will of the people.