The Leiria Musical Route is now open enabling visitors to explore the work of musicians from many genres connected to the UNESCO Creative City of Music. The Leiria Creative City of Music (LCCM) project uses mobile phone-readable QR codes that are placed on monuments and other public places to promote local musicians' music.
As explained by the artistic director of LCCM, composer, and pianist Daniel Bernardes, in the presentation of the project, “This project was created to create a connection between the tangible and intangible heritage of the city of Leiria, specifically in the area of music”. As he added, the itinerary seeks to “create a symbiosis between spaces and artists in the city”, and to “promote our artists to those who visit us”.
A group of international students visiting the city as part of the Erasmus programme posed a query to the city's administration, which gave rise to the concept for the Leiria Musical Itinerary. They questioned us, asking what makes us stand out as a musically innovative city. Anabela Graça, the councillor for culture, said, “This question made us think and came up with this project, which materialises what LCCM is”. As the mayor noted, “We can disclose our talents - and there is no difficulty in that because we have many - and also to publicise our heritage and some corners of our city”, thanks to the solution that has been discovered and implemented.
When the project first began, there were eleven locations in Leiria - the castle, stadium, municipal market, theatres, museums, and municipal library - where one might find the musical choices. Via a mobile device, one can listen to music composed by David Fonseca, Inês Apenas, César Cardoso, Eduardo Cardinho, First Breath After Coma, João Costa Ferreira, Leiria Jazz Orchestra, Pedro Rodrigues, Surma, Wind Ensemble of the Leiria Municipal Philharmonic Association, and Aitor Llimerá in each of them. The organisation states that fresh local musicians and artists from other creative cities will be added to the Leiria Musical Route each year.