The regional ministry of innovation and industry invests 1.6 million Euro in a space that will be also used for the promotion of Xacobeo 2010. The structure, of 7×13 metres, will be made of little containers filled with water from springs, rivers, beaches, wells, etc. and, on this net, pictures of the region will be projected. The main thematic axis of the pavilion will be the Ways of Saint James, nature spaces and beaches, the sea industries, thermalism, the guarantees of origin, and the historical old quarters. From July 12th to 20th, it will be held in Expo Zaragoza the Week of Galicia, that will have an intense, varied programme of socio-cultural activities. Outstanding specialists from the three Galician universities, NGOs and environmental associations will take part in the scientific forum Water Tribune. Finally, the CSHG (the main institution in Galicia devoted to hotel and restaurant management) will run the restaurant of the pavilion, that will offer a selection of the best regional gastronomy.
A huge screen with 3.000 samples of water from all municipalities will dominate the Galician pavilion in Expo Zaragoza
The regional minister for innovation and industry, Fernando X. Blanco Álvarez, presented today at the press-room of Xacobeo Galicia’s proposal for the International Expo, the great event focused on water and sustainable development that will be held in Zaragoza from June 14th until September 14th. At today’s ceremony, the regional minister was accompanied both by the director-general for tourism, Rubén C. Lois González and the manager of Xacobeo, Ignacio Rodríguez Eiguíbar.
A giant screen of thirteen metres long and seven metres high will be the central element at a 350 square metres pavilion. This structure will be made of 3.000 samples of water taken from February until May by a team of specialists covering the 315 Galician municiaplities. The samples will be vacuum-packed into transparent containers that will shape an original net. This peculiar water wall will serve as an interactive screen to project pictures of the region on it. Each of these 3.000 containers will be only visible when the visitor gets close to it and for every one of them will be displayed precise information about the place where the water sample was taken from.
Through this visual, emotional scenery, during this great event Galicia will try to transmit in an innovative, original, interactive manner that this is the country of water, the characterizing, enriching element that is present in every corner of it.
In front of this screen there is the pavilion, which has been conceived as a space for relax. An atmosphere of the chill-out kind where one can take a rest and perceive the sensations transmitted by the place. At the left wing of the pavilion there will be a row of screens to watch, among other resources, the making-of of water collection; that is, a documentary that will show how the water samples for the great screen were taken from some of the most emblematic places of Galicia. This approach will allow visitors to travel across the best tourist resources related to water in the country, and to do it in a different manner. Among them: the cliffs of Roncudo, Santo André de Teixido, the forests of river Eume, the fountain of Praterías, Pedregal de Irimia, Devesa da Rogueira, San Miguel de Montefurado, the fountain of A Fonsagrada, As Burgas, Ribeira Sacra, Pena Trevinca, the spring of Riocaldo, the waterfall of river Toxa, the estuary of river Miño, the bathing resort of Mondariz, and the beach of A Lanzada.
Through these screens, visitors will also be able to access all the information concerning water collection: every point of collection will appear on a map of Galicia as well as its specific location on a giant panels.
At the entrance of the pavilion, the exhibition will show five big informative panels set on illuminated boxes that explain the following themes:
- The Ways of St. James (Xacobeo 2010)
- Nature sapaces (National Park, Nature Reserves, Wetlands, Rede Natura, Biosphere Reserves)
- Thermalism
- Beaches
- Guarantees of origin
- Historical quarters related to water
- Sea industries
Finally, the exterior facade of the pavilion will be structured as a scenery porch, a countless amount of lights that will be changing their colour as an allegory of the Milky way, of the greenish Galicia or of water itself.
The regional ministry for innovation and industry is investing in the Galician Pavilion 1.6 million Euro. In the near weeks, they will be called for bids to executing the works, since the company Expociencia has been already awarded its design and its management through public tender last September 18th.
The Week of Galicia in Expo Zaragoza
From July 12th to 20th, Galicia will have its week in the International Expo. One week with a wide programme of socio-cultural activities that will count with the participation of the most outstanding benchmarks of Galician music and arts. At this moment the performances programme is being settled.
h3.Participation in the scientific forum
Galicia submitted twenty projects to the “Water Tribune” forum, which is the great scientific meeting during the Expo. The three Galician universities, the regional government, different NGOs and environmental institutions and associations will take part in the forum with their works and researches with the aim of participating in this appointment. With all these writings it will be published a scientific volume on Galicia and the water.
A selection of the best gastronomy
Finally, our region will take to Zaragoza a selection of its best gastronomic offer. The Centro Superior de Hostelería de Galicia will be responsible of its management. The restaurant will function as a fast-food, into an area that Galicia will share with the rest of the Autonomous Regions.
