Throughout the region there are nuclei of craftsmen, workshops in activity where it is possible to acquire manufactured objects, whether cestaria, forged pottery, weaving or embroidering, chaises and wooden pieces, rustic furniture or curious paper-made flowers that long ago embellished andores (wooden framework for carrying statues of saints in procession)of the Saints in procession.
The Foundation of the City council of Viseu for the Craftsmanship Protection Association, also known as Casa da Ribeira, located in the marginal area of the city with its back towards the River Pavia, is by excellence the place to appreciate or acquire crafts and handmade objects.
It is center of collection and investigation of the main traces of the cultural objects (craftwork)of a circumscribed people in a vast area around Viseu. It is an exhibition center , fulfilling museological goals of some modernity because it associates to the presented object in the show window a life long pedagogic supported by live work of the craftsman.
Because the craftsmen find here a unique line of work where the person and labour dignify themselves and where the lesson of the past can articulate with new times by the quotidian contact with other craftsmen in fairs and colloquiums and above all through specific courses that the Casa da Ribeira has became hospitable.
Specific Craftsmanship of Lafões Area:
· Black Pottery;
· Embroidering of Tibaldinho;
· Mats and hampers made of straw, lintel and wicker;
· Copper and tin artifacts;
· Utensils made of iron;
· forged Iron;
· paper-made Flowers;
· Bilros Lace;
· straw Hats;
· Bells and Rattles;
· Furniture and grooving;
· Wool and linen carpets and blankets;
· Socks, caps and other clothes made of wool.