Cartas pela salvaguarda do património no Portugal das Luzes : testemunhos de Frei Manuel do Cenáculo e de Francisco Xavier Fabri

Through the study of three letters dating from the late 18th century, this paper shows the importance of the epistolary documentation to the history of heritage and theory of restoration in Portugal, especially during the Enlightenment. This paper focus on one letter of the bishop of Beja D. Manuel do Cenáculo concerning the local medieval wall and tower, and two signed by the Italian architect Francesco Saverio Fabri that has as subject the roman theatre on Lisbon’s castle hill. By way of an integrated review of these documents, that show attitudes of safeguarding towards assets perceived as historical heritage, we reflect upon the awareness related to heritage or monuments prior to the Portuguese Romanticism