Ana Cecilia Mazza: Creative courses, art, art history, group gatherings, and book clubs.
Life in Lisbon has become so much more exciting since Ana Cecilia started her gatherings. She is one of the greatest connecters in the Brazilian expat life here in Lisbon.
Ana Cecilia Mazza
Meet Ana Cecilia Mazza. We met over lunch at my favorite neighborhood taberna, Taberna do Quelha, in Saldanha.
Ana Cecilia and I chatted about bringing creativity to life, starting a new life in a different country, connecting with people, and adapting to a new culture. Summarising: The expat life in Lisbon.
Ana Cecilia found that moving to a new country, alone or with a family, was challenging. Still, she was determined to ensure a smooth transition for her family, particularly her children.
Ana Cecilia went on a mission to create a vibrant social and cultural life for everyone in her family.
Her quest led her to many paths and one of them was to continue to offer her cultural courses. These courses became a way for her to meet the Brazilians living in Lisbon and she created a huge community around art history, creativity and art.
It’s not easy to meet locals, and it’s easy to understand why. We are all on different paths, but they can eventually merge.
Ana Cecilia told me that the Portuguese have an intense family life; they already have a circle of friends and are in a different social situation than ex-pats or immigrants. They don’t need to make friends; newcomers must create a social and cultural life to call their new city home.
People criticize this situation, but if you stop to think about your life in your country before becoming an ex-pat, you may understand this situation better.
You probably had your circle of friends, were busy with your family, and didn’t have much time or mental space for new friends, ex-pats, and immigrants.
Ana Kesselring’s art exhibit in Lisbon
Ana Cecilia decided that culture was the best way to connect with her new country, and she attended seminars, classes, and workshops about Portugal’s history and art. Her intention was to create lectures for other newcomers to connect in Lisbon and feel at home in Portugal.
It turned out to be quite an interesting challenge to find professors or monitors, and she met many people who introduced her to more lovely people who gave her lots of tips but she couldn’t find a person to teach.
During her quest, she met the renowned Professor Fernando Antonio Baptista, the President of Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, and asked him to help her find lecturers he loved her ideas and started lecturing for Giro Cultural Cursos .
At first, the cultural groups were small and intimate; they met at each other’s homes for art history and history chats. Participants shared their experiences with other newcomers.
Ana Cecilia went from five or ten participants to forty, and her groups became seminars.
Photographing Paula Rego’s painting
Ana Cecilia and Giro Cultural created a wonderful way for many Brazilian newcomers to connect in a safe and fun manner and for everyone to have a more creative and cultural life..
The Pandemic lockdowns and online life
The Pandemic’s lockdown forced Ana Cecilia to move her seminars online. Her children stepped in, helped people set up Zoom, and she conducted four or five workshops weekly.
Participants said these workshops saved them because some had just moved to Lisbon and were trying to adapt to a new city while all in the middle of a lockdown. It was lonely and difficult, and the online courses helped them feel welcome and connect with other ex-pats.
It turns out that art is a great connector!
Ana Cecilia is not just an ordinary admin, but the fearless captain steering the ship of GAM.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill group; it’s a high-octane haven where active participation is the golden ticket to membership and relevance.
Patricia Centuario, the founder of GAM, short for “Grupo de Ajuda Mutua” (the Collective Help Group), started out in Brazil and brought it to Lisbon.
Patricia Centuario extended the golden scepter to Ana Cecilia, who became the administrator. GAM grew so much and now, it’s not exclusive group anymore.
GAM share information about art shows, gastronomic adventures, retail therapy, medical expertise, plumbing saviors, cinematic gems, and the hottest events in Lisbon.
Ana Cecilia’s Giro Cultural group at the Palacio de Belem
Ana Cecilia’s journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that by focusing on your passions and interests, you not only enrich your life but also have the opportunity to meet remarkable people.
Here are some additional tips for newcomers looking to fit into their new environment who want a more creative life.
Free Tours: Join city and museum tours. I was fortunate to encounter a knowledgeable tour guide pursuing a master’s degree in history who generously shared his insights. These tours gave me ideas for solo walks and invaluable recommendations for shops and restaurants.
Exploring Local Cuisine: Get to know the local cuisine by trying out trendy, traditional, new, and pop-up restaurants, food trucks, and foodie events. Food offers a captivating window into your city’s culture.
Stay Curious: Make an effort to explore something new in your city every week. Take your camera to document your experiences and become your cultural journalist.
Express your surroundings through sketches. Documenting your environment fosters a personal connection with your city, making it feel like home.
Events: Fever
Restaurants and events Time Out
Courses Giro Cultural Cursos
What to do Lisboa Secreta
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Updated July 2025
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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