Deena Abdelwahed

In the heart of Leiria, a city that “doesn’t exist”, in Portugal, where cobblestone streets weave around ancient buildings like veins of a forgotten civilization, a dystopian yet vibrant city emerges. The air is thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional creak of rusty gates or the distant howl of the wind. It is a city trapped in time, haunted by its own past and ruled by shadows. Amidst the decay and despair, a peculiar tradition persists against all odds - a gothic festival held annually throughout the city. A festival that celebrates darkness in art, which has become a reference for fans of the most sinister music, attracting participants from the darkest corners of the world. An experience that must be lived, at least once in a lifetime.