Four Senses provides a potentially life-changing immersive experience, revealing what life is like for people with impaired vision.
What if you suddenly lost your sight?
At Four Senses, you have the chance to discover what it’s like to live in pitch blackness. Without the benefit of sight for up to 60 minutes, you’ll be challenged and inspired through real-life scenarios where your senses of touch, smell, hearing and taste come to the fore. It’s a sensory experience that challenges perceptions and gives visitors a new perspective of our world, including the streets of Faro.
Four Senses opened in April of this year. It’s a social initiative established by the Ver Pelo Coração Association, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the inclusion of people with visual impairments. On arrival at Four Senses, it’s apparent how much care and work have gone into providing a professional, safe and welcoming environment. With five dedicated staff, a number of whom are themselves visually impaired, guided tours are available in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French.
My guide, the 51-year-old Carlos, lost his sight nearly 30 years ago as a result of a motoring accident. With Carlos by my side and a cane in hand, I had the chance to experience what it’s like to navigate an urban environment. What first struck me was the noise of the traffic, the uneven pavement and distant voices. In another scenario, there’s a ‘home space’ where the touch and feel of furniture, electrical items and food take on new meaning. There’s a ‘nature’ scenario where the feel of the ground beneath my feet and the flow of water challenged my understanding of the environment around me.
Demonstrating how impressive the experience is, Four Senses has nearly 200 reviews across numerous platforms, including Google Reviews, all of which rate it five stars. One visitor said, “It’s a fantastic way to appreciate what it’s like to be blind. All of the team members are enthusiastic, positive and engaging. It’s the most memorable experience we’ve had this holiday.”
It’s an experience that’s available to residents, tourists, government departments and local businesses. One of the many pleasing aspects for the staff has been how popular it has proven with children (*) from local schools and also with local businesses who are using it not only as a means to educate their staff, but also as a way of team building – sharing such an intimate experience has proven a great way of building bonds between colleagues.
For Andreia Santos, my host and the project co-ordinator who helped create this remarkable experience, working at Four Senses has been transformational. “I had to reinvent myself,” she said. “I had to let go of my preconceptions about what it’s like to be visually impaired and to learn more about how our other senses compensate. I think working here makes us all more empathetic and I know for our visitors, it has a similar impact.”
As for the future, the possibilities are endless – closer working with schools, the emergency services and the health service. Staff recently ran a very successful mini experience at the Algarve Forum and more events such as these are promised for next year. Given the success of the Four Senses venture in Faro, it’s not beyond the realms of imagination that another venue could be opened.
The completion of my tour was marked by my emergence back into the light. Orientation returned: shapes, colours and familiar sights. There was something that lingered, however – a changed awareness. Stepping back onto Faro’s bustling and noisy streets, the world felt slightly altered. It was as if, for the first time, I was truly seeing and, more than that, understanding.
(*) Children aged 6 to 11 are very welcome, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
Four Senses – Faro
Rua Rebelo da Silva 31, Faro, Portugal
Monday–Saturday, 10:00–19:00
+351 918 939 526
Four Senses is offering an exclusive 15% discount for readers of Tomorrow. To access this generous offer, use the code TA15OFF on their website.
