Updated on 17 February 2026
Original article published on 14 February 2018
No, we are not going to speak about Saint Valentine’s Day, celebrated across the world. We are instead taking this day devoted to love to reflect on the romantic ritual of attaching love padlocks to the railings of monuments and the consequences that result from it.
The tradition of love padlocks is rooted in a Serbian love story dating back to the time of the First World War — a tale of intense passion and dramatic separation that gave rise to a local custom and superstition involving padlocks and bridges.
However, the person most often credited with popularising the practice is the Italian writer Federico Moccia. In his novels he describes eternal love symbolically secured with padlocks attached to a particular bridge in Rome.
The film adaptation helped to spread this romantic gesture, and it was not long before couples began leaving padlocks bearing their names on railings near rivers, casting the keys into the water below. The practice quickly went viral.
Although this trend only became widespread at the beginning of this century, it expanded so rapidly and on such a scale that it was banned in several European cities. Awareness campaigns were even launched, suggesting alternative symbolic expressions of love in an effort to discourage the continuation of this ritual.
This is not a policy directed against superstitious lovers. The reality, however, is that railings give way under the weight, padlocks rust, rivers fill with discarded keys, and what may seem a charming curiosity becomes visual pollution and causes damage to heritage sites.
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At one time, the upper walkway of the Santa Justa Lift was one of the places chosen by couples for this ritual — not because of its proximity to the river, but most likely for the beautiful views it offers over Lisbon’s historic centre and the River Tagus.
Today, a few padlocks can still be found in less visible corners of certain railings, yet other favourite spots have emerged, such as the Senhora do Monte Viewpoint. This practice poses a risk to the protective structures of this magnificent viewpoint, and we therefore urge visitors not to add further padlocks and instead to choose alternative ways of expressing their affection.
After all, this is heritage that must be respected and preserved so that it may continue to offer us moments of wonder — just like love itself, which must remain free if it is to be true and fulfilling.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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