History Fado, a Sonority of Lisbon
November 27, 2019 getLISBON

Fado and saudade are the two most difficult words to translate from Portuguese, if not impossible. But perhaps we can make it easier to understand if we say that fado is related with destiny and saudade with nostalgia and sadness caused by the absence of something in time or in space.These definitions of such complex feelings are the most common topics in fado, the music that is sung accompanied by a classical guitar and a Portuguese guitar and that in November 2011 was inscribed by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.With an obscure origin, but surely…

Read More
History Stone Caravels, Do You Know Their Meaning?
September 25, 2019 getLISBON

Let’s talk about the stone caravels that we find engraved on old façades or on drinking fountains mostly situated in the oldest areas of Lisbon.In the Portuguese capital we’re frequently confronted with images of boats in different places: on cast iron street lights and sewer covers, or in the Portuguese pavement, in tiles, in brand logos…It’s no surprise! As we’ve said previously in the article The Symbol of the City of Lisbon, the boat with crows is part of the heraldic representation of the city.But what’s its meaning and what is the explanation for the existence of different boats carved…

Read More
History The Symbol of the City of Lisbon
September 11, 2019 getLISBON

When strolling around the streets of the capital, everywhere we go we can find representations of a boat with two birds facing each other. This is the symbol of the city of Lisbon – a small boat with two crows – the main element of the city’s heraldic representation.When thinking of boats we immediately associate them with the river that surrounds Lisbon and the sea that connects it to the world.The relationship between the city and the Tagus River is strong. If the river didn’t exist, the city of Lisbon probably wouldn’t either. Its strategic location as well as its…

Read More
History The Story of Neve and the Royal Factory of Ice
September 4, 2019 getLISBON

Did you know that in the 18th century there were cafés in Lisbon where Neve (snow) was sold? We’re gonna tell you this interesting story and its connection to the Royal Factory of Ice.It was during our research for the article 5 Classic Ice Cream Shops in Avenidas Novas that we’ve found out that 300 years ago the upper classes of Lisbon consumed Neve during summertime.We’ve decided to share with our readers the story of this important tangible and intangible patrimony, following our recent visit to the Royal Factory of Ice – a peculiar industrial complex in the middle of…

Read More
Discovering The Fountain-drinking Troughs of Sociedade Protectora dos Animais
July 17, 2019 getLISBON

In order to tell you about the fountain-drinking troughs of Sociedade Protectora dos Animais (an animal welfare organisation) we must first talk about the person whose name has been given to one of the most beautiful streets of Lisbon.Júlio de Andrade wasn’t just an important member of the upper bourgeoisie of Lisbon of the end of the 19th century. His mark is highlighted by his role as a founding member of the Sociedade Protectora dos Animais in 1875.This is an institution that still today has a fundamental role in the protection and promotion of the adoption of abandoned animals, as…

Read More