Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

26  INTRODUCING LISBON

LISBON THROUGH THE YEAR

While the summer months are the most Lisbon Coast. In late winter, the colourful
popular for visiting Lisbon and have many Carnaval celebrations attract many visitors to
events on the calendar – the Festas dos Lisbon. Other events during the year include
Santos Populares, in June, are one of the music festivals, sporting fixtures and the
highlights of the year – spring and autumn many religious festas, which are great times
can also be rewarding if you want to tour the of celebration for the Portuguese people.

Liberty Day (25 Apr). A public
Spring holiday throughout Portugal,
With the arrival of spring- the annual celebration of
time in Lisbon, the café and the Carnation Revolution
restaurant terraces begin to that ended 48 years of
fill with people. Many events, dictatorship in 1974 (see
such as concerts, start to take p19) is also known as the Dia
place in the open air again da Revoluçaõ. Commemorations
as the weather improves. include a military parade
At the weekends the and political speeches at the
coastal resorts of Cascais Praça do Império. The unions
and Estoril become organize festivities that take
livelier when on warm, place all over the city.
bright days local people Portugal Open Tennis
take day trips there to enjoy Championship (Apr/May).
the seaside. International players compete
in Portugal’s top tennis
March João Moura, one of Portugal’s famous competition, which is held
Moda Lisboa (mid-Mar). The bullfighters (cavaleiros) at the Estoril Tennis Club.
first of two annual editions Beginning of the bull-fighting
of Portugal’s main fashion the public are encouraged season (Apr–Sep). The Campo
show (see p28). to read their favourite poems. Pequeno bullring in Lisbon
World Poetry Day (3rd Sat). Procissão dos Terceiros is the usual venue for this
Literary events are held at the Franciscanos (4th Sun before traditional entertainment.
Centro Cultural de Belém, Easter). This colourful Bullfights may also be seen
including debates, poetry procession through the in Montijo.
workshops and music streets of Mafra (see p98)
performances. Poets from all starts at the convent. The May
over the world present their ceremonial robes worn in the Dia do Trabalhador (1 May).
latest works, and members of procession were given to the Among the events organized
church by João V, in by the unions on Labour Day
the 18th century. are marches and political
Lisbon’s Half speeches throughout Lisbon.
Marathon (Mar or Apr – Rock in Rio (May). Biennial
date varies). One of (even years) music festival at
the city’s most popular Lisbon’s Parque da Belavista.
sporting events, the Feira do Livro (May–Jun – date
race draws inter- varies). One of the main literary
national runners. events in Lisbon, this book fair
offers numerous bargains, such
April as second-hand books and
Festa dos Merendeiros signed copies. The event takes
(Sun after Easter). place at the Parque Eduardo VII,
This traditional the city’s largest park (see p77).
festival and procession Exhibition of Horse-Riding
takes place in Santo at the Palácio Nacional de
Isidoro, near Mafra Queluz (May–Oct). Every
(see p98). There is a Wednesday at 11am,
ceremony to bless riders from the Portuguese
the bread and the Equestrian School put on
fields in the hope of displays of their skills in the
a successful harvest gardens of the Palácio Nacional
Formal military parade, held in Lisbon on Liberty Day later on in the year. de Queluz (see pp110–11).

026-027_EW_Lisbon.indd 26 17/10/16 11:06 am