Page 30 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

28  INTRODUCING LISBON

Average Monthly Rainfall
Rainfall Chart
mm Inches Rainfall is fairly heavy
in the winter months in
5
125 Lisbon, and then drops
4 steadily until the height
100
of summer, when there is
75 3 almost no rain at all. The
50 2 autumn, although still
warm, can produce some
25 1 wet days, the wettest
month on average
0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec being November.
Nossa Senhora do Cabo collections are shown in
Autumn Espichel (last Sun of Sep). March (see p26).
In many ways, this is the This event is held by local Rock ‘n’ Roll Lisbon Marathon
best season for touring and fishermen to honour the (early Oct). Festive celebrations
sightseeing. The strong heat Virgin Mary with a procession in the city as runners compete.
of the summer has passed but up to the church at Cabo Republic Day (5 Oct). The
the weather is still pleasantly Espichel (see p109). revolution that brought the
warm. The countryside around Feira da Luz (throughout Sep). monarchy to an end in 1910
Sintra is particularly beautiful This lively market focuses on (see p19) is commemorated
with the changing colours arts and crafts, especially annually in Lisbon with
of the trees. pottery and ceramics. It military parades.
takes place in the Carnide
September district of Lisbon.
Avante! (1st weekend in Sep). Festa da Senhora da
This lively festa in Seixal, south Consolação (throughout Sep).
of the Tagus, attracts large This festival, which is held in
crowds. It includes rock and the Assafora area of Sintra (see
folk music, exhibitions and pp102–7), celebrates Portugal’s
cultural events and an array patron saint with a month of
of delicious food. street parties, music, food and
Nossa Senhora da Luz (2nd colourful events.
weekend of Sep). A religious
festa held in honour of Our October An old lady laying flowers at a cemetery
Lady of the Light in Sampaio, Moda Lisboa (Oct). This in Lisbon in honour of All Saints’ Day
near Sesimbra (see p112). biannual fashion show
Festa das Vindimas (early attracts important designers November
Sep). At the foot of Palmela’s from all over the world and All Saints’ Day (1 Nov). An
medieval castle (see p112), is Portugal’s main fashion important festival in the
the first grape harvest is event. Some catwalk shows Portuguese religious calendar,
blessed, amid traditional take place at the Pátio da many families light candles
entertainment, wine- and Galé, in Praça do Comércio. and lay flowers in local ceme-
cheese-tasting and fireworks. The autumn/winter teries throughout the area, in
honour of their dead relatives.
Feira de Todos os Santos
(1 Nov). Also known as the
Dried Fruits’ Market, this is
a lively fair held in Azureira,
near Mafra (see p98).
Dia do Magusto e de São
Martinho (11 Nov). The
celebration of Roast Chestnut
Day is based on the tradition
of preparing for winter and
coincides with the first tastings
of the year’s wine.
Circus (late Nov–early Jan).
Before Christmas, circuses
arrive in Lisbon. Check venues
Blessing the grape harvest at the Festa das Vindimas in Palmela and dates with tourist offices.

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