Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

LISBON THROUGH THE Y EAR  29

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature Chart
Lisbon is rarely very cold,
°C °F and maintains a pleasantly
mild climate, even during
30 85
the winter months,
24 75 making it a good city
to visit in any season.
18 65 However, the summer
12 55 months bring days of
consistent heat, and
6 45 although the city is quiet
in high summer, it can
0 32
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec become humid and stifling.
Winter
Those seeking mild, sunny
climes and an escape from
the winter cold will find this
a good time of year to visit
Lisbon. The nightlife is very
lively and continues until
the early hours, especially at
weekends. Christmas is a time
of great celebration and an
important occasion for families
to reunite and enjoy long
meals together.
Colourful parades during the annual Carnaval celebrations in Lisbon
December
Festa da Imaculada Conceição January Procissão do Senhor dos
(8 Dec). This festival of the New Year (31 Dec–1 Jan). In Passos da Graça (second Sun in
Immaculate Conception is a Lisbon, a spectacular firework Lent). The figure of Christ (Senhor
national holiday throughout display is held in Praça do dos Passos) is taken out of the
Portugal. There are special Comércio to welcome the Igreja da Graça (see p39) and
church services and Lisbon’s New Year. carried through the streets of
population celebrate with Epiphany (6 Jan). The Graça, in Lisbon. The procession
their usual festive spirit. traditional cake baked for the dates back to the 16th century.
Christmas (24–5 Dec). Epiphany is bolo rei (king’s
Throughout the Lisbon area, cake), a small fruit cake made
churches and shops display with a lucky charm and a bean Public Holidays
Nativity scenes and cribs. The inside. Crown­shaped, it is New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
main celebrations take place topped with crystallized fruit, Carnaval (Feb)
on Christmas Eve, when resembling gems. The Good Friday (Mar or Apr)
families get together person who gets the Dia 25 de Abril or
and go to midnight bean must then Liberty Day,
Mass. They then buy the next commemorating 1974
return home for cake. Bolo rei is revolution (25 Apr)
a large traditional also made at Dia do Trabalhador,
meal of bacalhau Christmas time. Labour Day (1 May)
(salted dried cod) Opera season (Jan– Corpus Christi (date varies)
and sonhos (small The celebratory cake, Nov). The opera Camões Day (10 Jun)
fried cakes similar bolo rei season starts at the Santo António (13 Jun)
Assumption Day (15 Aug)
to doughnuts, Teatro Nacional de Republic Day (5 Oct)
usually flavoured with São Carlos (see p55). All Saints’ Day (1 Nov)
pumpkin or orange). Dia da Restauração,
Nossa Senhora da February commemorating indepen­
Conceição (26 Dec). A trad­ Carnaval (date varies). This dence from Spain, 1640 (1 Dec)
itional religious procession is celebrated throughout Immaculate Conception
held in honour of Our Lady of Portugal with spectacular (8 Dec)
the Immaculate Conception, costumes and floats; there Christmas Day
the saint protector of Alfarim, is an especially colourful (25 Dec)
near Sesimbra (see p112). parade in Sesimbra (see p112).
The Lisbon skyline, as seen from Almada

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