Traditions of Lisbon
A hill city of fado, grilled sardines in June and the Saints' Festivals of Santo António.
Lisbon is a city of seven hills on the Tagus, with tiled walls, yellow trams and a tradition of fado, a song of longing, saudade. In June, the city holds the Festas dos Santos Populares, a month of street parties, marching bands and grilled sardines in honour of the saints Anthony, John and Peter.
Fado and the June festivals
Fado is sung by a single voice with Portuguese guitar, in small restaurants of Alfama and Mouraria, with a request for silence, silêncio, from the host. On 12 June, Lisbon's neighbourhoods parade in the Marchas Populares. Manjerico, a pot of basil with a paper flower and a love verse, is given to a loved one.
At the table
Sardines grilled on charcoal on slices of bread, bacalhau, salt cod prepared in many ways, caldo verde, kale soup, and pastéis de nata, custard tarts, are Lisbon staples. A bica, short coffee, is taken at the counter. Ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur, is sold in tiny bars.
Signature traditions of Lisbon
Also part of it, and being written: Pastel de nata (The custard tart.), Bacalhau (The salt cod.), Ginjinha (The cherry liqueur.).
A trail idea for Lisbon
- Alfama Hear fado in a small tavern.
- Time Out Market Taste local dishes.
- Pastéis de Belém Try the original tart.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Kizomba: Obe Images, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Camino de Santiago: stephenD, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Marchas Populares: Taisir85, CC BY 4.0, source
- Queima das Fitas: Fotografía realizada por: Ángel Serrano Sánchez de León, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Azulejo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Fado: Pedro Simões, CC BY 2.0, source