In June, the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints), the Lisbon nights are filled with lively festivities, parades and live music that take over the city’s historical center.
The main Saints’ days are for Santo Antonio (June 12-13), John (June 23-24) and Peter (June 28-29). Program ‘Festas de Lisboa’ (also in English)
All the streets in the historical center are decorated with garlands and lights.
Historic Alfama, in June 2008.
Santo Antonio festivities & Portuguese flags (EFC) football
Lisbon craziest night of the year in area Alfama, nearby Mouraria (YouTube)
Restaurant ‘A Tasquinha’,
Largo Contador Mor, Castelo area, really good sardines!
Eating sardines while listening to the fado singers.
Fado came long after Saint Anthony, but its major theme is nostalgia and longing-for what is lost and for what has never been gained. Anthony fits right into this scene!
Live fado music in Alfama
The streets are filled with the delicious (strong) smell of sardines being grilled. It’s not a good time for the sardines 😉 though as everywhere in Lisbon you see people grilling sardines outside their homes and the narrow streets fill up people in party mood.
Sardines & Saint Anthony festivities belong together
On the night of June 12 you can enjoy the famous yearly Santo Antonio costume Parade. All the clubs and associations of Lisbons’ neighbourhoods descend on Avenida da Liberdade to compete for the best parade, music, costume and choreography.
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