Dia da Liberdade 25 de abril 2023 is the 49th year since the 1974 revolution that ended Portugal’s mid-20th century dictatorship. It seems that the big Lisboa event was a concert on the evening of 24th of April. We took our local train to downtown Lisboa on the 25th and found a huge stage in the big gathering spot Praça do Comércio. In 2024, the 50th anniversary, there will be big celebrations, I’ve read.
A block away is the Cámara Municipal, a grand building that houses the offices of the Mayor of Lisboa. It is open to the public on this holiday. Take a look!
You’ll see a lot of red carnations, “cravos” in Portuguese. Vendors are selling them, people are wearing the flowers, and buildings are decorated with them. The revolution in 1974 was peaceful, led by the military. Legend has it that they put carnations in the muzzles of their guns.