Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nobel prize-winning author Jose Saramago's novel Baltasar and Blimunda offers a
surrealistic reflection on life in 18th-century Portugal, while his books Blindness and See-
ing are satires on society and politics.
Set in Portugal in 1938 during Salazar's fascist government, Pereira Declares: A Tes-
timony (Tabucchi) is the story of the moral resurrection of a newspaper's cautious editor.
Another novel by Tabucchi is Requiem: A Hallucination.
In A Small Death in Lisbon (Wilson), a contemporary police procedural is woven with
an espionage story set during World War II, with Portugal's 20-century history as a back-
drop. In Distant Music (Langley), Catholic Esperanca and Jewish Emmanuel have an af-
fair that lasts through six centuries and multiple incarnations, and describes Portugal's
maritime empire, Sephardic Jews, and Portuguese immigrants in London. The Last Kab-
balist of Lisbon (Zimler), a thriller, illuminates the persecution of the Jews in Portugal in
the early 1500s.
Films
Marcello Mastroianni is the namesake in Pereira Declares (1996), inspired by the Tabuc-
chi novel mentioned earlier.
Capitães de Abril (2000) relates the 1974 coup that overthrew the right-wing Por-
tuguese dictatorship, from the perspective of two young army captains.
Amália (2008) tells the story of Portugal's beloved fado singer Amália Rodrigues, who
rose from poverty to international fame.
Holidays and Festivals
This list includes selected festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed
throughout Portugal. Many sights and banks close on national holidays—keep this in
mind when planning your itinerary. Before planning a trip around a festival, verify
its dates by checking the festival's website or TI website ( www.visitportugal.com ) ;
www.whatsonwhen.com also lists many festival dates.
Jan 1 New Year's Day
Mardi Gras Carnival Feb 12 in 2013, March 4 in 2014
Holy Week Week before Easter
Easter March 31 in 2013, April 20 in 2014
April 25 Liberty Day (parades, fireworks)
May 1 Labor Day (closures)
May 13 Pilgrimage to Fátima
Late May - early July Festival de Sintra, Sintra ( www.festivaldesintra.pt )
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