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Unveiling Fernando Pessoa:Delve into the EnigmaticWorld of Portugal'sLiterary Mastermind

(Lisbon)
FernandoPessoa
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Overview

A Literary GeniusUnveiled

Step into the captivating world of Fernando Pessoa, one of Portugal's most enigmatic literary figures. Known for his profound introspection and his vast repertoire of poetic voices, Pessoa's writings transport readers to realms of philosophical musings, existential contemplations, and exquisite emotions. Immerse yourself in the intricate tapestry of his words as you embark on a literary journey through the landscapes that shaped Pessoa's imagination.

Discover the essence of his multi-faceted literary genius, where dreams intertwine with reality, and the boundaries of identity blur. Join us as we unravel the enigma of Fernando Pessoa, inviting you to experience the profound beauty and intellectual depth of his literary legacy.

Fernando

Lisboa: The Muse of Fernando Pessoa

Lisboa: The Muse of Fernando Pessoa

To travel!To change countries!

Richard Zenith
PhotoAna Padrão
Recited byAna PadrãoPortuguese award-winning actress and director of the immersive show 'A Morte do Corvo'
Curated byRichard ZenithWriter, translator, researcher, and one of the most prominent experts on the life and work of Fernando Pessoa.

Fernando Pessoa spent a good part of his childhood in South Africa, but after returning to Lisbon at the age of 17, he rarely left the city and its surroundings and never went abroad again. However, he never ceased to travel in his imagination and in his self-awareness, refusing to be a static, defined person. The poem 'Viajar! Perder países!' is a cry for freedom that proclaims the existential right and necessity of constantly being 'another.'

Poem

To travel! To change countries!
To be forever someone else,
With a soul that has no roots,
Living only off what it sees!

To belong not even to me!
To go forward, to follow after
The absence of any goal
And any desire to achieve it!

This is what I call travel.
But there's nothing in it of me
Besides my dream of the journey.
The rest is just land and sky.

Fernando Pessoa Máquina

Tour

Trace the captivating journey of renowned poet Fernando Pessoa through Lisbon.

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Fernando

Lisbon
In the Footsteps ofFernando Pessoa

Casa Largo 01

Fernando Pessoa was born on June 13, 1888, at 3:20 pm, on the fourth floor number 4 left, Largo de São Carlos, and lived there until he was 5 years old.

Currently, marking the building, there is a statue of the Poet, in bronze, by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

The statue has an open book, in place of the head, and was placed there in 2008, on the day that marked the 120th anniversary of Pessoa's birth.

Basílica 01

Its construction began in 1147, after the reconquest of Portugal from the Moors, by D. Afonso Henriques

In 1755, with the Lisbon earthquake, the church was destroyed, and it only opened its doors in 1784, after being rebuilt under the supervision of the architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos.

The baptismal font stands out, which can be visited today, and which is an original piece, recovered later.

It was here that Fernando Pessoa was baptized on July 21, 1888.

Brasileira 1

A Brasileira is a historic café, a meeting place for emblematic figures, such as Fernando Pessoa, or Almada Negreiros.

Created by Adriano Telles, a Portuguese emigrant in Brazil, on November 19, 1905, it was one of the first establishments in Lisbon to introduce Brazilian coffee.

Located at Rua Garrett, it has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1997.

Inside, a reprint of the book “Mensagem” stands out, the only work by Pessoa published while he was still alive, and the glasses the poet used to write it. Outside, there is the famous bronze statue, created in the 1980s, an excellent backdrop for unforgettable photographs.

bertrand01

The bertrandBookstore, opened in 1732, is considered the oldest in the world still in operation and is registered in the Guinness World of Records.

It was a meeting place for several Portuguese figures. In addition to Pessoa, who bought many of his books there, Eça de Queiroz or Antero de Quental stand out.

Currently, the bookstore has several rooms, dedicated to different Portuguese authors. In the space that pays homage to Fernando Pessoa, there is Café bertrandand a mural dedicated to the Poet, by Tamara Alves.

chapelaria01

It is the oldest Hat Shop in Portugal. It was here that Fernando Pessoa was said to buy his famous hats. Founded in 1886, it has belonged to the same family for 5 generations and has kept the furniture and some original instruments intact.

The President of the Republic, actors and other celebrities buy their hats here.

It also has other items for sale, such as gloves or walking sticks, and nowadays most of the customers are foreigners.

Martinho da Arcada 01

Café Martinho da Arcada (initially Casa da Neve) was inaugurated on January 7, 1782. Later, in 1829, the grandson of the founder, Martinho Bartolomeu Rodrigues, took over management, changing the name to Café Martinho and, later, Café Martinho da Arcada.

Fernando Pessoa frequented this Café and, according to its employees, his usual drinks were absinthe and wine.

According to historical records, it was here that Pessoa had his last coffee, before dying, in the company of Almada Negreiros.

Eléctrico 01

This is the most famous tram in Lisbon, which connects Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique, passing through some historic areas of Lisbon, such as Graça, or Jardim da Estrela. Inaugurated in 1914, nowadays there are around 50 trams, with wooden cabins, of the period.

The 28 was the means of transport most used by Fernando Pessoa, namely on the route between Campo de Ourique and Bairro do Chiado.

Morte do Corvo 01

This is a large-scale, immersive show, similar to the best you can find in London or New York.

Acclaimed by critics and by the thousands of visitors who passed through, “A Morte do Corvo” tells the macabre plan of Edgar Allan Poe to kill Pessoa.

Without lines, and with a great musical and choreographic component, the action takes place in 1924. Visitors must wear a mask, from the Order of Crows, and can explore more than 2,000m2, following mysterious characters, including the Poet himself, but also Mário de Sá-Carneiro, or Ofélia.

The play takes place in the old Estrela Military Hospital.

Casa Fernando Pessoa 01

This is the house where the Poet lived the last 15 years of his life, between 1920 and 1935.

Currently transformed into a Museum, it is spread over three floors and includes two libraries, the Public one, which focuses on the professional life of the Poet, and the Private Library, which has his own literary collection.

Inaugurated on November 30, 1993, the anniversary of Pessoa's death, this literary cultural space was classified as a National Treasure.

When visiting it, you will find documents and various personal objects belongin to the Poet, as well as some original furniture.

mosteirodos Jerónimos 01

The Jerónimos Monastery was ordered to be built by King Manuel I. The process began in 1501 and lasted over a hundred years until it was completed.

Since 1907 it has been considered a National Monument and in 1983 it was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2016 it was awarded the status of National Pantheon, and, a year later, it was named one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal.

It is in a cloister of this Monastery that the tomb of Pessoa is found, the work of the sculptor António Augusto de Lagoa Henriques.

The Poet died on November 30, 1935, but his body was only transferred to this location in 1985, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his death.

Initially, Pessoa was buried in the family tomb at Cemitério dos Prazeres, next to his grandmother Dionísia.

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House in Largo São Carlos

Fernando Pessoa was born on June 13, 1888, at 3:20 pm, on the fourth floor number 4 left, Largo de São Carlos, and lived there until he was 5 years old.

Currently, marking the building, there is a statue of the Poet, in bronze, by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

The statue has an open book, in place of the head, and was placed there in 2008, on the day that marked the 120th anniversary of Pessoa's birth.

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