Casamentos de Santo António

According to EGEAC, the municipal company that manages cultural entertainment, this year there were 33 candidacies for Casamentos de Santo António, a tradition that began in 1958, at the time sponsored by Diário Popular.

From 11:30 am, the Lisbon Cathedral receives 11 couples and the City Hall another five, for the religious and civil ceremonies, respectively.

The participants, residents of the county, have an average age of 34 this year and “professions as diverse as doctors, firefighters, drivers, administrators, salespeople, educational assistants, lawyers and researchers”, according to the municipal company.

With a strong involvement of civil society, the initiative is sponsored by dozens of partners, which ensures everything from dresses and suits for the bride and groom to the wedding reception and the honeymoon.


Marchas populares


From 21:00, when dozens of fairs are already bringing life to the whole city, Avenida da Liberdade will be filled with music and color in the parade of marches, which begins with Escolas de Lisboa and A Voz do Operário (children ), followed by the Markets and the Santa Casa.

The 20 marches in competition then descend the avenue: São Domingos de Benfica, Mouraria, Penha de França, São Vicente, Belém, Graça, Alfama, Bairro da Boavista, Lumiar, Bairro Alto, Santa Engrácia, Madragoa, Olivais, Alto do Pina, Alcântara, Bica, Ajuda, Marvila, Castelo and Carnide.


The theme of the Grande Marcha (presented by all the groups, in addition to their own songs) this year is Parque Mayer, where the first marching contest took place in 1932.

Although there is an overall winner, awards are given by categories, such as Best Choreography or Best Costume Design.

Metropolitano de Lisboa will extend the service in almost all stations on the Green and Blue lines until 03:00 on Tuesday, with trains with six carriages.

Only the Avenida station will close around 00:30, according to the carrier. The Yellow and Red lines will operate at the usual time (until 01:00).

The Carris bus station will reinforce, between 00:00 and 06:00 on Tuesday, routes 201 (Cais do Sodré - Algés), 207 (Marquês de Pombal – Lumiar) and 210 (Santa Apolónia - Oriente Station).

The official schedule of Festas de Lisboa, available on the EGEAC website, started on June 1st and includes, for about a month, more than 40 artistic events.