How to Travel to Lisbon Through 2 Books, 1 Series, and 1 Film

"Lisbon cannot be described, it must be felt." When Portuguese Nobel Prize winner José Saramago (1922-2010) speaks, one can only listen and agree. Although it faces the Atlantic, the Portuguese capital has a strong Mediterranean component. Not only due to its mild climate but also because of the hospitality of its inhabitants and the context of its history. Lisbon boasts a rich cultural scene that goes well beyond fado music-it is a paradise for bibliophiles and a source of inspiration for artists as varied as John Malkovich, Wim Wenders, and Madonna. Although it may seem biased, as Fernando Pessoa, the quintessential Lisbon writer, once said: "There is no city in the world more beautiful than Lisbon."

On the Spotify profile of VIAJAR magazine, you will find a playlist to enjoy a Lisbon soundtrack.

'The Book of Disquiet', by Fernando Pessoa (Acantilado)

Like James Joyce's Ulysses, The Book of Disquiet is a work that has reached cult status despite being read in full by few. This book consists of over 500 fragments written in various formats: diary entries, aphorisms, philosophical musings... Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) worked on it between 1913 and 1935, leaving it incomplete due to his death at just 47 years old. The narrator of this unclassifiable text is Bernardo Soares, an assistant bookkeeper in Lisbon. Although he is a fictional character, Pessoa acknowledged that he is "a semi-heteronym, because, while not being my personality, is not different from mine, but a simple mutilation of it." This is a book to be enjoyed slowly, in small doses, inviting readers to open it at random and let themselves be carried away.

'Sostiene Pereira', by Antonio Tabucchi (Anagrama)

Italian by birth and a Lisboeta at heart, Antonio Tabucchi (1943-2012) is an essential author for understanding late 20th-century European literature. Besides humor and sensitivity, the Pisa-born writer possessed the rare virtue of combining depth and lightness. The book that brought him the most success during his lifetime is Sostiene Pereira (1994), adapted into a film with Marcello Mastroianni in the leading role. The plot, set during Salazar's dictatorship, revolves around a veteran cultural journalist in Lisbon who retreats into literature and ignores his country's political situation. However, by mentoring a young journalist critical of the regime, Pereira makes a politically charged decision with unforeseen consequences. His next novel, The Lost Head of Damasceno Monteiro, is also a must-read.

'April Captains' (2000), by Maria de Medeiros

Debut in directing by Maria de Medeiros, one of Portugal's most internationally recognized actresses. The screenplay, written by Medeiros and Ève Deboise, tells the story of the peaceful uprising led by a group of leftist military officers in 1974 against Salazar's dictatorship. Colonial wars, political repression, and economic issues were the triggers for what is known as the Carnation Revolution.

'Mysteries of Lisbon' (2010), on Filmin

Adaptation of the namesake work by Camilo Castelo Branco (1825-1890), one of the most widely read Portuguese authors of all time.

This miniseries, for which Filmin offers a 119-minute condensed version, delves into a multitude of Lisbon intrigues from the 19th century revolving around Pedro da Silva, a young orphan whose story gradually unfolds through multiple unexpected twists.