The House of Questions and the Well of Memory

The historian Rui Tavares takes us until 4 April 1571 in a journey that plunges not only into time, but also into history, letting us know Damião de Góis, a unique figure of the Renaissance. The tour begins at the São Jorge Castle, one of the most imposing examples of peninsular military architecture from the Islamic period, as an invitation to contemplate the city. We reach the old Limoeiro Prison, look at Rossio and remember the Palace of the Estaus (also known as the Palace of the Inquisition) with its three floors towers, imagine the Todos os Santos Hospital in Figueira Square, in a proposal that invokes the imagination and gives space to the memory. The trajectory continues between Rua Augusta and Terreiro do Paço, ending at Cais das Colunas and in the contemplation of this horizon. Venture further into this challenge to visit Lisbon in retrospect, navigating through history and myths.

Distance: 2,9 km

Level of difficulty: Moderated

Audio Duration: 71 minutes

Beginning of the walk: São Jorge Castle*

End of the walk: Cais das Colunas (Praça do Comércio)

*The Castle is open from 10h to 20h (1 March – 31 October).

SOUND WALK MAP

This podcast is only available in Portuguese at SoundCloud and Spotify.

Rui Tavares © Nuno Ferreira Santos

(Lisbon, 1972) Rui Tavares is a writer, historian and essayist. He has published several books, mainly non-fiction, on historical or political themes, including The Little Book of the Big Earthquake (2005), The Irony of the European Project (2012) and Left and Right: Historical Guide for the 21st Century (2015). Former Member of the European Parliament, where he was rapporteur for refugee and fundamental rights issues; Doctor of History at the Ecole des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, associate researcher at the Centre for International Studies of ISCTE/IUL and integrated member of the Institute of Philosophy of the New University of Lisbon.