The Marranos of Northern Portugal
The widespread presence of a Jewish population in Portugal became a challenge to Christian society even before King D Manuel I (1495-1521) chose to deal with the problem. Jews had
Amália da Piedade Rebordão Rodrigues – The Queen of Fado
The Portugal of the Estado Novo – the dictatorship of Dr António de Oliveira Salazar – was promoted by the regime as famous for the three F’s: Football, Fátima and
A Cruz Alta de Fátima
As long ago as 1973, the authorities at Fátima had realised that the existing facilities were not adequate to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, particularly on Sundays and other
Percurso Lusitano
One of the most exciting exhibitions of sculpture took place in Portugal in the year 2019. It was called The Lusitanian Route, and the sculptor of all the pieces was
The Implantation of the Republic in Portugal
The annual commemoration of the Implantation of the Republic of Portugal takes place on the public holiday of October 5. The Commemoration reminds us of the events of October 4
The Great Escape Route
“Lisbon at present is the hub of the western universe, and it must be the most fascinating place in the world” – Irish Times, October 23, 1941. And an article
Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence
James Lovelock CH CBE FRS is leading an extraordinary life. On July 26, 2019 he reached the age of 100, and Novacene is his latest book. Lovelock was born into an impoverished family
The Twilight of the Pepper Empire (1600–1663)
Portugal had a century start on the other European empires in the east and, in a sense, the Portuguese eastern empire lasted much longer than those of its competitors, since
The Pope’s Elephant || Part 3
Hanno’s life in Rome and his influence on Italian culture Of all his rich gifts, it was Hanno the Elephant that most pleased Pope Leo X. On days when Hanno
The Pope’s Elephant || Part 2
Part one of The Pope’s Elephant showed that immediately after his election in 1513, Pope Leo X determined to make Rome the centre of European culture. Amongst the first to