As the capital of a Catholic country, Lisbon opens up its chest of enchanting customs and traditions during Easter Week. In this post, we share some of our favourites with you.
One of the unmissable culinary treats over the Easter period is the Folar da Páscoa, a sweet or savoury bread that represents the bread eaten at the last supper, and is baked with hard-boiled eggs in the dough to represent the resurrection of Jesus.
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As tradition dictates, meat is off the menu on Good Friday, and is replaced with another culinary great: bacalhau (cod). Why not order yourself some delicious, creamy bacalhau com natas? However, Easter Sunday more than makes up for the abstinence observed on Good Friday with succulent roast lamb, which represents Jesus himself, the Lamb of God.
To cap off your Easter feasts, Lisbon also offers a host of mouth-watering sweet treats, such as chocolate eggs and caramelized almonds.
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In terms of cultural traditions, some that catch every visitor’s interest are the compasso pascal, or Easter walk, during which a priest visits the home of any parishioners who have laid flowers at their door; theatrical productions of the Passion of Christ; Easter Sunday Mass at Lisbon Cathedral; and the popular Easter processions (the ones held in Óbidos are the most impressive).
Beyond these traditions, visitors should also enjoy some of the everyday aspects that shape Lisbon’s soul, such as the weekly markets, the classic and sometimes unusual bookshops, bars at which to take in spectacular views over the city, or popular venues for an evening of traditional fado music.
Make time to discover some of Lisbon’s varied neighbourhoods as you take a gentle stroll through the quaint streets of Rossio, Baixa, Bairro Alto or Alfama, for example.
If you’re looking for the perfect base during your stay, remember that Gat Rossio has everything you need. Take a closer look at our hotel and book your room online at https://hotelgatrossio.com/en.