Lisbon Burning

August 25, 2013 12:04 AM

Twenty-five years ago, in the pre-dawn of August 25, 1988, a fire started in downtown Lisbon's Carmo Street and quickly spread to Garrett Street and others, destroying a total of 18 buildings of the Chiado. Two people were killed, and 73 were injured (60 of them firemen). Between 200 and 300 people lost their homes. Several of the historical shops were lost. In terms of the extent of the city affected and number of destroyed buildings, the Chiado fire is considered the worst disaster to strike the city since the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. A rebuilding project directed by Portuguese architect Siza Vieira has, to a great extent, returned the area to its former glory. The exterior look of the buildings were restored, while the interiors have been completely renovated.

A collection of photos of the fire.
Another collection of photos.
Three more pictures from the fire.
SIC TV report, 25 years later. (in Portuguese)
RTP TV report, 25 years later. (in Portuguese)
RTP TV documentary on the fire, from 2008. (in Portuguese)

posted by chavenet (2 comments total)

I love how it looks now but part of my childhood died that day in those flames. No more Christmas automaton displays on the Grandella windows, no more chocolate milk at Ferrari. I cried so hard. Can't even bring myself to click on those links.
posted by Marauding Ennui at 3:25 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Público has just published an interview with Siza on that rebuilding project (in Portuguese, sorry).
posted by khonostrov at 4:07 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]