Avenida da Liberdade

— Avenida da Liberdade (Avenue of Liberty) is a boulevard in central Lisbon, Portugal. It is known as the most expensive street to rent or buy property on in Portugal. In addition to being home to various embassies and diplomatic missions, the avenue also has the largest concentration of international luxury brands in Europe, including names such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Dior, Chanel, Versace, Balmain, Gucci, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and many others.

Here are some facts about the avenue. It is 295 ft (90 m) wide and 0.7 miles (1,100 m) long. It has ten divided lanes and includes pedestrian pavements and gardens. That short stretch of prestigious real estate connects the Marquis of Pombal Square in the north to Restauradores Square, the entrance to the Lisbon Baixa neighborhood.

A walk down this avenue will highlight some interesting tourist points in Lisbon, including the Rossio Theatre, the São Carlos National Theatre, and the Gulbenkian Museum.

When we visited Lisbon in 2018, we happened to arrive there on a holiday, April 25. That day is known in Portugal as Freedom Day. It was the day in 1974 when a bloodless military coup overthrew the authoritarian Estate Novo regime. Known as the Revolução dos Cravos (Carnation Revolution), it resulted in the Portuguese transition to democracy and the end of the Portuguese Colonial War. 

As we made our way to the avenue (our home in Lisbon was a few blocks from there), people were walking up and down the avenue, some even with a carnation in their hands or hair.

Every day, wherever we went while in Lisbon, we would always walk from our home to this avenue in order to get to other places. Besides various shops and cafes along this avenue and on its sidewalks, another thing that always calls attention to any visitor is the intricate and beautiful stonework on the sidewalks. If you have not noticed that in the previous photos, please check out the details by clicking on the photos below.