As a way to commemorate and raise awareness of what happened during the devastating 1755 earthquake, dozens of Portuguese monuments will be illuminated in purple on November 1.
On the night when many celebrate Halloween, dozens of iconic sites from north to south across the country will be illuminated in a common color for a very different reason. As October 31 turns into November 1, more than 40 monuments spread across 15 districts and autonomous regions will be illuminated in purple.
The goal is clear: to keep alive the memory of the Great Earthquake of 1755 and alert the public to the need to prepare for the current seismic risk.
A matter of safety
Organized by Quake—the Lisbon Earthquake Museum—this civic initiative goes beyond its nighttime visual impact.
At exactly 9:40 a.m. on November 1—the precise time when the earth shook more than 270 years ago—fire departments across the country and several vessels on the Tagus River will sound their sirens in unison.
The campaign has been gaining major partners, including the Portuguese Firefighters League, the Portuguese Insurers Association, Transtejo Soflusa, and various local governments.
The list of historic buildings and sites participating in the “purple blackout” includes key landmarks of the nation’s heritage:
- Lisbon and the South Bank
- North
- Center
- Islands
What began in 2024 as an initiative focused solely on the capital expanded to five districts last year. By 2026, the awareness campaign will cover 70% of the country’s territory.
For Ricardo Clemente, founder of the movement and the Quake Museum, this massive participation reflects a shift in mindset regarding disaster prevention.
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