Lisbon Street Art: Calcada do Lavra

5/10/2016

Graffiti covered stairs on Calcada do Lavra, Lisbon, Portugal - Calçada do Lavra street art - www.tilytravels.com

Lisbon street art hotspot, Calçada do Lavra.

panorama of graffiti covered stairs and alleyway on Calcada do Lavra, Lisbon, Portugal - Calçada do Lavra street art.

Colour blast on Calçada do Lavra.

After the difficulties I experienced the previous day, one could definitely say I was beyond happy to find the location in Lisbon I had been looking for. Home to the Ascendor do Lavra, Calçada do Lavra is one of Lisbon's urban art hot-spots and is located only a short 10 minute walk from Pedro IV Square (Rossio Square).

Once arriving, I opted to bypass catching the Lavra Tram (Ascensor do Lavra) up the incline, choosing to peruse the street art by following the narrow pathway, uphill along the tram line instead. Roughly 80 metres along there is a stairway/ pedestrian access on the left-hand side. The alley here is filled wall-to-wall with colourful street art and graffiti. Unlike other street art hotspots across Lisbon (and Europe), I was unable to locate any works from internationally celebrated artists, (if they were there in the past, they had been painted over during my visit) however, this did not dull the experience. I spent over an hour here, walking around and taking photos with a goofy smile on my face, processing the explosion of colour and seeing what the showcase of local artists had to offer.

I conducted a lot of research trying to track information regarding the graffiti and street art I found along Calçada do Lavra, although, my efforts turned up almost empty. If you know the details/ websites of any artists below, please let me know in the comments section.

Graffiti covered Ascensor do Lavra tram on Calcada do Lavra, Lisbon, Portugal - Calçada do Lavra street art.

The Ascensor do Lavra (Lavra Tram) travelling along Calçada do Lavra.

25th Abril 1974 Carnation Revolution and Freedom Day street art and graffiti covering the walls of the Ascensor do Lavra tram line on Calcada do Lavra, Lisbon, Portugal - Calçada do Lavra street art.

The most substantial piece in the area is located on Calçada do Lavra close to Rua Portas de Santo Antão & Rua São José intersection. The original main artwork stretches 70 metres and the piece reads "25th Abril 1974". A reference to the Carnation Revolution and Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade).

The "25th Abril 1974" Carnation Revolution/ Freedom Day mural lining Calçada do Lavra covered in graffiti.

The only section of the "25th Abril 1974" Carnation Revolution/ Freedom Day piece that has been spared (highly probable due to its proximity to Rua Portas de Santo Antão & Rua São José.)