Portugal commemorates 1755 earthquake victims with purple light displays

More than 40 locations across 15 districts in Portugal will be illuminated in purple on the night of October 31 to honor the victims of the 1755 earthquake. The initiative, promoted by the Quake – Lisbon Earthquake Museum and the “Remember 1755” Movement, aims to preserve historical memory and raise awareness regarding seismic risk prevention and community resilience.

Symbolic sites participating in the campaign include Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio, the Sé de Lisboa, and Cristo Rei, as well as Porto’s Casa da Música. In the Azores, the Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo and the Fortress of São João Baptista will join the commemoration. The Cathedral in Angra do Heroísmo holds particular significance due to its own history of seismic damage, including a major earthquake in 1980 and subsequent structural collapses.

As part of the tribute, fire departments and vessels on the Tagus River are scheduled to join in a chorus of sirens at 09:40 on Sunday, marking the exact time the 1755 earthquake occurred. The campaign is supported by various municipalities, the Portuguese Firefighters League, and other national associations.