October 5 th is a national holiday in Portugal

Do you know why? It celebrates the end of the Portuguese monarchy and its replacement by the First Portuguese Republic. This was the result of a coup d’etat organized by the Portuguese Republican Party and it was a bloody affair. There were nearly 2000 soldiers and sailors rebelling against the King and its appointed government and, among bombings and shootings, many did not survive the uprising. Eventually theRepublic was proclaimed at 9 o’clock a.m. on October 5 th, 1910 from the balcony of the Lisbon City Hall.

  1. Manuel II was the last King of Portugal and Teófilo Braga was first republican Head of State. The last King and the royal family fled to the United Kingdom where they were all received by King George V. Portugal’s monarchy began in 1139 and ended in 1910, lasting almost 8 centuries, one of the longest in Europe. The first King of Portugal was D. Afonso Henriques and he was the single ancestor of all monarchs who came after him until 1910.

 

This year October 5 th lands conveniently on a Thursday, so a Friday “bridge” allows for a 4-day holiday. Why not spend this “long holiday” in Portugal? Hedone welcomes you at any of our properties in Sintra, Troia, Praia Del Rey and Cascais. Come visit us in Republican style!

 

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