Corpus Christi

It’s the oldest procession in Lisbon, already held since the reign of King João I (1385-1433), and was known for its pomp and magnificence, characteristics maintained throughout the centuries. In the reign of King Joao V, the procession of the Corpus Christi gained a remarkable dimension - it included the guilds (millers, horticulturists, packsaddle craftsmen, tailors, carpenters, etc.) as well as the delegations of the various religious Orders of Lisbon (Augustines, Benedictines, Franciscans, Order of Christ). Under the pallium, the bishop of Lisbon displaying the custody with the Blessed Sacrament flanked by the king and other dignitaries.

By the middle of the 19th century, the procession was simplified. The 1910 legislation banned the holy days of the Church, interrupted public worship, but the Brotherhood of the Blessed One kept the worship alive. Later the day of Corpus Christi became a holiday again. In 1973, after a hiatus of several years, the Corpus Christi Procession was restored. From then on, it’s celebrated every year.

Route: Largo da Sé - Rua das Pedras Negras - Rua da Madalena - Rua dos Condes de Monsanto - Praça da Figueira - Rua da Prata - Rua da Conceição - Rua de Santo António à Sé - Largo da Sé