Grandola, Vila Morena

Portugal is a very musical country and, during our revolution, that happened on the 25th of April of 1974, songs worked like secret codes. One of our biggest authors and singerswas Zeca Afonso, who lived part of his life in Coimbra.
He’s the author of the famous “Grândola, Vila Morena”, the song that was chosen by the Armed Forces Movement as the second password to the revolution, after the theme “E Depois do Adeus”. Afonso’s song is all about the brotherhood among the Portuguese people of Alentejo, and was forbidden at the time. Yet, on April 25, this theme played in the radio, confirming the beginning of the revolution.
So, it became a symbol of democracy, like Zeca Afonso. If you’re in Coimbra, you can see the house where he lived, in the historical center, at Largo da Sé Velha. If you have the time, include this visit in our 25th of April thematic itinerary.