What do we know about the magnitude of the impact of earthquakes on heritage? How did communities mobilise and react? Has there been as much destruction as described, or is heritage more resilient than we imagine? What have we learnt from our past?

Researchers and other agents in the field of heritage are meeting tomorrow, April 11th, at Casa dos Bicos (José Saramago Foundation), in Lisbon, to try and answer these questions, in a day dedicated to the consequences of earthquakes on Lisbon’s historical heritage, organised by Património Cultural, IP and the Museum of Lisbon (EGEAC) under the theme proposed by Icomos for the International Day of Monuments and Sites 2025, celebrated on April 18th, ‘Disaster and conflict resilient heritage’.

IN2PAST researcher from Lab2PT – University of Minho Mário Farelo will focus on earthquakes in medieval Lisbon (documentary evidence and heritage impacts), while IHA – NOVA FCSH researchers Carla Varela Fernandes, Paulo Almeida Fernandes and Pedro Flor will address the impact of the 1755 earthquake on Lisbon Cathedral, the forgotten earthquake of 1531 in Lisbon, and the safeguarding of movable heritage in the Modern Period.

Check out the full programme.