Thinking of Lisbon, you probably think of the ancient city, with its cobblestone and tile streets filled with both tourists and people going about their daily business–or maybe the buildings that have been there for centuries, or the castle that looms over the city’s many hills. What you probably don’t think of are the animals that live there. It is a city after all, why should you? I definitely was not thinking of them when I visited, but I was surprised to see the many different and interesting kinds of animals in Lisbon alone.
Peacocks
Peacocks in Portugal? That’s right. You can find these beautiful birds in the Castle of São Jorge. They practically run the place. They are allowed to leave the castle grounds and explore the city, but most prefer to keep the castle for themselves. They have unique patterns–some plain royal blue, others marbled white! Just look up into the trees, and you’ll find a herd of peacocks resting in the ancient, sturdy branches. Explore the grounds, and you might even be lucky enough to see some baby peacocks!
Swallows
Every city seems to have plenty of birds running–or, I suppose, flying–amok, but Lisboa has some beloved birds that are believed to bring luck. Swallows have a meaningful symbolism, especially for sailors in this coastal city. They bring luck, hope, and symbolize freedom. Plus, they have charming songs that they sing every morning when they sail around the city, eating up bugs, which keeps Lisboa bug-free (thanks!!!). When in Portugal, you will no doubt see plenty of art that is dedicated to these birds–whether it be the small ceramic birds that seem to climb up buildings or find them incorporated into patterns of fabric, paintings, and tiles.
Roosters–In Trees!
Roosters are lucky in Portugal, hence why you will find a proud rooster tile, figure, or pattern almost anywhere. But that’s not all. You can also find real roosters and chickens walking about the city, especially in Lisbon’s parks. Head to Jardim Braancamp Freire in Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, where you too might just find a magical chicken tree–well, maybe not magical, but interesting. Chickens sit in the branches as if they were fruit, which brings me to wonder–is that how chickens are supposed to be living?
Black Cats
As in most cities, Lisboa has stray cats wandering about. Interestingly, I saw only three cats there–all of them had the same ink-black fur. While there are more patterns of coats in Lisbon, it was interesting to see multiple black cats and none of the others. Similarly, in tourist-trap stores selling trinkets and souvenirs, I found multiple bags with black cats on them, perhaps signifying that black cats and Lisboa have a correlation.
Seagulls & Pigeons
Okay, so maybe these animals are not the most interesting that you can find in Lisbon–you can find them almost anywhere! Still, they are worthy of notice. The seagulls that fly around remind you that Lisbon is a city set very near the ocean, and they are often found resting near the waterfront areas. The pigeons can be viewed as annoying or gross to most, but if you take a moment, you will be able to see the beautiful feathers that these birds have. Both of these birds are symbols of adaptability–as they can live, or even thrive, in urban environments. They live alongside humans and clean up after the scraps of food they leave around.
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