Praça Carlos Fabião

“Lost,” a tourist muttered, unfolding a crumpled map of Lisbon. “Absolutely lost.” It was then, at Praça Carlos Fabião, that they stumbled upon our tour group. This square, established in 2016, honors Coronel Carlos Fabião, a key figure in Portugal’s Carnation Revolution. Praça Carlos Fabião, nestled in the Avenidas Novas district, may seem unassuming at first glance. But its very existence tells a story of revolution, democracy, and a nation’s struggle for self-determination. Carlos Fabião, born in Lisbon in 1930, began his military career in 1950, serving four commissions in Portuguese Guinea. He was a man who dared to speak truth to power. In 1973, as a major, Fabião exposed a planned right-wing coup, a courageous act in a nation stifled by the Estado Novo regime. Praça Carlos Fabião stands as a testament to his bravery. When the Carnation Revolution bloomed on April 25, 1974, Fabião was there, a part of the Movimento dos Capitães that toppled the dictatorship. He became Governor of Portuguese Guinea and served on the National Salvation Junta, shaping the future of a newly liberated nation. Praça Carlos Fabião is a quiet place of reflection, a space where the echoes of revolution whisper through the trees. His role in the transition to democracy, his service as Chief of Staff of the Army, and his membership in the Council of the Revolution cemented his place in Portuguese history. Here at Praça Carlos Fabião, we remember a man who dedicated his life to his country, who fought for freedom and helped usher in a new era for Portugal. Fabião passed away in Lisbon in 2006. In naming this square after him, Lisbon honors not only the man but the ideals he fought for. As you stand here, in Praça Carlos Fabião, remember his story, a story etched into the fabric of this city and this nation.