Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho

Established in 1885, the Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho has witnessed Lisbon’s evolution. Originally named Escola D. Maria Pia, it honored Queen Maria Pia of Savoy. The school started as a haven for girls’ education. Its first courses included needlework, typography, telegraphy, and commercial writing. Imagine those young women, diligently learning skills for a changing world. The Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho wasn’t always here. Its first home was in the Alfama district, in Largo do Contador-Mor. The school transitioned into a girls’ lyceum in 1906. This change was thanks to the efforts of professors Caetano Pinto and Domitila de Carvalho. King Carlos I decreed this transformation. It later moved to the Palácio Valadares in Chiado. The growing student body led to its upgrade to Liceu Central in 1917. This allowed the Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho to expand its curriculum. It was renamed Liceu Central de Almeida Garrett. The school found its current location on Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca in 1933. The building we see today, designed by architect Ventura Terra, became its permanent home. It was renamed to honor Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho, a prominent writer, poet, and feminist activist. The Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho became co-educational after the 1974 revolution. The name also changed to Escola Secundária, reflecting this significant shift. Today, the Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho serves a diverse student body. It even provides special education resources, including a dedicated office for students with visual impairments. In a modern twist, the school featured in the teen soap opera “Morangos com Açúcar” in 2007. More recently, in 2021, it earned the distinction of being the first school in Portugal to receive the Ethics Flag certification. The Escola Secundária Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho also has a long-standing partnership with Lisbon’s prison. This ensures that inmates can continue their secondary education.