Gabriela Mistral Plaque

Why did Gabriela Mistral find solace in Lisbon? Here, at the Gabriela Mistral Plaque, we uncover a chapter of her life that intertwined with this city. The Gabriela Mistral Plaque commemorates her time as Consul of Chile in Lisbon from 1935 to 1937. It marks the building where she resided, a period she described as a year of happiness. Gabriela Mistral, born Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga, was not just a diplomat. She was a celebrated poet, educator, and the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Her life was a tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and a deep connection to her Chilean homeland. Yet, it was here in Lisbon, far from her birthplace, that she found a haven. After years of travels and diplomatic postings, Mistral arrived in Portugal weary and seeking respite. The Gabriela Mistral Plaque inscription captures her sentiments: “In this Portugal I found peace, having a year of happiness, nothing less than happiness.” She reveled in the “sweet soil and sweet air” of Portugal, finding tranquility to heal and to create. It was during her time in Lisbon that she compiled and organized her recent poems, which would later be published as “Tala.” The Gabriela Mistral Plaque is more than just a marker on a building. It’s a window into the life of a remarkable woman who found solace and inspiration in this city. It reminds us that even amidst a life of global travels, sometimes the most profound experiences are found in the quiet moments of peace and happiness.