Whilst in Lisbon visiting our Daughter and Son-in-law, we trekked across the City one day to take in some sights we hadn’t ‘done’ before. Having crossed the river on the ferry (our daughter lives in Almada on the other side of the River from Lisbon proper), we set off through a former down beat district that is now an up and coming arty crafty quarter and fell upon the ‘LX Factory’. This nestles under the huge April 25th Bridge in the district of Alcantara. ‘LX’ apparently is an acronym for Lisbon and this old factory complex is promoted as the City’s thriving centre of arts, crafts, and all manner of goods in the ‘shabby chic’ look that seems so popular these days.
The ‘passion for vintage’ extends to the site itself. Back in 1846 a threads and fabrics Company called “Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Lisbonense”, one of the most important manufacturing firms in Lisbon, was estabslished here. Later a number of smaller industrial outfits occupied the buildings- which extend to nearly 25,ooo square meters. More recently, this rather dishevelled site has become ‘a creative island’ full of many small firms and individual artists and crafts people as well as providing a stage set for a range of events related to fashion, publicity, communication, fine arts, architecture, music, etc.
The day of our visit- admittedly early in the day and out of season- it was a little quiet and not really the ‘throbbing heart and soul’ it must be in busier times. Still, it was an interesting excursion, including a pavement- side coffee as we watched the maintenance men at work.
There were some fascinating and some beautiful murals on the exterior walls of the buildings (including some thought – provoking statements). I was particularly taken with the huge second hand book store which is housed in an old printing factory. The novelty here is that the printing machinery is still in place, elevated several meters above ground level, and books are shelved precariously way above head height!
Note to Self- must remember to return in high summer.
Old School Garden 