Aljube: Political Prison

We are standing in front of what was once Portugal's most feared address. This building near the Sé Cathedral, known as the Aljube prison, held political prisoners from 1928 to 1965 during the Estado Novo dictatorship. The regime's secret police, PIDE, brought anyone suspected of opposing the government here first. Inside these walls, prisoners faced brutal interrogations and torture.

One method was called "the statue" where victims had to stand completely still for hours with their arms stretched out. Guards deliberately kept prisoners awake for days, breaking their will before transferring them to PIDE headquarters at night for more violence. Mário Soares, who later became Prime Minister after the dictatorship fell, was held here. So were thousands of students, writers, workers and ordinary people who spoke against the regime that controlled Portugal from 1933 to 1974.

What made the Aljube different from other prisons was its location. It sat right in the middle of an upscale neighborhood, surrounded by shops and homes. People walking these streets could sometimes hear screams from inside. The building operated as a prison until 1965, when PIDE moved its interrogations elsewhere. After the Carnation Revolution in 1974 ended the dictatorship, the Aljube closed permanently. The Museu do Aljube now occupies this space, preserving the memory of those who suffered here.