Resistance Monument

Category: Civil Architecture > Monument

District: Setúbal > Setúbal > Setúbal > Centro Histórico

Location

The Monument to Resistance is located in the heart of Setúbal's Historic Centre, set within an urban environment that invites exploration on foot. Its central location makes it easily accessible for those exploring the city's oldest streets and squares, offering a point of reflection amidst Setúbal's daily life. Its surroundings, characteristic of historic areas, provide a backdrop that highlights its presence as an urban landmark.

A Landmark of Collective Memory

This monument, whose full name is Monument to Antifascist Resistance, Freedom, and Democracy, serves as a powerful reminder of the Portuguese people's struggle for a regime of rights and freedoms. Dedicated to those who resisted the Estado Novo dictatorship, which lasted for about 48 years, its existence in Setúbal underlines the city's commitment to democratic values. It is a space for homage and remembrance of a past that shaped present-day Portugal, encouraging a pause for reflection on the meaning of freedom.

The Work and its Language

The artistic conception of the monument expresses, through its forms, the complexity and strength of the resistance. The sculptural work, of considerable dimensions, uses symbolic elements that convey the idea of oppression and, simultaneously, the desire for liberation and hope. Its structure, which rises in the urban space, invites careful observation of its lines and volumes, which represent the tenacity and fighting spirit of those who opposed the authoritarian regime. It is a piece that, through its visual language, communicates directly with the visitor.

Testimony of a Period

The Monument to Resistance is not just a sculptural piece; it is a material testimony to Portugal's recent history. It evokes a period marked by censorship, political repression, and the absence of fundamental freedoms, but also by the courage of many citizens who, individually or collectively, opposed that reality. A visit to it allows for a better understanding of the country's journey towards the establishment of democracy, serving as a link between the past and the present and perpetuating the memory of the events that led to the consolidation of freedom.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt