An ongoing project.
The Portuguese word saudade is often described as untranslatable, yet its presence is palpable in every corner of Lisbon. This complex, bittersweet emotion conveys a deep longing for something lost or unattainable, and Lisbon — a city with a rich, historic legacy — embodies this feeling. Once the center of a global empire, the city has undergone significant changes, with modernization and tourism reshaping its identity. This photography project seeks to document these shifts, capturing the tension between the Lisbon of the past and the Lisbon of the future, between what has been lost and what still endures.
Lisbon, once a place where tradition and community thrived, is now facing rapid transformations that threaten its unique character. Overtourism has dramatically impacted the city, turning historic neighborhoods into tourist hotspots. For many Lisbon residents, these changes evoke a deep sense of loss. The city’s economic prosperity seems to come at the cost of its cultural identity. Locals are feeling increasingly displaced as their traditions, businesses, and neighborhoods are transformed or erased. This wave of gentrification is not only transforming the physical landscape of the city but also altering its social fabric, alienating the people who have called it home for generations.
In areas less touched by tourism a more authentic Lisbon still lingers. These neighborhoods maintain a slower pace of life, where traditions endure and local communities remain intact. Yet, even in these corners of the city, the question persists: how long can these neighborhoods remain untouched?
This project aims to document this liminal state — between past and future, tradition and modernity, authenticity and commercialization. Through photography, I intend to capture moments that reflect the saudade felt by Lisbon’s residents as they witness the transformation of their city. I focused on symbols, fragments, and details — subtle clues that prompt reflection on the city’s transformation.
At the heart of this project lies the question of belonging. As Lisbon becomes more globalized, many locals wonder: does the future still belong to them? Can they still recognize the city they grew up in? Or, like its fading traditions, are they becoming a relic of the past? Through this project, I hope to document the complex emotions of saudade, loss, and the tension between tradition and progress, preserving a glimpse of what makes Lisbon unique before it is altered forever.
