Bulgaria has awarded its best mayors for 11th year in a row
Almost 140 000 people have cast their vote in the national contest for Mayor of the Year
Today Portugal celebrates the restoration of its statehood from Spanish domination in 1640
Today, 1 December, Portugal celebrates its national holiday – The Day of the Restoration of Independence. Portugal was ruled by the Spanish Habsburg dynasty between 1580 and 1640 after the two countries formed a dynastic union following the Portuguese Succession Criss and the ensuing war. While the first six decades of Habsburg rule were fairly well accepted by Portuguese society, the ascension of Phillip III (Phillip IV of Spain) proved to be fatal for the Iberian Union.
The new monarch immediately went on to raise taxation for Portuguese merchants, reduced the clout of the Portuguese nobility and dispatched Spaniards to take over important governmental posts in Portugal. Tensions came to a head on 1 December 1640 when the Portuguese people, led by the local aristocracy, revolted against Spanish rule and expelled Vicereine Margaret of Savoy from the country.
The Portuguese crown was taken up by John, 8th Duke of Braganza, who took on the royal name of John IV (João IV) and earned the monicker of John the Restorer for his actions in restoring the independence and the monarchy of Portugal. These actions by the Portuguese nobility and bourgeoisie inevitably led to a war with Spain which would drag on all the way through to 1668.
The war finally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, through which the Spanish Habsburg finally recognized the legitimacy of the Braganza royal family and the independence of Portugal.
He stated this during a visit to the island’s capital Ajaccio
It’s one of the several iconic arcade shopping centres of the Italian city
The local government has decided on a host of measures to support struggling residents, but visitors will get the short end of the stick
Bringing lost music back from the oblivion of the past
The authorities wanted to provide clean energy to cultural events and festivals
Almost 140 000 people have cast their vote in the national contest for Mayor of the Year
It’s one of the several iconic arcade shopping centres of the Italian city
The authorities wanted to provide clean energy to cultural events and festivals
With this move, it might become the first European capital to do something so drastic to protect its heritage from vandalism
The local government has decided on a host of measures to support struggling residents, but visitors will get the short end of the stick
Bringing lost music back from the oblivion of the past
Other big Italian cities will also be affected by the labour dispute so plan your day accordingly
This one could be a real game-changer for our built environments and the way they look
The practical art objects are competing for one of the 2023 New European Bauhaus Prizes
Cast your vote before 24 May and do your part in promoting the NEB values
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team
A talk with the first man to circumnavigate the globe with a solar plane, on whether sustainability can also be profitable
An interview with the president of the European Federation of Journalists