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Penha de França () is a (civil parish) and typical
quarter of
Lisbon
Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
, the capital city of
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
. Located in the historic center of Lisbon, Penha de França is north of
São Vicente, east of
Arroios, south of
Areeiro, and west of
Beato. The population in 2021 was 28,475.
History
The
Madre de Deus Convent was founded in 1509 by
Queen Leonor of Viseu, wife of
D. João II.
On the other hand, the Convent of Penha de França, founded in 1598, lends its name to this parish. Its territory originated from medieval parishes:
Santo Estêvão de Alfama, Santa Justa, and Olivais, within Lisbon's jurisdiction. Perched at 110 meters above sea level, it offers sweeping city views. It also houses works by Portuguese painter '','' as well as being a resting place for many members of the Portuguese nobility, such as D. Inês de Távora, wife of
Francisco de Távora
Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''.
Meaning of the name Francisco
In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed " Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comm ...
.
In 1609, another convent was built, Santos-o-Novo, near the banks of the river Tagus. The structure was erected where once stood the monastery dating from 1470, built under the reign of
D. João II.

Penha de França's traditions include the "''
Procissão do Ferrolho''" (lit. Bolt Procession) a nighttime event where doors were knocked with a ferrolho (latch) to awaken the devout.
In the 16th century, residential areas emerged around the convents, the Royal Palace, and the Mitra Palace (in Beato). In the 17th century, development centered around the Church of Penha de França and the Convent (now the General Command of the PSP, - ''
Polícia de Segurança Pública
The Polícia de Segurança Pública MHTE (PSP; ''Public Security Police'') is the national civil police force of Portugal. Part of the Portuguese security forces, the mission of the PSP is to defend Republican democracy, safeguarding internal se ...
'').
The
1755 earthquake led to the abandonment of many estates (Pina, Coxo, and Bacalhau, among others) and manors (Gadanho, Peixinhos, Alto da Eira, Santo António, and Machada) who were built in the area by
Portuguese nobility
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
.
Commissioned by
Queen Maria II in 1833 following a
cholera epidemic
Seven cholera pandemics have occurred in the past 200 years, with the first pandemic originating in India in 1817. The seventh cholera pandemic is officially a current pandemic and has been ongoing since 1961, according to a World Health Organi ...
in Lisbon, the
Alto de São João Cemetery served as the city's cemetery for over a century, honoring its most distinguished figures.
During the 19th century, factories sprang up in the valleys of
Chelas and
Xabregas, although the parish as a whole maintained a rustic character, especially in the areas far from the
river
A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
. In fact, it remained a favored area for Lisbon residents to stroll, as described by
Almeida Garrett
João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett, 1st Viscount of Almeida Garrett (; 4 February 1799 – 9 December 1854) was a Portuguese poet, orator, playwright, novelist, journalist, politician, and a peer of the realm. A major promoter ...
in his 1846 work "'" (lit. Travels through my land).
In its current territory, spanning from the Tagus River to the Penha de França hill, there have been populated areas for centuries along the riverbanks near the convents of Madre de Deus and Santos-o-Novo and around the Penha de França hermitage, later becoming a convent with the same name (now the General Command of the PSP). Despite these settlements, until the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the area remained predominantly rural, situated on the outskirts of Lisbon, characterized by open fields, vegetable gardens, estates, summer residences, and monasteries.

In 1854, the ', serving
Linha do Norte—the most important
railway line in Portugal—was built. The structure consists of two sections - one with stone arches and the other with metal beams. The metal section, built in 1854 and designed by John Sutherland and Valentine C. L., had a span of 15.60 meters, while the stone arch section is about 36 meters long. The metal beams were replaced in 1954.Portuguese Romantic artist
Tomás da Anunciação painted ', a notable landscape painting of 1857 housed in the
National Museum of Contemporary Art. The work contributed to Anunciação's appointment as a permanent professor. The painting depicts a rural view of mid-19th-century Lisbon, highlighting the old convent on the hill of Penha de França, framed by trees, oxen, and a peasant woman. It was part of the former
National Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology's collection since 1884.
In 1891 the former Caracol da Penha was renamed ' to honor João Marques da Silva, a local merchant who contributed to its expansion. It is one of the oldest streets in the parish, having been known as Calçada da Penha de França since at least 1710.
Twentieth century
Vila Cândida, constituted of 140 apartments across 35 two-story buildings and constructed by Cândido Sotto Mayor, was built in 1912. The ''vila'' would be later be given by Elsa Sotto Mayor Matos to the dwellers in 1974, following the revolution.
In 1916 the former "Travessa do Caracol da Penha" was renamed ' (lit. Quionga heroes street) to commemorate the fighters who, during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, recaptured the ' post and the
Quionga Triangle from the
Germans
Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...
at the mouth of the
Rovuma River in
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
. In fact,
during the war, around 7,500 Portuguese soldier died in the
African front.
On April 13, 1918, the freguesia of
Penha de França
Penha de França () is a (civil parish) and typical Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Located in the historic center of Lisbon, Penha de França is north of São Vicente, Lisbon, São Vicente, east of ...
was officially created, with areas ceded by the neighbouring parishes of
Beato,
Santa Engrácia, and
São Jorge de Arroios. The name of the parish comes from its patron saint,
Our Lady of Penha de França. On the first census, the parish (that at the time also comprised Alto da Pina, now part of Areeiro) had a population of 12,555 of whom 1.12% were foreigners, 51.75% were females and 52.97% were literate.
In the 1920s the neighbourhoods of ''Andrade'', ''Inglaterra'' (lit.
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
) and ''Colónias'' (lit. colonies) were built. The "English neighbourhood's" name is due to it hosting many streets named after English cities such as
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
, while the "Colonies' neighbourhood" is named after its streets, reminding names of former Portuguese colonies, such as
Timor
Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
. On the other hand, Andrade is a Portuguese surname and the neighbourhood owes its name to the family of the entrepreneur who urbanised that part of the city, naming the streets after his wife and daughters.
The first
crematorium
A crematorium, crematory or cremation center is a venue for the cremation of the Death, dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a ...
in Portugal was built in the parish and opened in 1925; it closed in 1936 due to political pressures. The crematorium, in the Alto de São João Cemetery, was reopened in 1985. Many people have been cremated here in the years since, including
Nobel Literature laureate José Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago (; 16 November 1922 – 18 June 2010) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese writer. He was the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony , Álvaro Cunhal">ith which ...
, Álvaro Cunhal and ''.''
Since 1929 an EPAL warehouse has been present in the ''Miradouro da Penha de França.''

In 1930, the ' was named after José Augusto Alves Roçadas, officer of the
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army () is the land component of the Portuguese Armed Forces, Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...
and a colonial administrator. It is one of the main avenues of the parish and on its side is located one of the largest workers' villages in Lisbon: Vila Cândida, dating from the late 19th century. In the same year, the census of the population recorded 22,226 inhabitants in the parish, a +77.03% increase since 1920. Amongst residents, 1.27% were foreigners, 55.01% were females and 58.17% were literate.
The parish continued to get more and more inhabitants, registering a demographic growth of 73% between 1930 and 1940. During this period, the ' (lit.
Afonso III avenue) opened to the public in 1932.
In 1935 the
Quartel da Penha de França was the site of an attempted revolt against
Salazar's
regime
In politics, a regime (also spelled régime) is a system of government that determines access to public office, and the extent of power held by officials. The two broad categories of regimes are democratic and autocratic. A key similarity acros ...
by the
Movimento Nacional-Sindicalista, a
fascist
Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...
(as defined by
Stanley G. Payne
Stanley George Payne (born September 9, 1934) is an American historian of modern Spain and Europe, European fascism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He retired from full-time teaching in 2004 and is currently Professor Emeritus at its Dep ...
) movement. After the failed coup, the movement's leader
Francisco Rolão Preto was exiled and fought in the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
on
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...
's side.
According to the 1940 census, the parish had 38,455 inhabitants, a +73.02% increase since 1930. Amongst residents, 1.27% were foreigners, 52.48% were females and 67.42% were literate. Moreover, according to the census (the only one since 1900 inquiring about
religion
Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...
), 83.83% of the population was catholic (86.05% in Lisbon). Interestingly, as of 2021 881 residential buildings (or 36.33% of the parish's total buildings used for residential purposes) were built between 1919 and 1945, coinciding with the demographic boom of this area of Lisbon.
In 1943 the ' was created in the parish. It is the unit within the ' with the mission of organizing, training, and maintaining the operational anti-aircraft artillery units of the
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army () is the land component of the Portuguese Armed Forces, Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...
. It was later (1948) transferred to
Queluz, where it has been hosted ever since, in barracks adjacent to the
Palace of Queluz
The Palace of Queluz (, ) is an 18th-century palace located at Queluz, Portugal, Queluz, a city of the Sintra Municipality, in the Lisbon District, on the Portuguese Riviera. One of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe,Lownde ...
.
During 1948 the ' (lit.
Prince Henry the Navigator
Princy Henry of Portugal, Duke of Viseu (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Infante Dom (title), Dom Henrique''; 4 March 1394 – 13 November 1460), better known as Prince Henry the Navigator (), was a Infante of Portugal, Portuguese prince and a ...
avenue) opened. It is the largest avenue in Lisbon, stretching for 12 km along the river and passing through 7 parishes, amongst which there is also Penha de França.
The 1950 census was the last before the 1959 division of the parish in three separate entities. According to the 1950 census, the parish of Penha de França had 48,035 inhabitants, a +24.91% increase since 1930. Amongst residents, 1.27% were foreigners, 53.16% were females and 72.88% were literate. Moreover, according to the census, 90.09% of the population was Catholic (compared with 93.14% in Lisbon as a whole), an increase since 1940. With a surface of little over 3 km
2 the population density of the parish stood at around 15,700 inhabitants per square kilometer, that is almost 20 times the population density recorded for Hong Kong in 1950.
The parish was divided in 1959, creating the parishes of
Alto do Pina and
São João.
In 1960, ' established his first business in the parish of Penha de França, opening the "Dois Mundos" bookshop. The parish has housed the
National Museum of the Azulejo since 1965 in the Madre de Deus Convent. One of the last marriages celebrated in the church prior to its transformation into a museum was the one between businessman and billionaire
Alexandre Soares dos Santos and Maria Teresa Canas Mendes da Silveira e Castro, in 1957.
To answer to the call for more government-fund houses after a surge in shanty towns, two residential towers, known as Torres do Alto da Eira, were built in 1973. The two towers housed people coming from nearby slums that had emerged during the 60s. The towers were designed by architects Francisco Silva Dias and Antonieta Silva Dias, they house 370 people in 132 dwellings and are still owned by the municipality, the residents pay a controlled rent of €52.14 per month. Due to very poor maintenance, the two towers faced the risk of being demolished in 2008 but were later deemed to be recoverable: in 2012 the city council of Lisbon invested €4.5 million for the total rehabilitation of the dwellings and of the surrounding areas.
In 1975 a
fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products.
Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...
killed two people in the shanty town of Curraleira. Hosting a large
Romani community and located on the eastern border of the parish (in the portion formerly part of São João), 69 shacks were also destroyed. In 2018 and 2023 two murals were painted to remember the accident. After the fire, no barracks were built in the area where the accident took place and a memorial cross was erected to honour the victim's memory. It was also in 1975 that some families built the Bairro do Horizonte, a self-built neighbourhood whose conditions were far better than the ones of those living in the sheds.
Tinturaria Portugália was the first of many industries to go bankrupt; it failed in 1976, following a period of political instability and the independence of the last Portuguese colonies (namely
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...
and
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
). The company had been established in the late 19th century. All major industries would end up leaving Penha de França by 2000, due to bankruptcy or relocation outside the city's boundaries.
In 1983 the ' (lit. Olaias roundabout) opened. Further road construction resulted in the Viaduto de Santa Apolónia; this road opened in 1998 to better organise the traffic between the waterfront and the inner part of the parish, bridging the railway line "Linha do Norte".

To eradicate shacks and provide everyone with access to tap water, electricity and sanitation, from 1993 the PER (Programa Especial de Realojamento) was implemented. It was estimated that in 1993 almost 40,000 people lived in
shanty towns
A shanty town, squatter area, squatter settlement, or squatter camp is a settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood, or from cheap building materials such as corrugated iron sh ...
in Lisbon (or 9.1% of the city population). Between 1993 and the early 2000s more than 32,000 families and more than 132,000 people were relocated across the whole
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
, almost 1,000 slums were destroyed across 28
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
and almost 35,000 government-funded dwellings were built. In particular, in Lisbon more than 9,000 public dwellings were built totaling an investment of over
€
The euro sign () is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the eurozone. The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. It consists of a stylized letter E (or epsilon), crossed by t ...
600 million. Penha de França received significant investment from the PER and it is estimated that the two neighbourhoods of ''
Quinta do Lavrado'' and ''
Bairro do Vale de Santo António'', built between 2000 and 2001, house around 3,000 people, or more than 10% of the total population of the parish. In Penha de França 1,511 families were identified living in shacks in 1993: by 2001 the overwhelming majority had been relocated to public housing. By 2013 only 30 families were recorded as living in shacks in the areas designated as shanty towns twenty years earlier.
Twenty-first century
Starting from 2000 around 860 families were relocated in the newly built neighbourhood of ''Bairro do Vale de Santo António'' (lit.
Saint Anthony valley neighbourhood) from the shanty towns of ''
Quinta dos Peixinhos'', ''
Calçada dos Barbadinhos'', ''
Quinta do Gadanho'', ''
Vale Escuro'', ''
Quinta Júlio Moreira'' and ''
Alto da Eira''. The complex was finished in 2000 and comprises 58 buildings hosting 744 dwellings. There are 2,083 estimated dwellers, with each family paying a controlled rent of €95.71 per month. The shanty towns were completely demolished shortly after the relocation was completed. There were also cases of families relocated elsewhere, such as people from Quinta dos Peixinhos being given a home in
Algueirão-Mem Martins.

In November 2001 ' neighbourhood was demolished. It was a
shanty town
A shanty town, squatter area, squatter settlement, or squatter camp is a settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood, or from cheap building materials such as corrugated iron s ...
hosting around 560 families until the late 1990s whose first inhabitants arrived in the 1930s but which experienced significant growth only after 1960, when a source of drinking water was installed in the neighbourhood.
According to 1992 estimates, there were still 2,500 people living in the shanty town, occupying around 800 sheds. The slum suffered from lack of most basic amenities such as tap water or access to electricity and many children were not enrolled in any educational system. There was also a dependency on social assistance, often insufficient for basic needs. The shanty was also a major hub for
drug smuggling
The illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types ...
in Lisbon, a city dealing with a surge in
heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...
and
cocaine
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...
consumption. Comprising makeshift dwellings of wood,
zinc
Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...
, and masonry, lacking basic amenities, the area was classified as Priority Neighborhoods and Intervention Areas by the Lisbon City Council and were part of the EU's USER program for urban regeneration. A fire in July 2001 destroyed four shacks and underlined the importance of an immediate relocation of the residents. Most families were relocated to
public housing
Public housing, also known as social housing, refers to Subsidized housing, subsidized or affordable housing provided in buildings that are usually owned and managed by local government, central government, nonprofit organizations or a ...
projects nearby, notably the neighbourhood of Quinta do Lavrado composed of 263 apartments over 10 buildings, completed in 2001. Many of the apartments are reportedly overcrowded, hosting around 1,000 people as of 2023.
Some residents were also relocated to social housing in Picheleira Starting from 2018, many
charitable foundations as well as associations established by local inhabitants (e.g. ''
Geração com Futuro'') has sponsored the renewal of the neighbourhood, trying to separate the name from the social stigma it carried in the 1990s.

In 2009, to celebrate the ratification of the
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon (initially known as the Reform Treaty) is a European agreement that amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU). The Treaty of Lisbon, which was signed by all EU member states o ...
, 27 trees were planted in a roundabout in the parish, symbolizing the then 27 EU countries.
With an administrative reform in 2012, the parish of
São João merged into ''Penha de França''. The parish nearly quadrupled its area and more than doubled its population; the change also brought into Penha de França a small strip of land previously belonging to the parish of
Beato.
The dovecotes of the ancient Curraleira neighbourhood, which had been used to train carrier pigeons, were demolished in 2014 to build an electricity substation in Alto de São João.
New spaces were added to Penha de França library during 2018, so that it had more than 5000 books open to public consultation. During 2019, the new bus line 37B began its circulation in the parish, connecting it to neighbouring Beato. A "Street fest festival" was hosted in Alameda for a total of nine days.
In 2020 ' opened in the parish, the first facility offering higher education within the parish. It is an innovative school part of a wider international network and, although private, is entirely funded by sponsors as no fees are charged to students.
Additional parking places were built to address demand: 160 places in Mouzinho Albuquerque avenue, more in the renovation and complete refurbishment of EB Arquitecto Victor Palla. A new parking lot for 125 vehicles was opened in 2022.

The parish of Penha de França hosted the 2022 celebration by the
Filipino community, commemorating its independence from Spain.
The "biggest street art work" in Portugal was created in July 2022, decorating 3.8 km of the wall separating the bike lane in Avenida Infante D.Henrique from the
port of Lisbon
The Port of Lisbon ( Portuguese: ''Porto de Lisboa'') is the third-largest port in Portugal, mainly on the north sides of the Tagus's large natural harbour that opens west, through a short strait, onto the Atlantic Ocean. Each part lies against ce ...
. The parish hosted the Regador Festival in 2023, aimed at increasing green spaces in the area; the new garden of Caracol da Penha opened in the same year.
During August 2023, 170 volunteers were mobilised in the parish to help the pilgrims hosted in local institutions for the
JMJ (World Youth Day 2023).
A new public health centre, Unidade de Saude de Sapadores-Graça, is expected to open in 2024. It is planned to serve around 15,000 people.
Demographics
Historical resident population (before the 2012 Administrative Reform)
The resident population recorded according to censuses carried over the years is shown in the following tables for both parishes that today constitute Penha de França. The ancient parish of Penha de França lost 15,640 people from 1960 to 2011 or 55.03% of its 1960 population, not having recorded a single population gain since 1960. Similarly, the ancient parish of São João lost 17,279 people or 53.22% of its population from 1960 to 2011, with major population losses recorded in the 1990s (-22.3%).
Current resident population (before the 2012 Administrative Reform)
The 2021 Portuguese census recorded the first demographic growth of the parish since 1960. From 2011 to 2021, the parish gained 508 people, recording a growth of +1.82%.
Demographic statistics
Age
The last censuses show that the parish's population is ageing at a fast pace: in 2021, 19.91% of the population was below 25 and, at the same time, almost a quarter (23.12%) of the residents were 65 or older.
Religion
The parish is predominantly catholic and 64.71% of the population aged 15 or above are followers of a Christian or Jeovah's Witness denomination as of 2021.
Around 29% of the population does not practice a religion and is thus classed as non-religious.
The presence of minor religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism (5.55% of the population amongst the three) is probably due to an increasing community of people coming from
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
or
Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
.
Immigration
The 2021 census showed 14.93% of the population of the parish was born outside Portugal. Amongst men, foreigners were 17.34% of the total. The number of resident foreigners in Penha de França was 4250, compared to 2522 resident foreigners (9.02% of the population) in 2011. Since the foreign population increased during the decade by 1728 people, compared to a 508 increase in general population over the same timespan, the total population would have decreased for the sixth census in a row were it not for the increase in immigration.
Considering the foreign-born population, 21.16% of the parish's population was born abroad as of 2021. The most common countries of birth were Brazil (1843 people), the Indian Subcontinent (1163 people) and
PALOP countries (1053 people). Of the Portuguese nationals born abroad, the most common countries of birth were PALOP countries (807 people) and Brazil (523 people), all countries having ancient historical ties with Portugal as well as a rooted
migration history towards the country, and who are, thus, more likely to have acquired Portuguese citizenship along the years.
There were 4564 people in the parish who had entered Portugal between 2010 and the 2021 census, constituting 16.03% of the population. Of those with recent migrant background, 11.3% were Portuguese nationals returning from a period of emigration abroad.
Amongst the Portuguese, 3,970 had already lived abroad as of 2021 (16.4% of the Portuguese population). The majority of those having lived in
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...
and
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
(978 people) entered Portugal in the Seventies (637 people or 65.13%), following the
independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
of the two former colonies (so called ''retornados''). Those coming from countries hosting large Portuguese emigrant communities such as
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, Spain,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, Switzerland,
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
or
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
(871 people) have mostly entered Portugal after 1991 (77.3%), probably due to the development of the
Portuguese economy since its
accession to the EU. Interestingly, 41% of the
Portuguese nationals having lived in the
UK and residing in the parish, has left the UK after 2016, (date of the
Brexit referendum
The 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, commonly referred to as the EU referendum or the Brexit referendum, was a referendum that took place on 23 June 2016 in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar under the provisions o ...
).
If the whole population (regardless of the nationality held) is taken into account, then 27.6% of the parish's population has already lived abroad for at least one year as of 2021, with Brazil, EU countries and Indian Subcontinent being the most commonly cited countries of previous residence.
In 2023 the parish started a new service consisting in phone assistance to migrants who do not yet speak Portuguese, offering them the possibility to ask for information in their own languages. In addition, free Portuguese language courses were also introduced in 2023.
Education
Educational attainment of the resident population

According to the last census (2021) the proportion of people in Penha de França aged 15–24 who had completed the ''erceiro ciclo do ensino básico'' (schooling up to age 14) and who were not currently enrolled in the
educational system
The educational system generally refers to the structure of all institutions and the opportunities for obtaining education within a country. It includes all pre-school institutions, starting from family education, and/or early childhood education ...
was 43.91%. This is considerably higher than in Lisbon as a whole (35.06%).
In the same year, in the parish there were still 550
illiterate
Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...
residents, of whom 68% were females. The proportion of residents who lacks basic literary skills has been steadily decreasing and as of 2021 stood at 2.08%; for comparison, it stood at 3.19% 10 years earlier (2011 census). The decrease in the number of illiterate people is probably due to the progressive ageing and subsequent death of the older generations, that in Portugal form the overwhelming majority of illiterates.
In fact, the educational attainment of the resident population increases in younger generations. Of those aged 15 or more not having a qualification – meaning that they did not complete even basic schooling up to age 9 or
primeiro ciclo - 571 (or 44.3% of the total) were older than 65; amongst those aged 15–34 the people in the same category were 261 or 20.9% of the total of those holding no qualifications. The proportion of those not holding any qualification (5.07%) or having completed schooling only up to 14 (36.55%) were markedly lower for those aged 15–34 (respectively 3.49% and 21.3%) than for those 65 or older (respectively 8.67% and 68.22%). Regardless of age, the proportion of those having completed education at least up to 14 years old stood at 73.93% for Penha de França parish, lower than the value recorded for Lisbon (77.21%). The proportion of those having studied up to 17 years old - thus completing the secondary school - stood at 59.53% regardless of age, an increase of 17 percentage points from 2011 data. The improvement in education attainment indicators for the populations also means that the proportion of those who have not completed any educational step has decreased to 5.07% regardless of age (Lisbon as a whole: 4.24%).
Economy and Social conditions
Employment
In the parish of Penha de França there are 1467 residents who, as of the 2021 census, were unemployed. Of these, 41.58% received a state-fund subsidy or pension (compared to 41.34% in the city of Lisbon). The unemployment rate in the parish is considerably higher than the one recorded for Lisbon and for Portugal as a whole; unemployment in the parish stood at 10.19%, compared to 8.13% in Portugal as a whole. Statistics dealing with unemployment at the parish level are available only every 10 years, so the current unemployment rate in Penha de França is unknown. Amongst youth aged 15–24 the unemployment rate in 2021 in the Parish stood at 20.84%; it was 9.24% for the entirety of Portugal.
Turning to the working population, the 2021 census showed 12,926 residents were employed, of which 72.44% were employees and 12.32% were independent workers. Below is the table showing the employment rate per age group. The low share of people aged 20–24 employed is due to the fact that many are still in education (e.g. university) while the low proportion of those in employment aged 60–64 is due to many being early pensioners.
Dealing with commuting, the average resident of Penha de França spent 25.16 minutes of daily commuting, 3 minutes more than the average inhabitant of Lisbon.
Social conditions
Dealing with overcrowding in the parish's households, 12.74% of the population lives in accommodations where they have less than 15 m
2 per capita (8.71% for Lisbon and 5.65% in Portugal as a whole), while 29.73% live in houses with more than 40 m
2 per capita (39.64% for Lisbon and 46.84% in Portugal as a whole). There are 6,535.1 dwellings per km
2 (3,200.5 for Lisbon and 64.9 in Portugal as a whole).
43.3% of the population lives in owned dwellings as of 2021; this is markedly lower than the values recorded both for Lisbon (50.3%) and for Portugal (70%). The average height of a residential building in Penha de França is 3.9 m as of 2021 and the average area of a dwelling stands at 75.12 m
2 (with the average in Lisbon-city 93.07 m
2 being and in Portugal 112.45 m
2).
The average monthly rent value of leased dwellings recorded in 2021 stood at €442.56, 6.01% lower than the Lisbon average in the same year (€470.87). It is nonetheless important to notice that the value of the rents is quite low because of many contracts stipulated decades ago, with 20.02% (25.34% in Lisbon) of the dwellers paying less than €150/month because of the rent-freezing system that was adopted in Portugal in the late twentieth century, allowing that many people, now mostly elderly, do not have to pay high rents. Due to the housing crisis and inflation, in 2023 the average rent for new contracts stood at almost €13/m
2 in Penha de França; for the average 75.12 m
2 dwelling, rents were almost €1,000/month.
The median price per m
2 stood at €1364 for a house sold in early 2016, this value had risen to €2849/m
2 in early 2021 and to €3519 in 2023, a growth of 157.99% in just 7 years. In the same period the growth of house prices per m
2 in Lisbon as a whole was 117.6%, from €1875 to €4080/m
2.
Of the 2,425 residential buildings listed in the parish, 9.65% were built before 1919, 61.53% from 1919 to 1960, 19.92% from 1961 to 1990, 4.33% from 1990 to 2000 and 2.76% after 2001. Of the buildings built before 1919 82.05% had 1 to 3 floors, while in buildings built between 1981 and 2010 the proportion of buildings with 6 stories or more is 49.68%. These newer and higher buildings tend to have an elevator: only 3.41% of homes built before 1946 have access to an elevator, this percentage ascends to 66.98% for buildings built from 1981 to 2010.
With regard to other amenities, 11.52% of the houses had access to air conditioning (20.98% in Lisbon), 62.92% to heating (69.62% in Lisbon) and 13.18% to a parking place (28.04% in Lisbon).
At the 2021 census there were 2867 vacant dwellings in the parish. Of the vacant dwellings, 1485 are vacant for rental or while being sold; 1382 are vacant for other reasons, some are abandoned, others await demolition, some are waiting resolution of conflict among heirs. As of 2023, some 642 apartments are registered as "Alojamento Local", meaning they have the license to be hired on platforms such as
Booking.com or
Airbnb
Airbnb, Inc. ( , an abbreviation of its original name, "Air Bed and Breakfast") is an American company operating an online marketplace for short-and-long-term homestays, experiences and services in various countries and regions. It acts as a ...
.
The 2021 census also recorded 21 homeless people in the parish, of which 17 (81%) were males. The parish is actively promoting initiatives aiming at helping people in homelessness; the Albergue Xabregas was created in 1999, through which around 500 people pass every year, and also provides a shooting room (''sala de chuto'') to help drug addicts to recover from their addiction. Other entities offering support to the population include the ' and the Mercearia Social da Penha de França, established in 2017. With the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, aid to the resident population was enhanced. From March 2020 to May 2021 around 430 people received extra financial aid, and almost 1500 people were assisted in finding an occupation or being placed into professional training.
Landmarks

*
Alto de São João Cemetery: Including the Jazigo Viscondes de Valmor, it was established in 1833 during a
cholera epidemic
Seven cholera pandemics have occurred in the past 200 years, with the first pandemic originating in India in 1817. The seventh cholera pandemic is officially a current pandemic and has been ongoing since 1961, according to a World Health Organi ...
it was located in the rural outskirts and holds a diverse history. Its architecture includes works by renowned architects and anonymous builders. The cemetery pays tribute to Republican revolutionaries, features mausoleums dedicated to benefactors and women activists, and housed Portugal's first
crematorium
A crematorium, crematory or cremation center is a venue for the cremation of the Death, dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a ...
in 1925, later reactivated in 1985. People buried here include and . The cemetery also hosts a church (Igreja do Cemitério do Alto de São João).
* Ancient fountains Chafariz da Avenida Afonso III and Chafariz do Alto do Pina, and the 1870 fountain Chafariz da Penha de França.
* Edifício na Rua dos Baldaques, 13: Building from 1932 that won the Eugénio dos Santos architecture prize
* Fernando Correia Martins monument: A 2019 memorial monument
*
Fort Santa Apolónia or Baluarte de Santa Apolónia: built between 1652 and 1668, defended the eastern part of Lisbon. Its pentagonal design, facing east and west, includes well-preserved features like masonry walls, watchtowers, and gates. Classified as a Property of Public Interest, it was part of a riverside defensive line. In 2021 it was provided with a new system of wooden ladders so as to make the access easier.
*
Forte de Santa Apolónia geomonumento: In the Middle
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...
, the area around Lisbon served as an estuary for a major river, where fresh water mingled with the saltwater from the sea. Within this transitional setting, abundant in organic material, substantial populations of Gryphaea gryphoides oysters took root, with some of these oysters growing to impressive lengths of up to 40 cm.
* A number of Catholic churches: Igreja Paroquial de São Francisco de Assis was inaugurated in 1959, Igreja São João Evangelista inaugurated in 1989, and Priorado de São Pio X.
*
Jewish Cemitery: In 1868,
King D. Luís granted Lisbon's Jews permission to establish the Calçada das Lages Cemetery (now Afonso III), still the main burial site for the Lisbon Jewish Community. In 1892, the Civil Government Charter ratified the statutes of the "Guemilut Hassadim Association," offering aid in times of need and funerals, founded by
Moses Anahory. Currently, around 270 people are buried there.
*
Madre de Deus Convent and church: Founded in 1509 by
Queen D. Leonor, the Convent showcases diverse architectural styles, including
Mudéjar
Mudéjar were Muslims who remained in Iberia in the late medieval period following the Christian reconquest. It is also a term for Mudéjar art, which was greatly influenced by Islamic art, but produced typically by Christian craftsmen for C ...
,
Manueline
The Manueline (, ), occasionally known as Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese architectural style originating in the 16th century, during the Portuguese Renaissance and Age of Discoveries. Manueline architecture inco ...
,
Mannerist
Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it ...
,
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
, and
Revivalist. It houses the National Tile Museum, displaying a rich collection of tiles from various eras. The church's simple façade features a notable 19th-century Neo-Manueline portal. Inside, the single nave is adorned with 18th-century historical
azulejo
(, ; from the Arabic ) is a form of Portuguese and Spanish painted Tin-glazing, tin-glazed ceramic tilework. ''Azulejos'' are found on the interior and exterior of church (building), churches, palaces, ordinary houses, schools, and nowadays, r ...
s depicting the life of
St. Francis, and the main chapel and choir boast 16th-century paintings framed in gilt woodwork
*
Miradouro da Penha de França: An unforgettable view encompasses both the
Tagus Valley, where the horizon meets the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
, and the opposite direction, offering a glimpse of Alto de São João and much of both riverbanks. To the north, the distant presence of the
Sintra Mountain Range can be seen
*
National Museum of the Azulejo: Housed in the Convent of the Mother of God, this museum showcases Portuguese azulejos from the 15th to the 20th century, including notable pieces like the Altarpiece of Our Lady of Life and modern works
*
Nossa Senhora da Penha de França Church and convent: The first chapel with this dedication emerged following a vow made by the visionary
António Simões after the
Battle of Alcácer Quibir
The Battle of Alcácer Quibir (also known as "Battle of Three Kings" () or "Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin" () in Morocco) was fought in northern Morocco, near the town of Ksar-el-Kebir (variant spellings: ''Ksar El Kebir'', ''Alcácer-Quivir'', ...
. Construction began in 1597–98. In 1601, it was handed over to the
Augustinian hermits. Between 1625 and 1635, a new temple was built to replace the previous one. It underwent several renovations, notably in the 18th century. It houses many notable azulejos. In the late XX century was created a chapel (Capela de São João Baptista) located in Avenida Eduardo Galhardo, to better serve the parishioners during the weekends.
* Painel de azulejos na fachada da Escola António Arroio: A 1999 polychrome tile panel, 1180 cm × 900 cm, by Master Querubim Lapa, graces the exterior façade of António Arroio School. It features a deconstructed, abstract design with vibrant contrasts
* Palace Diogo Cão (''Palácio Diogo Cão''): Currently housing the Junta de Freguesia. It is a house dating from the XVIII century, whose origins lie in the XV century but that was later restored after the 1755 earthquake.
*
Palace of the Marquises of Nisa: Founded in 1543 by
D. Francisco da Câmara, the second Count of
Vidigueira, this building passed through various owners, including descendants of
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama ( , ; – 24 December 1524), was a Portuguese explorer and nobleman who was the Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India, first European to reach India by sea.
Da Gama's first voyage (1497–1499) was the first to link ...
in 1634. It returned to the possession of the Marquises of Nisa in 1672 and underwent significant improvements at that time. Altered substantially from its original structure, both by the
earthquake
An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...
and the interventions of successive owners, it was sold to the
Misericórdia de Lisboa in 1926
*
Santos-o-Novo convent: Built in the early 17th century for the Order of Santiago, this imposing structure survived partial destruction in the 1755 earthquake. It includes a vast cloister, ornate chapels, and gilded woodwork
Culture
The parish hosts the Portuguese Camping and Mountaineering Federation and, on a bimestral basis, hosts the Penha de França Theme Fair.
The parish also features three public libraries - with the last one being opened in 2015. There are many cultural associations such as "Os fidalgos da Penha", Penha SCO (established in 2019), and "A goela" (established in 2015). Also within the parish are a large municipal market, Ginásio do Alto do Pina (established in 1911); and art galleries.
The parish organises periodical workshops or cultural events, most notably in the main library. There are also often partnerships with local cultural institutions and museums.
Penha de França is also very active during
Marchas Populares, an event celebrating Portuguese
Midsummer
Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer, taking place on or near the date of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere; the longest Daytime, day of the year. The name "midsummer" mainly refers to summer solstice festivals of Eu ...
. During this event, teams dress up in handmade outfits. They march and dance in an open avenue or closed arena to the sound of popular music, mixing motifs of
Portuguese summer culture, like
"manjerico" and the sea. Penha de França participates with two teams, the homonymous "Penha de França" and "Alto da Pina".
The parish hosts many cultural events throughout the year and incentives cultural initiatives. For instance, it also created its very own
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
"Super Penhas" so as to encourage participation from kids. A noteworthy social activity annually held by the parish is the gastromomic competition "Penha à mesa", lasting around 10 days in July.
Sport
The parish holds active life in high regard and has organised many initiatives aiming at promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst the residents.
There are several sports facilities, including:
* Espaço Multiuso: a parish-owned space offering multiple sports courses along the year
* Piscina da Penha de França: a swimming pool dating from 1960, 12 m wide and 25 m long. It was closed in 2011 for intensive works and reopened in 2021, after an €800,000 investment.
Health
Residents of Penha de França can access medical specialties provided at the parish's Medical Center, where there is also nursing support. Eight pharmacies (2.8 per 10,000 residents) and a SNS counter are also located in Penha de França.
A new hospital, "''
Unidade de saúde de Sapadores-Graça''", is expected to open in 2024.
Gardens and parks

The parish hosts several green spaces, notably:
* Jardim da Praça Paiva Couceiro: 1950s garden with a children's playground, a public restroom and an esplanade, spanning around 5000 m
2.
* Jardim da Praça António Sardinha: garden with a children's playground, approximately 2000 m
2.
* : garden with a children's playground, spanning around 1500 m
2.
* : Hosting an amphitheatre, a viewpoint, a sports park and a children's playground, the park was opened in 2023. It spans over 1 hectare and hosts 25,000 species of small plants as well as approximately 250 trees.
Nine streets have garden benches and recreational areas.
Transportation
The parish is served by a network of public transportation means, including tramways, buses, and trains.
Tramway
Penha de França is among the parishes served by tram , which is one of the most renowned tourist attractions in Lisbon. Two of its 35 stops are located in the parish: Rua Angelina Vidal and Sapadores.
As of 2023, there were plans for a new line connecting Santa Apolónia to Amadora, passing through Penha the França and serving the parish with 4 stops. However, there are no definite plans nor dates for the start of the construction.
Bus
The bus network is quite extensive, encompassing most of the parish's streets.
Train
There is a train line passing through the parish, dividing the riverbanks (where part of the port of Lisbon is located) from the rest of the parish. Despite this, there are no train stops in Penha de França. There are only two ways to get to the riverfront, with both ways being located on the boundaries of Penha de França. These are:
* ''Rua Bispo de Cochim Dom Joseph Kureethara'': The street passes under the Xabregas viaduct and serves as a boundary between Penha de França and
Beato. The name honours the
homonymous Indian bishop who died in 1999.
* Viaduct of ''Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque'': The street passes over the railway due to a bridge built in the late 1990s. It serves as a boundary between Penha de França and
São Vicente.
The name honours the
homonymous Portuguese general who died in 1902.
Headquarters and Branches of the Parish Council (Junta de Freguesia)
* Headquarter (Penha de França)—Travessa do Calado, 2
* Social and Health Development Center (''Polo de Desenvolvimento Social e Saúde'') - (São João) - Avenida Marechal Francisco da Costa Gomes, loja 13
Notable people
People who were born, lived, or buried within Penha de França include:
* (1713-1786): Portuguese-Spanish nobleman
* (1749-1799): Portuguese-Spanish nobleman
* (1776-1814): Portuguese-Spanish nobleman
* (1780-1852): Portuguese-Spanish nobleman
* (1818-1908): Portuguese nobleman
*
Ana Augusta de Castilho (1860-1916): Portuguese feminist, teacher, propagandist,
freemason
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
, and republican activist opposed to the Portuguese monarchy.
*
Jesuína Saraiva (1865-1947): Portuguese actress
*
Raul Lino (1879-1974): Portuguese architect
* (1928-2022): Portuguese poet and writer
* : Portuguese actress and playwright
* (1938): Portuguese actress
*
Humberto Fernandes (1940-2009): Portuguese footballer
* (1948): Portuguese artist
* (1961): Portuguese actress
*
José Raposo (1963): Portuguese actor
*
Nininho Vaz Maia (1988): Portuguese singer, considered one of the main voices linked to the
flamenco
Flamenco () is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the Gitanos, gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and Region of Murcia, ...
musical style in Portugal.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penha de Franca (Lisbon)
Parishes of Lisbon