IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

This project explores the spatial and temporal dimensions of historical literary narratives by mapping the urban geographies of Lisbon through selected texts from the late 19th century. Using ArcGIS StoryMap, the project investigates how literary representations of space—rooted in architectural, cultural, and social landmarks—can be translated into interactive, layered cartographies that reveal both a sense of place and a sense of time. Focusing on the writings of Eça de Queiroz, particularly his books Os Maias, A Capital and the Primo Basilio we ask: How can narratives, with their fluid, symbolic, and multi-layered spatialities, be meaningfully mapped? And what new insights emerge when literature is read through a geospatial lens? By tracing literary paths, mapping references to streets, monuments, and everyday places, and aligning them with historical cartographic data, we construct a dynamic platform that blends storytelling, cultural history, and spatial analysis. This method not only uncovers the lived and imagined cityscapes embedded in literature but also challenges static interpretations of narrative space. Mapping literature becomes a form of critical engagement—a way of visualizing memory, temporality, and subjective experience within physical environments. Through digital mapping, we offer an innovative tool for research, education, and cultural tourism that reanimates Lisbon’s literary past for contemporary audiences.