If you’re planning to visit Lisbon in June or if you’re already here, you might have noticed that some streets are covered in purple. If you’re not from around it might look like there was just the biggest party the night before and everyone’s invited except… you. There’s still lots of what it looks like papier-maché in the streets and squares. Don’t worry, the party isn’t over: in fact this could possibly be the best time of the year to visit Lisbon!

The purple leaves covering the city are from the Jacarandá trees, a species native to South America that are the messengers of the sunny days to come. Once they’re in bloom, summer’s here to stay.

No one knows who got the idea of introducing this species to Portugal. In Brazil, the wood from the Tupis (native name of the Jacarandá) Pau-santo, pau-rosa and pau-preto was very precious and was used in the construction of musical instruments like the guitar and cavaquinho, which almost lead to the extinction of these marvelous trees.

Here, they still cover vast areas in the city, from Rossio Square to Parque Eduardo VII or even the 5 de Outubro Avenue… they’re everywhere and they are so incredibly beautiful!

Take a long walk and admire how the leaves change from blue to purple making the roads so pretty. Lisbon will be covered entirely in a carpet of lavender-coloured bluebells and the preparation for the biggest party has already started: soon it will be Santo António’s day!