I want a house in the city center, but without the noise of cars and planes! – said someone who believes in unicorns.
If there’s one request we frequently hear in the real estate market, it’s this: “I want to live in the heart of the city, but without traffic noise, tourists, or noisy neighbors.” The usual response? “Sure, and would you also like an infinity pool and a unicorn parked in the garage?”
The Sound of Lisbon: Soundtrack or Endurance Test?
Lisbon has it all: history, gastronomy, and an integrated sound system that never turns off. From the iconic tram 28 carving through the hills to the inevitable daily symphony of construction work, not to mention the neighbor who decided to become a DJ after turning 40, the city never sleeps – and neither do its residents.
We want the lively streets, but without the chestnut vendor’s whistle. We want to live in the center, but without tourists dragging their suitcases at 6 a.m. We want views of the Tagus River, but without the wind turning windows into tribal drums. Deep down, we want everything, except reality.
Lisbon, the City Where Noise is Illegal (But You Wouldn’t Know It)
Curiously, noise in Lisbon has been prohibited by decree… since 1957! Yes, more than six decades ago, a mayor decided that “the production of noise, whatever its source, capable of disturbing the population or disrupting their work or rest, is prohibited.” And, to avoid any doubt, it was detailed that “unnecessary or excessive noises not essential to the normal exercise of activities and whose intensity or shrillness could be reduced” are prohibited.
The problem? Well, even back then, enforcement was a mirage. In 1957, an outraged councilman complained about a citizen who, every night at 2 a.m., made an infernal racket with his small vehicle – all under “the contemplative astonishment of the on-duty guard.” Sixty-six years later, nothing has changed: there are laws, there are promises of enforcement, but the sound of the rebellious motorcyclist at 2 a.m. remains steady and unshaken.
Noise and the Real Estate Market: A Price to Pay
The truth is, silence has value – and a lot of it. A house on a quiet street can be worth significantly more than the same house next to a chaotic roundabout. Real estate agents already know that “well-located and quiet” is a paradox almost as big as “decaf coffee that gives you energy.”
If it’s any consolation, the noise problem isn’t exclusive to Lisbon – nor to modern times. Cities have been noisy for thousands of years. The Roman poet Juvenal already complained about the “unstoppable traffic” of Rome, Julius Caesar banned carts during the day, and in 16th century London, it became illegal to beat your wife or servants after 9 p.m. – not for moral reasons, but to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
And in Lisbon? Well, in the 19th century, a French chronicler described the country with a delightful phrase: “There are no festivities in Portugal without artillery salutes. The king coughs, cannon. The princes sneeze, cannon. A ship arrives, cannon. A ship departs, cannon. Inauguration, whatever it may be, cannon. Cannon and always cannon!”
The Solution? Accept or Escape
So, what to do? Accept that living in a city means embracing its rhythm – and its noise – or seek refuge away from the chaos. Until then, Lisbon will remain the city where people live, love, and, of course, hear a little bit of everything.
