“ARRIVING IN LISBON, ONE IS GREETED BY A BREATH OF ATLANTIC AIR, A MYRIAD OF COLORFUL HOUSES INTERSPERSED WITH JACARANDA BLOSSOMS.”
— Marquise de Ravenel
The rattling sound of a tram, the scent of freshly baked pastel de nata, the sight of the glistening waters of the Tagus—welcome to Lisboa. Portugal’s capital of labyrinthine streets, azulejo tiles, and blooming jacarandas beckons travelers with an indescribable charm and quiet nostalgia. Fado is Lisboa’s most iconic sound—a traditional music born in the city’s oldest neighborhoods and expressing its deep emotion and heritage. From the grandeur of Belém to the bohemian spirit of Bairro Alto, Lisboa has the heart of a poet and the pulse of a port in Europe.
Creatives, dreamers, and sunseekers from across the globe have congregated in this singular location, enticed by the plentiful seafood, celebratory atmosphere, and legacy of craftsmanship. This travel coffee table book is a love letter to Lisboa, with original imagery provided by locals Carlos Souza and Charlene Shorto and a foreword by Miguel Guedes De Sousa. Lisboa Luz paints a portrait of a resilient metropolis that has endured earthquakes and revolutions to become a sought-after destination for those looking for a good time.
Carlos Souza, born in São Paulo, Brazil, dedicated over forty-five years to the House of Valentino. He began his career as a model and eventually became Valentino’s Global Brand Ambassador, a role he held until his retirement in 2023. During his multifaceted career, Souza also worked as a photographer. At the behest of Andy Warhol, he contributed to Interview magazine, capturing fashion shows and documenting New York’s vibrant social scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He served as fashion director for Men’s Bazaar and later as editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar Italy. As a jewelry designer, Souza has had his creations featured in prestigious boutiques such as 10 Corso Como, Barneys, Colette, Maxfield, and Daslu. Currently, he divides his time among Rome, Lisbon, and his farm in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lisboa Luz is his fourth book published by Assouline, following Carlos’s Places, Comporta Bliss, and Amalfi Coast.
Charlene Shorto was born in Brazil and relocated to Europe at a young age, pursuing her education in Switzerland and England. After marrying Carlos Souza, she settled in Rome, where she worked with Valentino Garavani, traveling extensively for press engagements and fashion events. A passionate photographer with a refined eye for nature, architecture, and design, she has contributed with Carlos Souza to three Assouline publications, capturing the essence of Comporta, the Amalfi Coast, and now Lisbon, a city she has cherished since childhood and where she currently resides.
