Executioner's Courtyard

Lisbon · Portugal · Urban site

In the executioner's alley in Alfama, screams are said to echo still – from the victims, or from Portugal's last executioner himself.

Hidden among the alleys of Alfama lies the Pátio do Carrasco, the executioner's courtyard, named after Luís Alves dos Santos, known as 'O Negro' – Portugal's last executioner, who died in 1873. Legend has it that an underground tunnel linked the courtyard to the nearby Limoeiro prison, and night-time wanderers tell of screams and moans from within the walls. Some say they are the voices of the victims; others that it is the executioner himself in torment – historians dryly note he probably never carried out a single execution. The alley is today a highlight of Lisbon's ghost walks.

FAQ

Where is Executioner's Courtyard located?

Executioner's Courtyard is in Lissabon, Portugal.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.