António Ribeiro Chiado

Who was António Ribeiro Chiado?

António Ribeiro, who became known as "O Chiado" or "O Poeta Chiado" was born in poor circumstances in Évora in about 1520 and died in Lisbon in 1591.

He was a 16th century satiric and poet and a contemporary of Luís Vaz de Camões.

Known as the "Chiado" (or The Poet) because he lived for many years in the Chiado, in Lisbon. The street was already known as "Chiado" at the time but was later changed to the present name of Rua Almeida Garrett.

He taught in the Franciscan College in Évora until leaving monastic life, and moved to Lisbon, where his talent with words made him well known in the area of Chiado. According to contemporary descriptions he remained celibate, and retained his monastic clothing. During his life he remained popular as a poet and for his skills of improvisation of voices and gestures of well known people of the time.

A fine sculpture by Costa Mota (tio) stands at the top of the Chiado in his memory, erected in 1925 by the Lisbon Municipality.