Carnide (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐɾˈniðɨ]) is a freguesia (civil parish) and typical quarter of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal.

[1][2] The settlement of the extensive area north of the boundaries of Lisbon up to Odivelas dates back to ancient times, preceding Romanization.

In addition to traces of scattered occupation during the Neolithic era, a few small-sized settlements were established, which were swiftly assimilated into Roman culture and economy.

During the 1st century, there existed several farming ventures within the region that now constitutes the freguesia (civil parish) of Carnide, ensuring the sustenance of the settlements there.

In the 4th century, there was a surge in population recorded, owing to the erection of a fresh cathedral, a monastery, and an infirmary (currently known as the Hospital da Luz, which presently houses the Colégio Militar).

[3] During the Muslim rule of the Iberian Peninsula between the 8th and 12th centuries, the occupation intensified with the consolidation of small homesteads and the development of orchards and gardens.

Christians and Muslims eventually merged in a short time, erasing religious and cultural differences.

The name Carnide is undoubtedly of greater antiquity (Celtic, Latin, or Moorish in origin), yet it started to gain widespread use only in the medieval era.

Renowned for its salubrious air, the parish attracted a number of aristocrats who chose to take up residence in Carnide, thereby enlivening the local economy.

This was the year in which a young man by the name of Pero Martins claimed to have beheld the apparition of Our Lady in his dreams, cradling the Infant Jesus in her arms while holding a candle or a lantern.

[6][7][8] The following year, a pilgrimage began at the end of summer, in September, marking the conclusion of the agricultural harvests.

In the XVI century in the parish was also active Spanish painter Francisco Venegas, whose works can still be found in the local church.

The processions and pilgrimages of Nossa Senhora da Luz were grand events, attended even by the nobility.

[9][10] Members of the nobility-upper class linked to Carnide include both daughters of politician Hermano Braamcamp de Almeida Castelo Branco, who married in the parish, but also Luísa de Bragança, Duchess of Cadaval that with her aunt Maria of Braganza (natural daughter of John IV of Portugal) was raised in a Monastery in the area.

At the end of the 19th century, the construction of two ceramic factories in the outskirts of the settlements, along with the establishment of industrial units in neighboring parishes, invigorated the economy and encouraged laborers to settle in Carnide.In the 20th century, agricultural practices, coupled with rural exodus, led to the abandonment of many estates.

In 1978 the Vergílio Ferreira Secondary School was erected where the Quinta dos Inglesesinhos, a community of Catholic Irish friars, once stood while the Carnide urbanization project was again awarded the Valmor Prize in 1985.

[39][40][41] In the same year, there was the requalification of Alameda Roentgen, now a green area with children's playgrounds and commercial activities.

[45] Following the Administrative Reform of civil parishes occurred in Portugal in 2012-2013, Carnide lost around 17.6% of its population to Lumiar and Benfica.

[46][47] In 2013 Carnide was again mentioned during the Valmor prize for architecture ceremony thanks to its efforts in urbanizing Lispolis district.

[52] In 2016 Bairro Padre Cruz hosted a street art festival that provided the neighbourhood with more than 90 artworks, still visible today and now a major attraction in the parish.

[64] Carnide, once a neglected parish, is now being revitalised also thanks to the contribution of numerous cultural associations located there including Natália Correia public library,[21] Boutique da Cultura,[21] Centro Cultural de Carnide,[65] Centro Cultural Franciscano,[66] Centro de Recursos DLBC Lisboa,[67] Clube Atlético e Cultural (CAC),[68] the Portuguese Federation of Automobilism and Karting,[21] Instituto para o Desenvolvimento Social,[21] Trokaki,[21] Teatro da Luz,[21] the Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração library,[69] Casa do Artista (Apoiarte)[70] and the Portuguese Federation of Aeromodelism[21] amongst others.

The parish experienced continued growth in 1980 Census (when many people coming from the former Portuguese colonies in Africa - the so called retornados - moved to Portugal) up to 2011.

Religion in Carnide (Census 2021)[76] The parish is predominantly catholic and 76.37% of the population aged 15 or above are followers of a Christian or Jeovah's Witness denomination as of 2021.

[77] The presence of minor religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism (1.18% of the population amongst the three) is probably due to an increasing community of people coming from India, Pakistan or Nepal.

Since the foreign population increased by (correcting by new territorial area) 220 people from 2011 to 2021 and given that the total population of the parish decreased by 1,190 units in the same timespan, it is noteworthy that the demographic contraction was limited thanks to the increase in the number of resident foreigners, thus not counting people who have acquired Portuguese nationality in the meantime.

[97] It is nonetheless important to notice that the value of the rents is quite low because of many contracts stipulated decades ago, with 54.94% (25.34% in Lisbon) of the dwellers paying less than €150/month[98] because of the rent-freezing system that was adopted in Portugal in the late XX century, allowing that many people, now mostly elders, don't have to pay high rents.

[122] The parish is thus actively promoting initiatives aiming at helping people in situation of permanent of temporal homelessness.

Manuel Salgado is the architect responsible for the hospital project (made from a functional program developed by the Catalan Albert Pineda).

[21] In recent years there has been a constant investment towards public facilities such as children playgrounds, with many created alongside the development of the parish.