When in Doubt, Email the Mayor: How I Got Into Lisbon City Hall
Whenever I decide on a new country to visit (and photograph, of course), the first thing I do, besides checking how many memory cards I need, is dive into the research. Sure, I’ll hit the iconic spots like everyone else. But I’m also on the lookout for those lesser-known gems, the kind of places tucked just far enough off the tourist path to feel like a discovery.
Often, those hidden treasures come with a catch: limited access, obscure opening hours, or flat-out “no photography allowed” signs. But with a little persistence, and the occasional email to a head of state, you can sometimes find your way in.
Staircase Dreams and Bureaucratic Hurdles
When I planned my trip to Portugal, I knew Lisbon would be our first stop. It’s a city full of color, texture, and character. But what caught my eye was a photograph I stumbled across of a staircase inside Lisbon’s City Hall.
If you’ve followed my work, you know I have a soft spot (okay, a full-blown obsession) with staircases. So naturally, I had to photograph this one. There was just one problem: Lisbon City Hall doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for tourists carrying tripods. In fact, they don’t let tourists in at all unless they have official business. So, I started writing emails.
It was easier said than done. Unfortunately, the city’s website was entirely in Portuguese, which I am not. After wrestling with Google Translate and trying to decode department names, I eventually gave up trying to find the right person and thought: Why not aim high? So I wrote to the mayor of Lisbon.
Yes, the actual mayor.
An Unexpected Reply—and a Private Tour
After a couple of weeks of radio silence, I assumed my email had landed in a digital black hole. But to my surprise, I received a message from the mayor’s assistant. Not only had they read my email, but they were also granting me special access to photograph the staircase… for one full hour, with a tripod (which, as any architecture photographer will tell you, is gold).
So there I was, early Saturday morning, meeting the mayor’s assistant in front of Lisbon City Hall, camera bag in hand, wife in tow, and a huge grin on my face. He gave us a tour of the building, proudly showing us its architecture and history. When we reached the staircase, I felt like I had entered photographer heaven.
It was more beautiful in person than I imagined, with graceful curves, repeating lines, and perfect symmetry. I photographed the staircase with a Sony 12-24mm lens, capturing the entire staircase from very close to the front. Everything about it—the lines, the light, the silence—was perfect.
The Image and the Gratitude
The final image is one of my favorites from the trip. It wouldn’t have happened without a bit of stubbornness, a lot of translation help, and a mayor who was willing to say yes. It now holds a place in my fine art portfolio and, honestly, in my heart.
So next time you’re stuck behind a velvet rope or a language barrier, remember: don’t be afraid to aim high. Sometimes, the mayor really will answer your email.
This is one of my " Behind The Image" series of images that are available for purchase on my Fine Art website at VanDuinenPhotography.com.
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