On 10 June, H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Portuguese Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria,

welcomed distinguished guests and friends to a concert followed by a reception at the Hyatt Regency Sofia on the occasion of Portugal’s National Day. For yet another year, Portugal Day, Camões Day, and the Day of the Portuguese Communities were marked with a cultural event.

In her welcoming address to the guests, H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva expressed her gratitude to the Bulgarian institutions and organizations for their continued partnership, to the Portuguese community in Bulgaria for its dedication and for representing Portugal abroad with distinction, and to the Embassy team and friends for their assistance in organizing the celebration.

The Ambassador emphasized:

“This year we also mark the 40th anniversary of Portugal’s accession to the European Union, and, by the way, also Spain’s. Since 1 January 1986, EU membership has transformed our country—bringing structural funds, market openness, democratic consolidation, and European credibility. Forty years on, we are proud to share with Bulgaria, an active member since 2007, the same values of peace, prosperity, and solidarity. I also take the opportunity to express appreciation for Bulgaria’s support for the election of Portugal as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva also noted:

“The 10th of June is a day to celebrate Portuguese culture—not merely as an identity, but as a worldview. It is music, poetry, architecture, science, and gastronomy. Above all, it is a way of being open to the other and unafraid of the unknown. This cultural richness we bring to Bulgaria as a living bridge, through our Embassy, the Camões Institute, book fairs, concerts, and exhibitions. Culture, when truly shared, becomes the strongest foundation for mutual understanding.

On this day, we evoke Camões, the Prince of Poets. He was a visionary who lived between dream and adventure—losing an eye in combat, sailing Asian seas, building a Portugal of the East. He wrote The Lusiads: a hymn to resilience, courage, and imagination. Camões teaches us that a nation, despite its size, can be great in spirit—not by force, but through language, memory, and desire. Both Portugal and Bulgaria know how to transform adversity into identity and hope—into action.”

Her Excellency went on to speak about the importance of the Portuguese language, spoken by nearly 300 million people. Portuguese is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world and is an official language of the European Union, Mercosur, the African Union, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). She expressed her satisfaction that interest in the Portuguese language is also growing in Bulgaria.

H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva concluded her remarks with a message of hope:

“May this 10th of June remind us who we are: a country of poets and navigators, of committed Europeans and citizens of the world. And may we continue to build, day after day, an ever-deeper friendship between Portugal and Bulgaria. We are very proud of what we have achieved together.

Long live Portugal, long live Bulgaria, long live Europe!”

Following Her Excellency’s moving words, the guests were immersed in the wonderful world of music by the great Portuguese performer of traditional string instruments, Luís Peixoto. The lively rhythms of festive folk music, presented in his original arrangements, together with his virtuoso performances on the mandolin and cavaquinho (a miniature guitar), captivated everyone. The concert by Luís Peixoto’s quartet, featuring Álvaro Iglesias (double bass), Marc Sharau (violin), and José Lis (Irish bouzouki), concluded to enthusiastic applause from the audience. The joyful atmosphere created by the performance continued at the reception that followed.

Photos courtesy of the Embassy of the Portuguese Republic in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Top: H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Portuguese Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria, with her colleagues from the Embassy during the official part of the evening. Bottom: Moments from the concert.