Coinciding with the opening of the exhibition, the Documentary Centre of Historical Memory in Salamanca hosted a conference on the end of dictatorships and the transitions to democracy in Portugal, Spain and Greece.

At the conference “Celebrating Democracies. Greece, Spain, Portugal. Reflections on 50 years of change”, moderated by Elena Martínez Barahona, a professor at the University of Salamanca, included Maria Inácia Rezola, the commissioner for the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of 25 April, Carmina Gustrán, the commissioner for the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of democracy in Spain, and Syrago Tsiara, the director of the National Pinacoteca of Greece.

“Half a century ago, Portugal and Spain were pioneers in a democratising drive that helped pave the way for freedom in the following years and brought down a large number of dictatorships that still existed in Latin America and central and eastern Europe. We want to take advantage of the date to evoke and debate this process,” said Maria Inácia Rezola, quoted in a statement issued today by the 50 years of 25 April Commemorative Commission.

This exhibition, curated by historian Manuel Loff, has already been open to the public in Lisbon, at the Torre do Tombo, last year, and is now coming to Spain, with some adaptations to the Salamanca space, as part of the joint programme agreed by Portugal and Spain in 2024 to celebrate the role of culture in the processes of transition to democracy in both countries.

In addition to the cross-programming agreed between the governments of Portugal and Spain, the “Iberian transitions” also have a dossier dedicated to this theme on the website of the Commission to Commemorate 50 years of 25 April (50anos25abril.pt/historia/portugal-espanha-50-anos-de-democracia/ ).