So many historical and architectural references mention the earthquake of 1755 that I check it out. Realised that it must have been massive to have affected the south coast as well as Lisbon, but it was well beyond anything I could have imagined. The earthquake occurred on November 1, 1755 in the morning when many were attending All Saints Day masses. Churches collapsed killing thousands, but it would scarcely have mattered where the people were - the destruction was enormous. Estimates vary, but some say that 60,000 people died in Lisbon alone, in the earthquake itself, the fires that raged throughout the following week, and the tsunami the earthquake triggered. Destruction was not only widespread throughout Portugal, including our bit of the coast 270 km south of Lisbon, but had major impact internationally. Major damage and loss of life occurred in Morocco, Algeria and Spain. Large waves hit Cornwall and Ireland and, eventually the Caribbean. Apparently the greatest seismic event prior to the 2004 Indonesian tsunami.