The second oldest capital in Europe, Lisbon has been the symbolic interface between the Old Continent and the New World as well as a territorial link to the exploration of Western Africa. Poet Fernando Pessoa, one of the city’s most illustrious natives, wrote Lisbon: What the Tourist Should See, sharing his perspective about what gave character to this unique city. It is from the Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortification, that many Portuguese explorers, from Fernand Magellano to Vasco da Gama, left to chart a new awareness about the globe during the Renaissance. This course delves into the circumstances that made Lisbon a center of architectural invention.

Faculty Bio

Pierluigi Serraino is a practicing architect and educator. He is the author of many books on architecture, including TASCHEN's Modernism Rediscovered. His latest book is The Modern Garden: The Outdoor Architecture of Mid-century America (Rizzoli, 2024).

This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time
• Classes will also be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Wednesday, April 29, and ends on Wednesday, May 20
• Classes meet for 4 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (10:30–noon)
• Videos will post on Fridays in Member Dashboards
• All course materials will be available in Member Dashboards through May 31

Member Praise for Pierluigi Serraino

Pierluigi is a wonderful instructor--I always learn something new from him, as well as something to think about. He always opens my eyes.

Course materials, organization, Pierluigi's deep knowledge of the specific area and ability to fit it into larger context of regional traditions and international design trends, and receptivity to participant questions & observations ... all great! Highly recommend!

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Pierluigi Serraino from our archive.