Architect Álvaro Siza was decorated by the President of the Republic this Tuesday, December 19, with the Grand Cross of the Order of Sant'Iago da Espada, on the same day that he received the Portugalidade Prize, awarded by the Ilídio Pinho Foundation to Álvaro Siza for his life's work. The award honors personalities who work to "promote, disseminate and defend the values of Portugal".

For its part, the Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada is designed to distinguish literary, scientific and artistic merit and includes the ranks of knight or dame, officer, commander, grand officer and grand cross, as well as, in special cases, the grand collar.

This is the fourth time that Álvaro Siza has been awarded by the President of the Republic. A Grand Officer of the Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada since 1992, he has held the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique since 1999 and, more recently, in 2017, he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction.

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