Attractions - Portugal

Attractions - Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal

The largest city in Portugal, Lisbon is a city of attractive contrasts having been moulded and influenced by its long history and inhabitants. Settled by the Phoenicians almost 3000 years ago, the entire city was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1755. Lisbon is now one of Europe’s most exciting and beautiful cities, with breathtaking architecture, world-class museums, a lively cultural scene and terrific restaurants.

Stroll down the wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings, mosaic pavements and street cafés that lie in the heart of Lisbon. Make sure to make time for the city’s excellent museums. Check out the Egyptian Room, the Greek and Roman collections and the Oriental and Islamic Art collection at the Museu Calouste Gulbenkjan. The Museu Nacional do Azulejo boasts a superb array of tiles dating from the 15th-century. The Baixa quarter of Lisbon lies at the heart of the city, with each of its streets named after its particular commercial activity, such as Rua do Ouro (gold), Rua da Prata (silver), Rua dos Sapeteiros (shoemakers), and Praça do Comercio (trading). Although many institutions have moved and expanded to other areas, Baixa retains its buzz of trade. Visit the fish market at Cais de Sodre, the squares of Praça do Comercio and the Rossio, the 16th-century Casa dos Bicos, and the church of Conceicao Velha.

Walk through the Alfama district, Lisbon’s oldest surviving quarter, lying beneath the walls of the Castelo de São Jorge and reaching down to the Baixa. A tangle of alleys, steep stairways and small squares provide a glimpse of past ages, particularly the old Moorish quarter known as Mouraria. In the evening, enjoy local cuisine while listening to beautiful and melancholy fado folk music. If your tastes in music veer away from the traditional, there is a new generation of clubs in which you can listen to the music of Portugal’s former African colonies or Brazil. Take one of Lisbon’s famous funiculars to get an even better feel for the city. Ride on the Elevador de Santa Justa, a wrought-iron lift rising from the Baixa area up to an eye-level view of the ruins of the Convento do Carmo and check out the charming Elevador da Bica in the Catarina district.

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