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 Lisbon Accommodation
Lisbon Guest & Manor Houses
Lisbon Holiday Apartments
Lisbon Holiday Rental Agents
Lisbon Hotels
Lisbon Hotels & Spa
Lisbon Inns
Lisbon Commerce
Services
Lisbon Entertainment
Lisbon - Night Life
Lisbon - Restaurants
Lisbon - What to Do
Lisbon Golf Courses
Lisbon Golf
Lisbon Green Fees
Aroeira I Golf Course
Aroeira II Golf Course
Belas Clube Campo Golf Course
Lisbon Sports Club Golf Course
Melia Capuchos Golf Golf Course
Oitavos Dunes Golf Course
Quinta da Marinha Golf Course
Estoril Golf Course
Ribagolfe I Golf Course
Ribagolfe II Golf Course
Santo Estevao Golf Course
Quinta do Peru Golf Course
Montado Golf Course
Beloura
Penha Longa Atlantico
Penha Longa Mosteiro
Troia
Lisbon Property
Estate Agents
Lisbon Vehicle Hire
Rent a Car
Lisbon Wines
Bucelas, Carcavelos & Colares
· Ribatejo
· Rosé
· Terras do Sado
Introduction to Lisbon
This interesting and very endearing city was made the official capital of
the Kingdom of Portugal in 1256 although it had been in the Christian hands
since 1147 when Afonso Henriques liberated the town from the Moors.
Even today the foundations of Roman buildings are being discovered pointing
to its early importance when it was given the name of "Felicitas
Julia Olissipo". From physical evidence it is certain that the
location has been inhabited from the Bronze Age, Tartessus, Celts,
Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors.
Like most other capitals in Europe, Lisbon has its own individual character
influenced and moulded by its own history and its inhabitants. (For the
purpose of this brief description historical factors have mainly been left
to the many good available guidebooks). Lisbon has in its existence
recorded several serious earthquakes, one in 1505 and a second in 1512.
However, due to the very destructive earthquake in 1755 the centre of this
city was virtually completely destroyed. The King gave the then powerful
Marquis de Pombal the opportunity to create his radical and
impressive layout of streets. The idea of wide avenues and streets was a
complete change to the narrow and haphazard ones that abounded in all major
cities of that time. Although this conception today may seem normal and is
found in most of the capitals of Europe, the concept was very impressive
for that time. The number of inhabitants of Lisbon is over 664.000. (Visit - Portugal History)
Baixa
This section of Lisbon was the pride of Pombal and the very heart of
his own great city. The streets are named appropriately as the homes of
banking and trade, with names such as Rua do Ouro (gold), Rua da
Prata (silver), Rua dos Sapeteiros (shoemakers), and Praça do
Comercio (trading), each one appropriately indicating its purposes.
Today, many institutions by necessity have since moved and expanded to
other sections of the city but this area still maintains a past dignity and
hum of trading. Certain activities have stayed in their historic buildings,
such as the fish market at Cais de Sodre that still portrays its
strong character with the traditional bustle of the disappearing
"varinas" busy in the streets with baskets of fresh fish
skilfully balanced on their heads. From an architectural point of view
places to view are the squares of Praça do Comercio and the Rossio.
Also of interest is the church of Conceição Velha, the Se
(Cathedral), and the 16th Century Casa dos Bicos.
Alfama
This is the oldest surviving area of the city and lies under the walls of
the Castelo de São Jorge stretching down to the Baixa. A
muddle of very narrow streets and small squares help to create for the
visitor a glimpse of a forgotten age, especially taking in the old Moorish
quarter known as Mouraria. Today, it is still a residential area
and at night time an area with taverns for typical food and the special
Portuguese music of "fado". There are several places of
interest among which is the Fundação de Espirito Santo (Museum of
Workshop of Decorative Art). The medieval quarter of Santa Cruz, and
certain old very narrow streets, Rua de São Miguel, Rua de São Pedro
and Largo do Chafariz de Dentro. Every morning on Tuesdays and
Saturdays on the outskirts of Alfama, at the Campo de Santa
Clara, there is a fascinating "flea market" known as the
"Feira da Ladra" and very worthy of a visit. Within close
distance of this twice weekly event there are the churches of Santa
Engracia and São Vicente de Fora.
Bairro Alto
This area which is located on the opposite hill from the Alfama and
is linked with to the Baixa by a fashionable shopping street named
Chiado. A visitor will find here some of Lisbon’s select society
shops selling internationally famous brand names alongside national products.
The Chiado has its own special local cafes that act as popular
meeting places for writers and artists. A interesting way to reach the
Bairro Alto from the Baixa is to use the "Elevador
de Santa Justa" designed and built by the French architect
"Eiffel". Another way is to use one of the two
"funicular-like" trams - each an interesting experience! The
Bairro Alto was originally developed in the 16th Century as a
residential quarter for traders. Now it has become a centre for nightlife
with its many fashionable restaurants, bars and clubs. An impressive ruin
caused by the earthquake of 1755 is the 14th Century Igreja de Carmo,
and the chapel that withstood the destruction has been turned into an
Archaeological Museum. The unimpressive façade of the 16th Century church
of São Roque hides within an impressive 18th Century chapel that
was commissioned by King João V from Italian architects and
pre-constructed in Rome prior to being shipped to Portugal.
Other Locations
Scattered through the city are many interesting places and buildings.
Amongst these are the Igreja da Estrela and its generous gardens,
the English Cemetery that contains some historic names, Parque
Eduardo VII, the Estufas (huge and wonderful greenhouses), and
the Jardim Zoológico. An area that must not be missed is Belém.
Located to the west side of the city this area runs along the River Tejo.
Here can be found the baroque elegance of the Mosteiro de Jeróminos
that was commenced in 1501 by the order of King Manuel I to celebrate
the naval discovery of India. As a contrasting statement to the historical
momuments is the modern architecture of the Centro Cultural de Belém
that stands firmly between this historic Monastery and the striking baroque
style 16th Century Torre de Belém built from 1515. On the river close
to this point is also the famous work named Padrão dos Descobrimentos
and erected in 1960 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the brith of
Portugal’s famous "Prince Henry the Navigator". To the west of the
centre of the city is the prominent sight of the Aqueduto das Águas
Livres that was constructed in the first half of the 18th Century. It
has 35 arches and is 941 meters long and to this day its purpose is still
to bring water to the inhabitants of Lisboa.
Lisbon Photos
Torre de Belém
· Fountain
· Sculpture
· Inside Castle Walls
· Tram
· Alfama and São Jorge Castle
· River Tagus
· Monument to Discoveries
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Lisbon Events |
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| Feira da Ladra Campo de Santa Clara |
Every Tuesdays and Saturdays |
| Mercado Biológico Principe Real |
Every Saturday |
| Feira das Antiguides Belém |
1st and 3rd Sundays |
| Concerto da Primavera |
March onwards |
| Procissão dos Terceiros Franciscanos |
4th Sunday after Easter |
| Dia da Liberdade |
25th April |
| Festival Internacional de Teatro |
April to May |
| Época Tauromáquica (Bullfighting) |
April to September |
| Dia do Trabalhador |
1st May |
| Feira do Livro (Book Market) |
May to June |
| Dia de Camões |
10th June |
| Festa de Santo António |
12 and 13 June |
| City Holiday |
13th June |
| Festa de São João |
23rd & 24th of June |
| Festa de São Pedro |
25th to 1st July |
| Festival do Largo |
Until 27th July |
| Ciclo de Cinema no Terraço |
Until 28th July |
| Festival dos Oceanos |
August |
| Implantação da República |
5th October |
| Dia de Todos os Santos |
1st November |
| Dia da Assunção |
15th August
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Lisbon Coast Towns
Cascais
· Estoril
· Mafra
· Queluz
· Sesimbra
· Setúbal
· Sintra
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