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| ABOUT LISBON |
The largest city in Portugal, Lisbon is a city
of attractive contrasts, its past and present combining to make
a capital city with a unique character, 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
where you can savour delicious local cuisine.
Stroll down the wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau
buildings, mosaic pavements and street cafes 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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Lisbon
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