Places of Portugal: Lisbon

Centre of Lisbon from the top of Santa Justa Lift by Larissa Bona

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its largest city with a population of almost 3 million people (Metropolitan Area of Lisbon). Placed at the mouth of the Tagus River, it is the westernmost capital of continental Europe.

Although there is a legend saying that Lisbon was founded by Ulysses, Lisbon was founded by the Phoenicians. In 711, the city was taken by the Moors, who ruled the city for 450 years until the 12^th Century, when the Christians recovered the city. Yet, the Arabic influence is still seen nowadays on the architecture of the city.

With the Age of Discovery, Portugal has become one of the most powerful nations of that time; consequently, Lisbon has become one of the most important cities in Europe.

In 1755, an earthquake destroyed the city centre and the city was rebuilt by the 1^st Marques of Pombal, who demolished everything that was left and reconstructed the area according to the modern urban style, creating an area called the “Baixa Pombalina”, which still remains much of its original layout.

Actually, the architecture of Lisbon is one of its best assets, since there you can find several styles as Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Traditional Portuguese, Modern and Post-Modern coexisting.

The city also hosts several museums that are worthy to visit as Museum of the Portuguese Style-Tile, Calouste Gulbekian Museum, and Lisbon Oceanarium.

Besides this, there are several monuments as Padrão do Descobrimento (a monument built to honour the sailors who faced challenged the oceans), Torre de Belém, Jeronimos Monastery, all placed in the neighbourhood of Belem, in which you can also eat the famous Pastel de Belem.

In 1998, Lisbon hosted the Expo ´98, hence, built a brand new and modern space called Parque das Nações that, after the event finished, has become a multipurpose space. As you can see, there is a lot to do in Lisbon during the day.

In the Historic Centre of Lisbon, you can find the famous neighbourhoods of Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, where the best of the nightlife of Lisbon is placed, including the famous "Casas de Fado", which are restaurants where you can eat a proper Portuguese cod-fish, drinking a genuine Portuguese wine, whilst seeing a Fado show. (I’ve already done this and I guarantee that it’s an excellent experience).

My advice is: visit Lisbon, you won’t be disappointed.

Larissa Bona