Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its largest city. It is the oldest city in Western Europe and one of the oldest cities in the world. Lisbon and the surrounding regions are crossed by several geological faults. Therefore, it was almost completely destroyed on November 1, 1755, during an earthquake that claimed 40,000 lives. However, it was restored within a few years.
Key things to know about Lisbon
The city lies on the Atlantic coast, at the mouth of the Tagus River, which separates it and then flows into the ocean.
Lisbon has a mild climate, with an average annual temperature of around 17°C. The weather is influenced by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream. The city is sunny almost all year round.
The general outlines of the city have not changed for hundreds of years. Lisbon is a city of balconies and perspectives. The most striking views can be observed from the terraces located on its seven slopes. Many Lisboets (Lisbon residents) believe that their city, like Rome and Moscow, stands on seven hills.
Distancefrom Moscow to the capital of Portugal is 3907 km in a straight line, so it will take about 5.5 hours to fly. Local time in Lisbon is 2 hours behind ours.
The legend of the origin of Lisbon
There is a curious legend about how the hills of Lisbon appeared. It speaks of Ulysses (Odysseus), who during his voyage visited the lands of the future Portugal. He marveled at the beauty of the Tagus River and stopped to rest. "Olisippo" - the name given to this place by Ulysses, later transformed into "Lisbon". Here lived the queen of snakes with a beautiful figure and a huge tail. She fell in love with Ulysses and invited him to stay, but the cunning Greek and his team fled at night while the queen slept.
Legend says that after waking up, the deceived woman became very angry, and the tail hit the ground so hard that seven hills rose from its bowels.
A bit of history
Once Lisbon was an ordinary city on the edge of Europe, but by the 15th century it had become a great maritime power. Dozens of ships departed from here all over the world. Vasco da Gama discovered India to the world, and Magellan's team circumnavigated the globe. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Japan, China and Brazil. The spice trade turned Portugal and Lisbon, its capital, into one of the richest powers. Few countries can boast such a past.
However, now this city of colorful houses, elegant parks and gardens is no longer the capital of a hugeempire. It has been renovated into a bustling modern metropolis.
In 1998, it hosted the World Exhibition "Expo-98", which served as an occasion for a large-scale renovation of the city. New roads have been built, the Vasco da Gama bridge, an aquarium, hotels and many entertainment venues, but Lisbon has a lot of cultural monuments and places where you can immerse yourself in the past of this once great country.
Historic City Districts
Bairo Alto ("Upper District") - dates mainly from the 16th century. This is a bohemian area with a vibrant nightlife. It consists of labyrinths of straight and narrow streets. Some of them, especially those leading down to Baixa, are very steep and end abruptly in stairs or cable cars.
Baixa - the heart of the city, is the main banking and shopping district of Lisbon, with a large number of shops, restaurants and cafes. Tourists will be able to have a delicious dinner here and listen to sad but wonderful songs - “fado” at concerts organized by local residents.
Chiado – prestigious area of Lisbon. Expensive shops and pretentious real estate are located here.
Alfama is the oldest, and therefore the most colorful area. This is the only place in the city that survived after the earthquake. To feel the atmosphere of Lisbon, it is better to settle here. Walking along the old streets, you begin to understand Lisbon. What country's capital, besides Portugal, could it still become?
Suburban areas visited by tourists
Belem – You can go once, because apart from the Gironimos Monastery and the Belen Tower, there is, in principle, nothing to see there. The distance from Lisbon is only 9.3 km. Walking serenely past the ancient buildings, you will forget about your problems. The only question that will worry you is how to get to Lisbon before dark, as there are problems with transport here.
Expo – is a brand new area of tower blocks and modern buildings. This gray, unremarkable part of Lisbon. The quarter is worth a visit just for the aquarium, the Park of Nations and the pavilion left over from the World's Fair.
Sights of Lisbon
To Portugal and Lisbon, the reviews of tourists sound only enthusiastic.
Lisbon is a great place to walk, but it's a huge city. On foot it is really possible to get around only its historical part. Therefore, it is important to settle somewhere near the central regions. The main attractions of the city:
- In Lisbon there is a statue of Christ (Cristo Rei) spreading his arms over the city. It is a copy of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
- The Vasco da Gama Bridge spans the Tagus River and is considered the longest bridge in Europe.
- One of the most popular sights in Lisbon is a ride on tram number 28, which passes through the historical sites of the city.
- The lift tower Elevador de Santa Justa, designed by architect Raul de Ronsard, is very popular with tourists. It connects the two parts of the city, taking passengers from the Baixa area to Chiado, which is located 45 meters higher.
- The Monastery of Gironimos - belongs to the order of the Hieronymites. This is where kings and queens rest. On the territory of the monastery there is a maritime museum, and one of the largest collections of carriages in the world is stored in the arena.
- Belem Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is dedicated to the era of discovery and was originally conceived as a defensive structure. The tower guarded the entrance to the Tagus River and was completely surrounded by water (since then the banks of the river have moved).
- One of the most beautiful sights of the city of Lisbon is the Portuguese pavement. The streets of the Old City are paved with beautiful black and white mosaics.
City atmosphere
The uniqueness of each place consists of little things. In Lisbon, these are snow-white walls and red roofs of houses, azulejo tiles and cafes where you can drink a cup of Brazilian coffee while having a pleasant conversation, enjoy delicious local pastries and, of course, fado songs. This is a musical genre that originated in Portugal. Its name comes from the Latin word "fatum" - "fate". The viscous, filled with passion, longing and even hopelessness sounds penetrate and reveal the soul of the Portuguese people and Lisbon. What country could it become the capital of, if not Portugal? This city fully reflects the character and "mood" of its country.
Olive and palm trees grow throughout the city, and fish sellers,as in the old days, they roam the streets dressed in long black skirts and carry goods in baskets on their heads.
Kitchen
Cuisine in the city of Lisbon, as in all of Portugal, is Mediterranean, it includes wine, bread, olive oil, spices and seafood. Lisboets cook fish and meat on the grill right on the balconies, setting up barbecues and spreading delicious aromas throughout the area. The queen of the table is s alted cod (bacallao), with a huge number of cooking methods and sardines. Kaldu Verde is somewhat similar to our hodgepodge. This is a bean stew sauce with different types of meat, sausages and cabbage.
Pashtel de nata, a legendary pastry that consists of puff pastry with custard inside, is considered the national treasure and pride of the Portuguese. In addition to "pashtel", the Portuguese have a wide variety of puff pastries for every taste. If you do not like dough, then you can try marzipan figurines, which the Portuguese simply adore.
Lisbon city center
Rossio Square is the traditional center of Lisbon and the starting point on the way to the main city promenade, Avenida da Liberdade. This triangular boulevard is located in the Baixa district and is dotted with beautiful multi-tiered statue fountains.
The streets of the Old City are built in the shape of a chessboard. Its squares are divided into squares, and the parallel streets are named after those who lived there.
For example, Rua Aurea ("Golden Street"), a place where jewelers lived. She isstretches from Rossio Square to another, no less famous - Torgovaya, or, as it is also called, Palace Square. Before the earthquake of 1755, the royal palace stood here.
On the northern side is the Arc de Triomphe and one of the city's legendary cafes, Martinho da Arcada. The main tourist office is located in one of the buildings on the square. Here you can find information about the city or visit a shop selling traditional Portuguese products. Most of the buildings that now surround the square are restaurants with outdoor verandas and souvenir shops.
Bay and port
Lisbon has one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. The capital of which state can surprise you with such sunsets that you can watch standing on one of the coastal cliffs?
The city is located on the north bank of the mouth of the Tagus River, near the place where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A magnificent April 25 Bridge is thrown across the river, which, due to its external resemblance, is compared with the bridge in San Francisco. To the east of the bridge, the Tagus suddenly widens and forms a bay called Mar de Palha ("Sea of Straw") because of how beautifully it shimmers in the sun. This hilly, picturesque bay is located on a strategically important shipping route and serves as a busy port for ships from Portugal and Spain. Vessels moor at the piers, where the clang of wagons merges with the ship's horns. At dawn, the fishing boats put up their catch for a noisy auction in whichlocal store owners. In addition to merchant ships, warships, cruise ships, ferries, and the most picturesque Phoenician frigates are in the roadstead. They are crescent shaped boats with amazing black hulls and pink sails.
Interesting facts about Lisbon and reviews of tourists
The raven is the symbol of Lisbon. The cult of this bird existed in the city for a long time. The church of San Vincent de Fora in Alfama houses the relics of Saint Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon. According to legend, his bones were miraculously delivered to the city on a ship driven by two ravens. Since then, birds have been depicted on the coat of arms of Lisbon. The capital of which state, besides Portugal, can come up with such a curious legend?
In Lisbon, as in Spain, there is a bullfight and a siesta. During the midday heat, all establishments are closed here. Judging by the reviews, this rule does not please tourists very much.
Lisbon Oceanarium is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. It is home to 16,000 animals. Tourists note that this is the best institution they have visited in Europe.
Lisbon has some of the best graffiti in the world. Throughout the city, there are many houses painted with this type of street art, and even excursions are organized to the most interesting places. According to tourists, this gives the city a special flavor and "rebellious" atmosphere.
Galerias Romanas (Underground Roman Galleries) is one of the best sights in the city that you are unlikely to see. The galleries are flooded with water and open only once a year,September.
Holidays in Portugal, in Lisbon, in a beautiful country and a wonderful city, will remain an unforgettable event for you. You will definitely want to come back here to enjoy the ancient culture and interesting customs again.
