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Downtown Lisbon lies in a valley flanked by two hills
along the banks of the Rio Tejo. The Baixa (Lower town)
is the old town centre, the hill to the east is the
Alfama, and the hill to the west is Bairro Alto. North
of Baixa stretches modern Lisbon, with the airport,
bullfighting ring and Parque da Naçốes,
site of the 1998 World Expo.
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At Lisbon's heart is the iconic main square with the Praça
do Comercío, the San Augusto Arch,
and the Monument to Jose I. |
Several parts of the city converge at Rossio Square, a popular
meeting place. It is characterized by the National Theatre, two
matching baroque fountains and a monument to Pedro IV.
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São Jorge Castle ruins have
been much renovated since being built by the Moors in the 11th
Century. Its ramparts offer a spectacular view over the city. |
The Alfama, the colorful sailors' quarters which dates back to
the time of the Visigoth occupation from the 6th to 8th
Centuries, now houses immigrants and young bohemians.
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The tangled streets of Alfama was one of the few areas to
survive the devastating earthquake of 1755 and the subsequent
rebuilding of the city center in a grid pattern.
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Some of the grittiness of Alfama has been cleaned up with
efforts such as these flower-bedecked ruins. |
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Calouste Gulbenkian bequethed his estate and 6000 piece art
collection to the Portuguese state. The Gulbenkian Foundation
includes a lush garden, the purpose-built museum, and a Modern
Art Centre. This peaceful place was our favourite sight in
Lisbon.
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The main pedestrian street, Rua Augusta bisects the Baixa. The
buildings and streets in this area were uniformly designed to
withstand another earthquake and house a variety of shops,
restaurants and displays.
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The Baixa area is gridded with streets and wide large squares
such as this Praça de Municipío,
which display Lisbon's characteristic obelisks and
ornately patterned cobblestone. |
Historical trams are part of the transportation system and a fun
way to get to some of the favorite sights in Lisbon.
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Street art, murals and graffiti are prevalent everywhere. |
Lisbon Cathedral, the Sé, has undergone
many changes since 1147. |
Elevador de Santa Justa is an industrial-age elevator
that rises up the steepest hill and provides a grand
view.
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The
Chiado district has cute patios, shops and cafes. The
world's oldest book store and the port wine institute are located
here. |
We enjoyed Portuguese cuisine at Cerverjaria Trinidade, a
monastery that has been converted to a brewery restaurant.
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