04/11/2016

Exploring Places LXX: Lisbon, Portugal

We have received a postcard from one of the most charming cities in the world, Lisbon!

Lisbon
WHERE IS LISBON?

Location of Lisbon in Portugal

Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with a population of more than 552,000 in an area of 100.05 square km. It is continental Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus.

LISBON IS FAMOUS FOR…
… its steep hills and narrow streets that, as Ángela tells us in her postcard are full of beautiful tiled façades, elegant cafés and lovely shops where we can buy traditional Portuguese products, including the so-called pasteis de nata, Portuguese pottery and a careful selection of food and drink delicacies.

A street in Lisbon
Pasteis de nata 

…its trams.

Lisbon tram
Introduced in the 19th century, the trams were originally imported from the USA, and called the americanos. The earliest trams can still be seen in the Museu da Carris (the Public Transport Museum). Other than on the modern Line 15, the Lisbon tramway system still employs small (four wheel) vehicles of a design dating from the early twentieth century. These distinctive yellow trams are one of the tourist icons of modern Lisbon, and their size is well suited to the steep hills and narrow streets of the central city.

… Fado, a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia. 

Fado
Fado appeared during the early 19th century in Lisbon, and is believed to have its origins in the port districts like Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto. Portuguese fadista, Amália Rodrigues, also known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") was most influential in popularizing fado worldwide.

Amália Rodrigues

Fado performances today may be accompanied by a string quartet or a full orchestra.


PLACES TO VISIT

Baixa

Rúa Augusta. Lisbon
The heart of the city is the Baixa or city centre; the Pombaline Baixa is an elegant district, primarily constructed after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, taking its name from its benefactor, 1st Marquess of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, who was the minister of Joseph I of Portugal (1750–1777) and a key figure during the Portuguese Enlightenment.

Known in Portuguese as O elevador de Santa Justa, this lift is a major attraction in the civil parish of Santa Justa, in the historical city. Situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa, it connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square).

Literally the upper quarter in Portuguese, it is an area of central Lisbon that functions as a residential, shopping and entertainment district; it is the centre of the Portuguese capital's nightlife, attracting hipster youth and members of various music subcultures.

The oldest district of Lisbon, it spreads down the southern slope from the Castle of São Jorge to the River Tagus. Its name, derived from the Arabic Al-hamma, means fountains or baths. During the Islamic invasion of Iberia, the Alfama constituted the largest part of the city, extending west to the Baixa neighbourhood. Increasingly, the Alfama became inhabited by fishermen and the poor: its fame as a poor neighbourhood continues to this day.

Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. In particular, it is the place from which Vasco da Gama departed for India in 1497 and Pedro Álvares Cabral departed for Brazil in 1499. It is also a former royal residence and features the 17th–18th century Belém Palace, a former royal residence now occupied by the President of Portugal, and the Ajuda Palace, begun in 1802 but never completed.
Perhaps Belém's most famous feature is its tower, Torre de Belém, whose image is much used by Lisbon's tourist board. The tower was built as a fortified lighthouse late in the reign of Dom Manuel l (1515–1520) to guard the entrance to the port. It stood on a little island in right side of the Tagus, surrounded by water. 


Belem Tower Fort
Belém's other major historical building is the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), which the Torre de Belém was built partly to defend.


Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
If you want to get a taste of Lisbon's charm, watch this video!




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