This city is the capital city and largest city of Portugal, situated on the Atlantic Ocean Coast where the River Tagus joins the ocean. In 1755 large areas of Lisbon were destroyed by a disastrous earthquake. However, a lot of Lisbon’s historical monuments survived and are still accessible to sightseers today.
Lisbon has played a very important role in ancient and modern history, one being the centre point of the Carnation Revolution. In 1994 Lisbon was nominated the European Capital of Culture, and in 1998 acted as host for the ‘Expo ‘98’ exhibition.
Transportation in Lisbon is far more charming than in most cities. Much of this is owed to its geography – most of Lisbon is built on its ‘seven hills’, providing views of windy hilly back streets from the tram windows. The metro is Lisbon’s main artery; running concurrently are bus, train, tram, and funicular services. No visit to Lisbon is complete without a ride on the 1930s trams.
The city is divided by the River Tagus with the two sides connected by two important bridges:
*25 de Abril – This bridge was originally inaugurated as ‘Ponte Salazaar’ in 1966 and later renamed after the date of the Carnation Revolution. At the time of construction, it was the longest suspension bridge in Europe.
*Vasco da Gama – This bridge was inaugurated in 1998 and, at 17.2km/10.7 miles long, is the longest bridge in Europe.
Ferries also run a regular crossing service for commuters. Lisbon also has an airport that lies within city limits and serves Europe, Africa, and America.
As one crosses the river one should glance to the south shore and, high up on the hill of Almada, stands ‘Christ the King’. This impressive monument resembles that of Rio de Janeiro, Christ with arms outstretched. It was built to give thanks for Portugal having been spared the horrors and destruction of World War II, in which it remained neutral.
Amongst the most popular of the wonderful attractions of Lisbon is the historic neighbourhood of Belém. Here stands the Monastery of Jeronimo, built in 1501, and the nearby Belém Tower. The Bairro Alto is a residential, shopping, and entertainment district in central Lisbon that is the heart of the capital’s nightlife. Other must-see attractions include the Castle of São Jorge on top of one of the seven steep hills of Lisbon, and the elevator of Santa Justa – a lift built in Gothic Revival style around 1900 that connects the Baixa and Bairro Alto parts of town.
There are many annual events occurring in Lisbon that are well worth catching. The world famous half marathon takes place in March. In June, 5 days are devoted to street celebrations in memory of a saint born in Lisbon – Santo António. In the summers of 2004 and 2006 Lisbon hosted ‘Rock in Rio’ – the biggest pop-rock festival in the world – and will continue to host it for some years to come.
Lisbon is a wonderful venue for a weekend city break, with bustling streets and buzzing nightlife, and plentiful culture in the form of historical monuments, theatres, music halls. In fact, with so much to see and do, a weekend will never be long enough.
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