Lisbon
Lisboa, the capital of Portugal since
1255, was conquered from the Moors
by Portugal’s first king in
1147. It lies on the right bank of
the Tagus river and in a region that
offers a rich landscape diversity.
The imposing Tagus river (Tejo) flows
alongside Lisboa from east to west.
Its source lies in Spain, but a good
part of its journey to the sea lies
inside Portuguese frontiers before
it meets the Atlantic ocean. As it
approaches Lisboa, the river bed widens
to create a green and fertile plain
called the lezíria. The effect
as it nears the capital is to grace
the landscape with its broad blue
estuary. The special beauty of the
riverbank enriches a number of towns
past which the Tagus makes its way:
Abrantes, Constância, Vila Nova
da Barquinha and Santarém.
The whole green river valley is like
a stage setting upon which deeply-rooted
cultural traditions are enacted. There
is popular music and dance, and the
traditional costume worn by the horsemen
still seen rounding up their cattle
in rural pastures is a real feature.
Lisbon, the dazzling city that stretches
along the banks of the Tagus, is an
enchanting capital. There is the fortress
around which the city originally sprang
up, and which is now circled by neighborhoods
drenched with medieval charm. Everywhere
are fine monuments that bring to mind
the great Age of Discoveries, and
picturesque houses whose facades are
decked with ornate ceramic tiles.
As the dusk turns to night, the yellow
electric tramcars continue to wind
their way up and down the hills of
the old capital, while the sound of
traditional Fado songs enlivens many
a candle-lit dinner table in restaurant
or home. But the capital also provides
ample opportunity for seeing popular
celebrations, for shopping, and for
enjoying the nightlife along the river
bank. With the port and marinas situated
nearby, water sports are a natural
attraction too.
Not far from the capital lies the
town of Sintra, with its marvelous
surrounding vegetation and landscape,
Sintra is classified by Unesco as
of outstanding cultural importance.
There is no better way to see the
exuberant trees and vegetation than
to take a horse-drawn carriage ride
and pass by ancient mansions before
reaching the Palácio da Pena
at the top of the hill. Its fabulous
romantic architecture keeps vivid
the atmosphere of a truly royal residence.
Back in the Lisboa area, there are
many other places worth a visit: the
imposing Mafra Convent, the cosmopolitan
seaside resort of Cascais, the Arrábida
hills and their nature reserve stocked
with ancient trees or picturesque
Sesimbra, the city of Setúbal
and the aristocratic country-houses
of nearby Azeitão. The area
provides something for every taste:
beach, water sports, golf courses
and, in the summer, open air music
festivals.
The Atlantic coast, which stretches
to the south, north and west of Lisbon,
is of surprising beauty: here the
landscape swiftly changes from high,
sweeping cliffs to beaches of white
sand, backed by lagoons. Let us not
forget that here, at Cabo da Roca,
is Europe’s westernmost point.
This is a region of enchanting coastal
villages or towns such as Sezimbra,
Peniche and Nazaré, where the
brightly-coloured fishing boats still
ply their trade. Further inland, at
Alcobaça, Tomar and Batalha,
are to be found the ancient monasteries
and convents of the religious orders,
which are part of UNESCO’s global
heritage. They stand as witnesses
to Portugal’s rich historical
and cultural traditions. These are
lands that were won back from the
Moors by the first king of Portugal,
Afonso Henriques. And the memory of
that era lives on in the ancient castles
that loom above Leiria, Tomar, Óbidos
and Santarém.
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Lisboa
seen from the Tagus
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Places of interest
Alcobaça
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Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça, Alcobaça.
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Monumental Cistercian Abbey of Santa
Maria, founded in 1152 (classified
in UNESCO’s International Heritage
list). Inside in the church, beautiful
Gothic tombs of King Pedro I and Inês
de Castro; the cloisters; the chapter
house and an enormous kitchen. Churches:
Misericórdia (Renaissance portal
and 17th-century tiles) and Conceição
(17th century).
Batalha
The Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória
was built in answer to a vow made
by King John I to the Virgin, if the
Castillian's invader were defeated
in the Battle of Aljubarrota. Elected
by UNESCO as World Heritage, it is
a grand monument to the closing phase
of Portuguese Gothic whose building
began in 1388.
Cascais
Stylish summer resort. Amongst the
numerous restaurants, bars and discotheques
are the following historic places:
Castro Guimarães Museum and
Sea Museum, the 18th century churches
of Nossa Senhora da Assunção
and Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes;
the chapels of Nossa Senhora da Guia
(15th century) and São Sebastião
(16th and 17th-centuries) and the
17th century fortress. Just a few
minutes away lies Guincho beach (a
great place for those who enjoy surfing
and windsurfing).
Estoril
Renowned worldwide as an important
tourism spot (casino, golf course
and racing track). The beautiful Santo
António Church stands out in
this cosmopolitan resort, which also
boasts an exciting nightlife.
Fátima
One of the most important Marian
centers of pilgrimage in the catholic
world. Basilica and Capelinha das
Aparições, standing
in the place where it is said that
Our Lady appeared to the three shepherds.
Leiria
A striking medieval royal castle
hangs atop the graceful town of Leiria.
Other important monuments: the Cathedral
(16th-17th centuries, with an archeology
museum on its premises), São
Pedro Church (Romanesque), Nossa Senhora
da Pena Church (Gothic), Nossa Senhora
da Encarnação Sanctuary
(16th century).
Lisboa
Spreading out along the right bank
of the Tagus, its downtown, the ‘Baixa’,
is at the 18th century area of Rossio.
East of the arcaded Praça do
Comércio, are the medieval
quarters of Alfama and Mouraria, crowned
by the magnificent St. George’s
Castle. To the west lies Bairro Alto
and Madragoa, with their typical streets,
and on the western extreme lies Belém,
with the Belém tower, the Jerónimos
monastery (masterpieces of Manueline
architecture and classified in UNESCO’s
International Heritage list) and the
Cultural Centre of Belém.
Museums: Ancient
Art, Chiado, Tile Museum, Archeology,
Design Museum, Ethnology Museum, Carriage
Museum, Costume, Theatre, Maritime,
Military, City, Gulbenkian Museum,
Modern Art Centre, and the Ricardo
Espírito Santo Silva Foundation.
Palaces open to
the public: Ajuda and Fronteira.
Churches: Cathedral
(with treasury); São Vicente
de Fora; Conceição Velha
(Manueline), São Roque (with
a sacred art museum); Madre Deus;
Santa Engrácia Pantheon (Baroque),
and Estrela Basilica.
Shopping: downtown;
Avenida de Roma, Praça de Londres,
Avenida Guerra Junqueiro and shopping
centers Amoreiras, Colombo and Vasco
da Gama.
Nightlife: Bairro
Alto and Avenida 24 de Julho, Alcântara
and riverside discos and bars.
The area where the last World’s
Fair of last century (EXPO 98) was
held is today called the Nations Park,
and here are to be found the great
Lisbon aquarium, restaurants, leisure
activities as well as shows and exhibitions.
Mafra
Palace-Convent, built in the 18th
century, is the largest Portuguese
religious monument. It consists of
royal apartments, magnificent library,
bell tower and basilica.
Óbidos
Completely enclosed by lofty medieval
walls, this is a small town with whitewashed
houses brightened up by colorful bougainvilleas.
The massively-towered castle has now
been converted into an elegant pousada.
Churches: Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Romanesque-Gothic),
Santa Maria (Renaissance, housing
an art collection by the Portuguese
painter Josefa d’Óbidos),
Misericórdia (15th-18th centuries)
and São Pedro (18th century).
Nearby, Senhor da Pedra Sanctuary.
Palmela
Dominated by a magnificent castle,
which houses the ancient Santiago
Convent (currently a pousada).
Queluz
Summer palace of the kings of Portugal
in the 18th century, it encloses a
series of rambling and beautiful gardens
with lakes and sculptures, and houses
an important collection of furniture,
paintings, tiles, and decorative arts.
Within the palace property stands
the Pousada D. Maria.
Santarém
Castle of Roman origin overlooking
Portas do Sol (Sun Gates) and opening
on to a panoramic view of the Tagus
river. Monuments: the Roman-Gothic
Church of São João de
Alporão (with an archeology
museum); the Gothic Convent of São
Francisco and the Gothic churches
of Graça and Santa Clara; the
Renaissance Chapel of Nossa Senhora
do Monte; from later periods, the
churches of Santíssimo Milagre
and Seminário Patriarcal.
Sesimbra
Picturesque small fishing town, with
a medieval castle atop a hill. Whilst
here, do not miss the Sanctuary of
Nossa Senhora do Cabo, at Cabo Espichel,
and Lagoa de Albufeira, a favourite
spot for windsurfers.
Setúbal
Opposite to the Tróia peninsula
(11 miles of beaches and golf courses)
lies the city of the Sado river (an
important natural reserve). Places
of interest: museum, churches of Jesus
and São João (Manueline),
São Domingos, Boa Hora, Santa
Maria da Graça and São
Julião. The castle includes
a pousada, overlooking Setúbal.
Sintra
(Classified in the UNESCO World Heritage
list) In the center stands the National
Palace, with its beautiful painted
rooms and huge pair of conical chimneys,
the village’s ex-libris. Other
palaces: Pena (royal palace, 19th
century), Seteais (18th century and
currently a luxurious hotel) and Monserrate,
renowned for its gardens and water
courses. The churches of São
Martinho (Romanesque origin), Santa
Maria (Romanesque-Gothic) and São
Pedro de Penaferrim (15th-16th-centuries).
Nearby are the church of Santo António
do Penedo (16th-century) and Peninha
Chapel (Baroque tile works). The Toy
Museum, over 20 000 pieces from the
16th to the 20th-century and the Berardo
Collection of Modern Art. In the suburbs:
the Capuchos Convent (16th-century)
and Cabo da Roca (the westernmost
point in continental Europe).
Tomar
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Tabuleiros
Festival, Tomar.
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Christ Convent, classified in UNESCO’s
International Heritage list (12th-16th
centuries). With its famous Manueline
window, it is the town’s supreme
landmark. Other places to visit: Templars’
Castle (12th century); churches of
Santa Maria do Olival (Gothic), Nossa
Senhora da Conceição
(Renaissance) and São João
Baptista (Manueline); and a 15th century
synagogue.
Other places of interest
Abrantes, Almeirim, Azeitão,
Azenhas do Mar, Berlengas (islands),
Caldas da Rainha, Cartaxo, Chamusca,
Colares, Constância, Ericeira,
Ferreira do Zêzere, Golegã,
Lourinhã, Mação,
Minde, Peniche, Porto de Mós,
Salvaterra de Magos, Sardoal, Seixal
(ecomuseum), Serra da Arrábida
(beach and convent), Torres Novas,
Torres Vedras, Vila Nova da Barquinha,
Vila de Rei, Vimeiro (spa).
For more information on the region
visit the Websites
page
Local gastronomy
- Fish soups and stews
- Fish and seafood
- Barbecued sardines and mackerel
- Eels (stew and marinade)
- Azeitão and cottage cheeses
- Sweets: queijadas (cheese tarts)
from Sintra and pastéis de
Belém (custard cream tarts)
from Lisbon.
- Wines: Arruda, Carcavelos, Colares,
Palmela, Bucelas, Ribatejo and Moscatel
(Setúbal).
Handicrafts
- Glass and crystal from Alcobaça
- Wicker baskets and other objects
- Copper utensils
- Embroideries and lace
- Pottery, artistic and popular
ceramics (Caldas da Rainha)
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