Lisbon: a fascinating city, capital of a vast empire

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Lisbon (565,000 inhabitants, metropolitan area almost 3,000,000 inhabitants), is the capital and largest city of Portugal. The city is located along the north bank of the Tejo (Tagus) near its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. The city is united with the other side of the Tagus by two important bridges, the 25 April bridge inaugurated in 1966 and the Vasco da Gama bridge, inaugurated in 1998.

The capital of Portugal is a very picturesque city thanks to its location on the Tejo (Tagus). The population is courteous and hospitable. The food is delicious and excellent are the local dishes often based on fish (Bacalhau à braz, Bacalhau à lagareiro, Dourada Grelhada etc.). Finally, the characteristic of Lisbon is the music of Fado, which can still be heard on the premises of the old city. The most characteristic district of the city is that of Alfama.

In 1983, two of its monuments, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Torre de Belém, were included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

HISTORY

The city was probably founded in 1200 BC. by the Phoenicians, as a commercial settlement, with the name of Alis Ubbo. The Greeks renamed it Olisippo, from which the current name of Lisbon is derived. During the Roman Empire, it was a center of medium importance belonging to the province of Lusitania with the capital Emerita Augusta (the current Merida in Spain). At that time Lisbon was known by the official name of Felicitas Julia.

With the fall of the Roman Empire, Lisbon became part of the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo. In the 8th century the city was conquered by Arabs from North Africa, who occupied it until the 12th century. During this period the city had a significant commercial development.

Reconquered by Afonso I, in 1147. Lisbon became the capital of Portugal from 1255. The most prosperous period of the city occurred during the royal Aviz dynasty, between 1385 and 1580, when it was the richest city in Europe , the center of traffic that came from Asia, Africa and America. During this period Portugal controlled the largest colonial and commercial empire of the time.

In the following 60 years (1580-1640), due to the extinction of its royal dynasty, Portugal suffered the union of the crowns with Spain. This resulted in a halt in the development of the city and a drastic downsizing of the country’s political and commercial power. In November 1755 a large earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed the city, which was rebuilt in the second half of the 18th century.

HOW TO MOVE: URBAN TRANSPORT IN LISBON

UNDERGROUND AND SUBURBAN RAILWAY NETWORK: For the visit of Lisbon it is better to use the excellent public transport service, the city has an urban and suburban railway network with 9 lines: 4 subway lines (metro), managed by the Metropolitano de Lisboa company, and 5 of suburban trains, operated by the Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, which in total serve 119 stations.

BUS, TRAM, FUNICULARS: The Carris (Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa) then manages the dense network of buses (90 lines), trams and funiculars.

TICKETS: Lisboa Card: Visitors to Lisbon should consider purchasing the Lisboa Card, a pass that allows you to use all public transportation in the city of Lisbon: buses, trams, subways, funiculars and even the means of the train line CP between Sete-Rios-Sintra-Oriente and Cais do Sodré-Cascais, the card also allows free entry to 26 museums and historic buildings in the city. The Lisboa Card can be valid for 1, 2 or 3 days.

The Lisboa Card is on sale at the offices of the Tourist Office (Turismo de Lisboa) which are located at the Lisbon Airport (Arrivals Hall), at the Palácio Foz in Praça dos Restauradores, at the Stª Apolónia Railway Station and in the kiosks of information of Rua Augusta and Belém.

Lisboa Card rates: 1 day: € 15; * € 8. 2 days: 26 €; * € 13. 3 days: 32 €; * € 16. * Children from 5 to 11 years old.

HOW TO GET THERE: FLIGHTS TO LISBON

The city of Lisbon is served by the Lisboa-Portela international airport which is located in the north-east of the city, just 7 km from the center. Lisbon airport is the main airport in Portugal.

The airport is connected to the city center of Lisbon by a bus service called Aerobus (n ° 91), the service starts at 07.45 in the morning and ends at 20.15 in the evening, the frequency of buses is every 20 minutes. The nearest metro station is 15 minutes by bus (Gare do Oriente or Areiro stations).

The climate of Lisbon.

Official page of the Lisbon airport.