Having been to San Francisco, I can see why travelers comment on the resemblance of the two cities. Both have distinct suspension brides, trams, and those rolling hills. Lisbon is actually the city of seven hills: São Roque, São Jorge, São Vicente, Santo André, Santa Catarina, Chagas and Sant'Ana. This is a lively city, with ample food to delight your palette, plentiful sights and attractions, music, culture, architecture, and so much to thrill the senses.
Read MoreBelém Tower is officially known as Torre de São Vicente or Tower of Saint Vincent. The tower sits on the Tagus River and was built in the 16th century as a tribute to the seafaring Portuguese. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and shows the Portuguese Manueline architectural style.
Read MoreRossio is a lively square in Lisbon, Portgual. Cafes surround the perimeter where one can sit and watch the people go by. In the center are fountains, wavy tiles and a plinth for admiration. It was the meeting place for revolts, celebrations, bull rights, and even executions. The name Rossio translates roughly to “commons” and was integral to public life. Now, it remains simply a meeting place for tourists and locals.
Read MoreThe Arco da Rua Augusta was built in 1755 to commemorate the city’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake and was completed in 1873. Today, it functions as a historical building and visitor attraction, offering views of the city’s hills and the Praça do Comércio down below.
Read MorePadrão dos Descobrimentos is a monument that depicts a “romanticized idealization of Portuguese exploration.”
Read MoreThe Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Convento da Ordem do Carmo is a former Catholic convent in Lisbon. The building was partially destroyed during the 1755 earthquake. It enjoyed the typical life of a church until the earthquake, which destroyed the library. In 1902, construction began to restore the facade and build some arches. Today, the space is an archaeological museum and much of the main space is open air.
Read MoreFado, a genre of music distinct to Portugal. Performed in pubs, cafes, and restaurants like this one, it’s slow, lyrical, melancholic. This type of music is often paired with the word saudade, meaning longing, as relating to the Portuguese culture of Maritime adventure. A loss with great consequences. Those who venture out to sea, never to return. This genre is completely unique and unlike anything we’ve experienced. There is an intimacy with a live performance.
Read MoreTimeout Market - a warehouse sized space that opened in May 2014, serves as a market, a cafeteria, a museum, and a gathering space. Come here and within stalls of each other, you will find decadent desserts, fresh seafood, succulent meat, and so much more. Lisbon is a relatively affordable city considering the quality and freshness of the food, as well as the intricacies of some dishes. Timeout Market is just a convenient location to eat, soak in the culture, and even buy some souvenirs.
Read MoreThe Santa Justa Lift or Carmo Lift is an elevator that opened in 1899, connecting the lower streets of Baixa to Carmo Square. Because Lisbon has so many hills, an elevator like this one is very practical in reaching new heights.
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