Portugal - Lisbon

» Acorda de Marisco, Pataniscas de Bacalhau com Arroz de feijão and the Peixinhos da horta (Garden Fish - despite the name, they are made with green beans).

» Sweets: Pastéis de Belém, also known as pastéis de nata.

It is thought that Lisbon was founded by the Phoenicians around 1200 B.C., based on recent archeological finds at the Sé de Lisboa and in São Jorge’s Castle.

Between 719 and 1147, Lisbon was conquered by the Moors (from North Africa) and it was only after 400 years of Moors domain over al-Lixbûna, as the Moors called it, that the city was re-conquered by King Afonso Henriques and his army crusades.

As the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques made Lisbon the capital of the kingdom in 1255, due to its privileged geographical location.

The capital became an important commercial port during the last centuries of the Middle Ages, establishing connections with several other cities on the coast of the Mediterranean and with Northern Europe.

At the time of the discoveries, between 15th and 17th centuries, Lisbon strengthened its position as an important port and commercial center of Europe, and key expeditions departed from there, including Vasco da Gama’s in 1497.

In the beginning of the 18th century, King João V built a magnificent aqueduct, the Aqueduto das Águas Livres, an amazing construction for the times. Although the earthquake of 1755 destroyed most of the city, the aqueduct was reconstructed by Marquês de Pombal, the prime minister of the monarchy. After Pombal’s restructuring of Lisbon, today’s central part of the city is still known as Baixa Pombalina.

With the French invasion of Portugal, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, in early 19th century, Lisbon lived intensively the liberal fights of resistance, which in turn contributed to the flourishing of culture, with the opening of several coffee shops and theaters.

Lisbon was the stage for the main rebellions and revolutions, such as the Implantação da Républica, that established the Republic in 1910, and more recently the Revolução dos Cravos in 1974, which brought to an end Oliveira Salazar’s authoritarian regime of nearly 50 years and replaced it with a democratic leadership, still in place today.

» Baixa Chiado: discover the monumental charm of Lisbon. Go up the elevator of Santa Justa, and arrive at the ruins of Convento do Carmo, the only Gothic monument in Lisbon which survived the destructive earthquake of 1755.

» Bairro Alto / Cais do Sodré: go to the top of the Glória Elevator, and enjoy an incredible view of Lisbon and São Jorge castle from the garden of S. Pedro de Alcântara. Walking along D.Pedro V Street, you can browse several Antiques shops, until you arrive at Príncipe Real Garden. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Patriarchal Water Reservoir, dated from 1866, open Monday through Saturday.

» Estrela / Prazeres Alcântara / Docas: start at Jardim da Estrela (public gardens) and its iron bandstand (Bus: 9, 27, and Tram 25, 28). The Basilica da Estrela is across the garden, and personifies late Baroque and Neo Classic periods, with its four columns and statues, representing Faith, Freedom and Gratitude.

» Mouraria / Castelo / Alfama: start your walk in Capelão Street, next to the metro station of Martin Moniz. Follow the Mouraria Street until the Senhora da Saúde Church, where you can appreciate the beautiful typical Portuguese glazed tiles, the carved altar, wood handmade adornments. Visiting hours are in the afternoon and during religious ceremonies.

» Belém: in the Western part of town, you can visit several monuments, architectural masterpieces of beauty and cultural exhibitions near Tejo River - Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (monastery), Torre de Belém (Tower), Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries), Centro Cultural de Belém (Cultural Center).

For more information, please visit http://www.visitlisboa.com

» São Jorge Castle, with one of the best views of Lisbon at the highest hilltop of the city center.

» Bairro da Alfama, one of the only areas of the city that survived the earthquake of 1755, known for the fado music, narrow streets in a typical “calçada” style and bright colored houses.

» Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most visited spots in the city, dating back to the 16th century and a great example of the Manueline style, the Jerónimos integrate an architectural element of the end of Gothic and Renaissance ages, associated with monarchical and nautical symbols. This monument is a jewel of history and personifies the Portuguese identity: it was declared a National Monument in 1907 and in 1984 classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

» Sé de Lisboa (main church) is also a landmark in the history of the city, as well as the Convento do Carmo, the Basílica da Estrela, among other historical monuments.

» Parque das Nações was built initially for the World’s Fair Exposition in 1998 and subsequently converted into a center for cultural activities, where everyone can enjoy a great number of activities. You can visit the Oceanário of Lisbon, one of the largest Aquariums in the world, as well as the Torre Vasco da Gama, the highest building in Lisbon, and discover Pavilhão do Conhecimento, a modern museum of science and technology with several interactive expositions.

» Museum Calouste Gulbenkian has one of the best art collections in Europe, and integrates a substantial selection of Egyptian art, Islamic art, Greco-roman art, among others, as well as several jewels designed by Réné Lalique.

» Museum Colecção Berardo, in the Center of Expositions of the Centro Cultural de Belém, has a cultural dynamic capacity of attracting a diversified public; the museum presents a variety of great art pieces from several national and international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

» Centro Cultural de Belém is an important center of cultural diffusion of the capital and of the country. The CCB, as it is commonly known, offers a great variety of shows, from theater plays to dance shows, to opera and cinema, from classic to jazz music. As a complementary activity, the CCB also offers space for conferences and professional meetings.

» Teatro Nacional Maria II, the Teatro Municipal Maria Matos, Teatro da Trindade, Teatro Camões, among others, which are worth of a visit for their architectural richness and the talent of their actors.

Festival dos Oceanos 2010
The Oceans Festival is back in Lisbon between July 31 and August 14, with an edition devoted to the commemoration of the centenary of the Portuguese Republic, which includes several events, to animate the Riverside Area of the Capital, Lisbon.
Unprecedented, surprising and appealing performances, Concerts, Fado Nights, Museums opened at night, Exhibitions, street entertainment, interactive activities and fireworks are some of the surprises that are access free and directed at audiences of all ages.

» Red Bull Air Race - Lisbon 2010
The city of Lisbon will make its debut on the Red Bull Air Race calendar in 2010 when the World Championship makes a highly anticipated return to Portugal in the first week of September.
This event, of great projection and notoriety, will have the scenario of Tejo River, and will run between the bridge 25 April and the Tower of Belém.

7 Natural Wonders of Portugal

Elected in 2010 are the "7 Natural Wonders of Portugal". Portugal will be the first country in the world to elect its wonders of nature and that places Portugal at the forefront in terms of environmental preservation and sustainability.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity.

This project will strengthen an environmental movement that is growing globally and is intended as a reference in contributing to environmental sustainability in our country.

The nominees will be organized in the following seven categories that represent the landscape diversity of Portugal

The 7 Categories are:
Marine Zones
Caves and Caverns
Beaches and cliffs
Forests
Large Reliefs
Protected Areas
Zones Water Not Marine

The winners will be announced in the Azores (itself a natural wonder), S. Miguel island, on September 11.

» Estoril Open - Tennis, one of the most important international sporting events happening in the country, with a start-studded attendance where famous names of tennis compete. Estoril Open is an annual event, part of the main worldwide calendar of tennis competitions, as well as the elite division, which is part of other four competitions, including the Grand Slam (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open) and still nine other matches: Indian Wells, Miami, Sydney, Memphis, Acapulco, S`Hertogenbosch, Sopot, Tokyo and Moscow.

» Fado: Old or new, the fado represents the Portuguese soul, it is the song of Lisboa, and in each word you uncover the history of a brave and daring nation, which ventured the oceans in search of new worlds. Go to a fado house and taste a typical caldo verde (kale soup) with chouriço and broa as you listen to a fado show in typical tradition and cultural environment. “A Severa – restaurante típico”, the “Adega Mesquita” or the “Forcado” are some of our suggestions.

» Handicrafts: The handmade crafts of the Lisbon region are varied, from rendas de bilros (bobbin lace), ponto cruz (cross stitch) embroidery, Caldas da Rainha ceramics, glass works from Marinha Grande and the typical Portuguese glazed tiles in blue and white colors. These products can be purchased in specialized shops or directly from the artisans.

» Lisbon Zoo: In the centre of Lisbon, for the past 120 years, the Lisbon Zoo combines education with entertainment and fun, for both children and adults.

» Fitness activities: Practice cycling, jogging or rollerblading at Parque das Nações, where you can enjoy the view of the Tejo river and the impressive 25 de Abril Bridge. Take a break and relax on the terraces of cafés and restaurants, surrounded by beautiful gardens and sculptures.