Lisbon is the capital and the largest city in Portugal, with approximately 565,000 inhabitants, although the population reaches two and a half million if we take into account the surrounding areas both north and south of the river Tagus (known as Greater Lisbon). It is the cultural, administrative and commercial hub of the country, attracting visitors from the entire world and offering various programs for all kinds of tourism.

Located on the Western coast of Europe, Lisbon rests on seven hills overlooking the “Mar da Palha”, the large bay included in the estuary of the river Tagus before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The heart of the city is the “Baixa” (Downtown area) and this area is presently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Baixa is organized on a grid system of streets and a network of squares built after the Lisbon earthquake (1755), which destroyed a large part of the medieval city. The new design for the city (implemented by the Marquis of Pombal soon after the earthquake) followed the spirit of the Enlightenment, obeying rational and geometrical premises. This gives the city a curious mixture of “modern” revitalization alongside medieval narrow streets stretching up the hill towards the Moorish castle. Lisbon has many historic buildings and monuments offering examples of Romanic, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern construction. Among its specific riches are colorful and precious tiles, that came both as a Roman and Moorish legacy and can be seen at the “Museu do Azulejo” in the eastern part of the city. You can find several other museums of ancient and modern art in Lisbon, and three surrounding cities offer interesting landscapes and monuments: Sintra (a romantic site mentioned by Lord Byron), Queluz (with a palace that imitates Versailles) and the Natural Park of Arrábida (south of the Tagus). A bit further to the south and southeast (in the Alentejo) are Évora and Marvão, and to the north you will find Óbidos, Mafra, Alcobaça, Coimbra and Porto, all of them worth visiting.

The old city is quite compact (with narrow streets and busy shops) and can easily be visited on foot, although the steepness of the streets might encourage you (for those who get tired easily) to use public transport such as trams and funiculars. Even if it is difficult to reach these parts of Lisbon, it is definitely worthwhile, since they often open onto lovely squares and terraces with breathtaking views over the city and the river. These terraces spread out over the hills - “miradouros” - are a good place to rest and have a drink or a coffee while enjoying the scenery.

Lisbon has a rich and varied nightlife with bars and clubs mainly in the Bairro Alto and in the area along the river bank between Cais do Sodré and Alcântara. You cannot visit Lisbon without experiencing Fado, the melancholy Portuguese music that in the past was widely internationalized by prodigious singer Amália Rodrigues and currently boasts wonderful young talents such as Mariza. Several restaurants offer fado sessions during or after dinner.

In the western part of Lisbon is one of the symbols of the city - the Tower of Belém – as well as the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos both built in the 16th century in Manuelino style (a combination of Gothic and Renaissance). Recently (in the 1990s) a great cultural centre was added to this monumental area: the Centro Cultural de Belém.

In the Eastern part of Lisbon, where Expo’98 was held, you can visit a totally renewed urban and environmental site – the “Parque das Nações” - where you can enjoy walking or resting beside the river Tagus in the open air. There you will find a great variety of restaurants, bars and places to visit, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the world’s largest aquariums entirely dedicated to the oceans and their preservation; the Vasco da Gama Tower; the Pavilion of Knowledge, an interactive science and technology museum based on the stimulating experimentation and exploration of the physical world, and many other facilities. A wonderful new bridge across the river – the “Ponte Vasco da Gama” – was built for the occasion and is a good choice to reach the southern bank on your way to the Alentejo and Algarve, in case you choose to visit those regions.

Lisbon is a warm and welcoming multicultural city, with excellent hospitality and an amazing blue sky, thus making any visit memorable.

For more information about Lisbon you can search the following sites:

http://www.atl-turismolisboa.pt or http://iportugaltravel.com/lisbon-travel-guide/