The unique beauty and light of Lisbon, our food and wine, the seafront, the serene landscape and above all the simplicity and softness of our Atlantic home.
We are delighted to introduce you to the most special places Lisbon has to offer.
Some are further away and may require a large part of the day, others are simpler and can be visited in a morning or an afternoon.
Alfama is Lisbon’s most authentic relic from the period preceding the 1755 Great Earthquake. Steeped in history, immortalized in Fado, and rising over Lisbon, Alfama is one of Lisbon’s most authentic districts. Its maze of cobbled “becos” (alleys), “escadinhas” (steps) and “largos” (small squares) is just as it was centuries ago, and it’s a joy to wander around, finding unexpected river views and incredibly picturesque details.
Dedicated to the Mother of God, Lisbon Cathedral is one of the city’s gems and one of the most significant monuments in the country, due to its historical, religious and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147, when the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors.
The Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Portuguese for National Museum of the Azulejo), occasionally known in English as the National Tile Museum, is an art museum dedicated to the azulejo, traditional tilework of Portugal. The museum’s collection is one of the largest of ceramics in the world.
Inaugurated in 1969, the museum houses the remarkable private collection of Calouste Gulbenkian, with a magnificent collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Asian, and European art. The building was constructed in keeping with the most modern concepts of museum architecture, designed in such a way as to remain in close harmony with the surrounding park.
The Castelo de São Jorge is one of Lisbon’s most distinctive monuments, being situated on the city’s highest hill. The oldest known fortification at this spot dates from the 2nd century BC.
The castle itself was founded in the 10th and 11th centuries when Lisbon was an important Moorish port.
This is one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe, opening southwards onto the huge Tagus estuary. Until the era of mass aviation, this was Lisbon´s great reception hall for visitors arriving by sea.
Prior to the 1755 earthquake, it was called the Terreiro do Paço (Royal Yard). The name Praça do Comércio (Commercial Square) belongs to the Pombal era and represents the new social order after the massive destruction of the city by the earthquake.
The Elevador da Bica (Bica Lift) is a funicular located at Rua da Bica by Duarte Belo.
It is owned by the Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa and establishes the connection between Rua de São Paulo and Largo do Calhariz, facing one of the steepest slopes in the city.
It was inaugurated on June 28th, 1892.
The design of the Elevador da Bicas was by the Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, also responsible for numerous similar projects.
The Estrela Basilica is a minor basilica and ancient carmelite convent. The Estrela Basilica was the first church in the world dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Guerra Junqueiro Garden, usually known as Estrela Gardens, is located in the parish of Lapa. It was built in the 19th century (1842) on the initiative of the statesman Bernardo da Costa Cabral, the Marquis of Tomar.
It is a naturalist garden of romantic design, inspired by the typical English Park, surrounded by a railing, with particularly interesting plants in terms of both quantity and variety.
The Jerónimos Monastery was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. This notable 16th-century work of architecture became part of Portuguese identity and culture. Near the Tagus River in the parish of Belém the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Manueline architecture
Torre de Belém or Belém Tower, was originally surrounded by waters along its perimeters.
Over the centuries it was surrounded by the beach until the mainland was incorporated today.
One of the city’s highlights, the monument is an icon of the architecture of the reign of King Manuel I, in the synthesis between the keep of the medieval tradition and the modern bulwark, where artillery pieces were available.
The Museum of Arte, Architecture, and Technology, is a museum of contemporary art in Lisbon, that crosses thee areas in a space for debate, discovery, critical thinking, and international dialogue.
It is also one of the few museums in Portugal where you can do a 3D Virtual Tour.
The architectural design is by Cottinelli Telmo and the sculptures are by Leopoldo de Almeida.
The original monument, in perishable materials, was erected in 1940 on the occasion of the Portuguese World Exhibition to honor the historical figures involved in the Portuguese Discoveries.
The design was made as an homage to Infante D. Henrique, made for a public contest to Sagres.
Pastéis de Nata or Pastéis de Belém are one of the most popular specialties of Portuguese sweets.
Although pastéis de nata can be savored in many cafés and pastry shops, the original recipe is an exclusive secret of Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém, in Lisbon (the only place whose sweets should receive the nomenclature Pastéis de Belém).
There, traditionally, the pastries are still eaten hot, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
Pastel de Belém was elected in 2011 as one of the 7 Wonders of Gastronomy of Portugal.
