Lisbon Vacations


	Lisbon bears the mark of an incredible heritage with laid-back pride. The city also presents an intriguing variety of faces to those who negotiate its switchback streets. In the oldest neighborhoods, stepped alleys are lined with pastel-color houses and crossed by laundry hung out to dry; here and there miradouros (vantage points) afford spectacular river or city views. In the grand 18th-century center, black-and-white mosaic cobblestone sidewalks border wide boulevards. Elétricos (trams) clank through the streets, and blue-and-white azulejos (painted and glazed ceramic tiles) adorn churches, restaurants, and fountains. The city was probably founded by the Phoenicians, who traded from its port. It wasn't until 205 BC, however, when the Romans linked it by road to the great Spanish cities of the Iberian Peninsula, that Lisbon prospered. The Visigoths followed in the 5th century and built the earliest fortifications on the site of the Castelo de São Jorge, but it was with the arrival of the Moors in the 8th century that Lisbon came into its own. The city flourished as a trading center during the 300 years of Moorish rule, and the Alfama -- Lisbon's oldest district -- retains its intricate Arab-influenced layout. In 1147 the Christian army led by Dom Afonso Henriques took the city after a ruthless siege that lasted 17 weeks. To give thanks for the end of Moorish rule, Dom Afonso planned a great cathedral, and the building was dedicated three years later. A little more than a century after that, the rise of Lisbon was complete when the royal seat of power was transferred here from Coimbra, and Lisbon was declared capital of Portugal. With independence from Spain in 1640 and assumption of the throne by successive dukes of the house of Bragança, Lisbon became ever more prosperous, only to suffer calamity on November 1, 1755, when it was hit by the last of a series of earthquakes. Two-thirds of Lisbon was destroyed, and tremors were felt as far north as Scotland; 40,000 people in Lisbon died, and entire sections of the city were swept away by a tidal wave. With independence from Spain in 1640 and assumption of the throne by successive dukes of the house of Bragança, Lisbon became ever more prosperous, only to suffer calamity on November 1, 1755, when it was hit by the last of a series of earthquakes. Two-thirds of Lisbon was destroyed, and tremors were felt as far north as Scotland; 40,000 people in Lisbon died, and entire sections of the city were swept away by a tidal wave. But Lisbon's intrinsic, slightly disorganized, one-of-a-kind charm hasn't vanished in the contemporary mix. Lisboetas are at ease pulling up café chairs and perusing newspapers against any backdrop, whether it reflects the progress and commerce of today or the riches that once poured in from Asia, South America, and Africa. And quiet courtyards and sweeping viewpoints are never far away. Lisbon related links: Lisbon Hotels \| Europe Vacation Specials Europe Vacation

Weather & When to Go

It's best not to visit at the height of summer, when the city positively steams and lodgings are expensive and crowded. Winters are generally mild and usually accompanied by bright blue skies, but for optimum Lisbon weather, visit on either side of summer, in May or late September through October. The city's major festivals are in June; the so-called santos populares (popular saints) see days of riotous celebration dedicated to saints Anthony, John, and Peter.

Attractions & Excursions

The center city is small enough to cover on foot, but because of Lisbon's hills, don't underestimate the distances or the time it takes to cover them. Places may appear close to one another on a map when they're actually on different levels, and the walk can be fearsomely steep. Public transportation is excellent. Marvelous old trams, buses, the metro, and turn-of-the-20th-century funicular railways and elevators can transport you up the hills. If time is short or energy lags, taxis are a genuine bargain and can be summoned with a phone call.

The center of Lisbon stretches north from the spacious Praça do Comércio -- one of Europe's largest riverside squares -- to the Rossío, a smaller square lined with shops and cafés. The district in between is known as the Baixa (Lower Town), an attractive grid of parallel streets built after the 1755 earthquake and tidal wave. The Alfama, the old Moorish quarter that survived the earthquake, lies east of the Baixa. In this part of town are the Sé (the city's cathedral) and, on the hill above, the Castelo de São Jorge (St. George's Castle).

West of the Baixa, sprawled across another of Lisbon's hills, is the Bairro Alto (Upper Town), an area of intricate 17th-century streets and churches. Five kilometers (3 miles) farther west is Belém, site of the famous Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, as well as a royal palace and several museums. A similar distance to the northeast, Lisbon's Parque das Nações pivots around the spectacular Oceanário de Lisboa.

The modern city begins at Praça dos Restauradores, adjacent to the Rossío. From here, the main Avenida da Liberdade stretches northwest to the landmark Praça Marquês de Pombal, bordered by the green expanse of the Parque Eduardo VII beyond.

Entertainment

Lisbon has a thriving arts-and-nightlife scene, and there are listings of concerts, plays, and films in the monthly Agenda Cultural and the quarterly Unforgettable Lisboa booklets, both available from the tourist office. Also, the Friday editions of both the Diário de Notícias and O Independente newspapers have separate magazines with entertainment listings. Although written in Portuguese, listings are fairly easy to decipher.

It's best to buy tickets to musical and theatrical performances at the box offices, but you can also get them at several agencies including the FNAC at the Colombo mall, the Valentim Carvalho music store in the Grandes Armazéns do Chiado shopping complex on Rua do Carmo, and the Virgin Megastore on Praça dos Restauradores. A special ticket office -- called ABEP -- on Praça dos Restauradores, near the main post office, also sells tickets to sporting events.

Shopping

Small, independently owned stores are still quite common in Lisbon, and salespeople are courteous almost everywhere. Handmade goods, such as leather handbags, shoes, gloves, embroidery, ceramics, and basketwork, are sold throughout the city. Apart from top designer fashions and high-end antiques, prices are moderate. Most shops are open weekdays 9-1 and 3-7 and Saturday 9-1; malls and supermarkets often remain open until at least 10. Some are also open on Sunday. Credit cards -- Visa in particular -- are widely accepted.

Although fire destroyed much of Chiado in 1988, Lisbon's smartest shopping district, a good portion of the area has been restored. The neighborhood has a large new shopping complex as well as many small stores with considerable cachet, particularly on and around Rua Garrett. The Baixa's grid of streets from the Rossío to the Rio Tejo have many small shops selling jewelry, shoes, clothing, and foodstuffs. The Bairro Alto is full of little crafts shops with stylish, contemporary ceramics, wooden sculpture, linen, and clothing. Excellent stores continue to open in the residential districts north of the city, at Praça de Londres and Avenida de Roma.

Dining

Meals generally include three courses, a drink, and coffee. Many restaurants have an ementa turistica (tourist menu), a set-price meal, most often served at lunchtime. Note that you'll be charged a couple of euros if you eat any of the couvert (or couberto) items -- typically appetizers such as bread and butter, olives, and the like -- that are brought to your table without being ordered.

Lisbon's restaurants usually serve lunch from noon or 12:30 until 3 and dinner from 7:30 until 11; many establishments are closed on Sunday or Monday. Inexpensive restaurants typically don't accept reservations. In the traditional cervejarias (beer hall-restaurants), which frequently have huge dining rooms, you'll probably have to wait for a table, but usually not more than 10 minutes. In the Bairro Alto, many of the reasonably priced tascas (taverns) are on the small side: if you can't grab a table you're probably better off moving on to the next place. Throughout Lisbon, dress for meals is usually casual, but there are exceptions to the rule.

Lodging: Hotels & Accommodations

Lisbon's luxury hotels are located in the heart of the city. Many hotels can be found immersed in lush beauty and are within proximity to many attractions.

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	Take a Stroll Stroll the charming narrow cobblestone streets of the heart of old Lisbon, the Barrio Alto, with its many cafés bars that often stay open all night. Explore the Museums Exokire the blue, white, and domed architectural master-pieces of Belém, including the official residence of the president, Jéronimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the Coach Museum, one of 50 museums within Lisbon. Fado Watch the world go by with a plate of sardines, a bowl of caldo verde, and a glass of port as you linger and listen to Portugal's best known music, the fado, beautiful songs first sung on the long voyages of 16th-century sailors and adventurers. Shop Shop for many delicate and unique souvenirs made by traditional artisans in Portugal, often by hand, such as lacework, embroidery, silver, crystal, glazed earthenware tiles known as azulejos, and woven rugs. Atlantic Coast Rent a car and drive the Atlantic coastm dotted with traditional villages such as Cascais, Nazaré, Estoril, and Guincho, or drop in on one of the newly opened cosmopolitan resorts that offer full amenties, including golf, tennis, and watersports.


	Four Seasons Hotel: The Ritz Lisbon Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Towers As Janelas Verdes

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