After the exotic, spicy and bustling world of Marrakesh, we were greeted by a completely different atmosphere when we arrived at the next stop on our summer trip, Lisbon. Although we only spent two days in the Portuguese capital, the city immediately enchanted us with its special light, the view of the azure Tagus River and its colorful tiled houses lining the hillsides. This short time was enough to conquer the city on foot and visit all the major attractions.
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a history that far predates London or Paris. Due to its strategic location, it was ruled by the Phoenicians, the Romans and then the Moors, whose influence can still be felt in the winding, narrow streets of the Alfama district. The city’s golden age came in the 15th and 16th centuries, during the time of the great discoveries, when Portugal became the master of the sea routes. It was then that the masterpiece of the Manueline style, the Monastery of St. Jerome (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), was built, a monument to sailors and wealth, and where Vasco da Gama rests.
The most decisive turning point in Lisbon’s history was the devastating earthquake, tsunami and fire of 1755, which almost leveled the city to the ground. After the disaster, a completely new, modern city center was born under the leadership of the Marquis of Pombal. This is how the Baixa district was created, one of the first earthquake-proof architectural designs in the world. Here is the huge Merchants’ Square (Praça do Comércio), whose elegant arcades and triumphal arch still look like the majestic gateway to the river.
At the highest point of the city is the Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge), within whose walls kings lived for centuries. This fortress is a symbol of Lisbon’s survival, from where you can see the entire city and the river mouth. Not far from there, along the coast, stands the Belém Tower (Torre de Belém), which originally served defensive purposes, but over time became a farewell and symbol for explorers. This limestone wonder is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of Portuguese power.
Due to the topography of Lisbon, architecture is not only reflected in houses, but also in engineering feats. The special elevators built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the neo-Gothic Santa Justa Elevator (Elevador de Santa Justa), are now icons of the city. This iron tower not only facilitated traffic between neighborhoods, but also functions as a lookout point from which you can see the Gothic arches of the Carmo Convent, which is still impressive in its ruins, and which, without a roof, is a reminder of the devastation of the great earthquake.
In addition to its historic walls, Lisbon became a cosmopolitan city again in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The site of the 1998 World Expo, the Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) is a paradise of modern architecture, home to the futuristic Vasco da Gama Bridge and the Oceanário, one of the largest aquariums in Europe. This area clearly shows how Lisbon has managed to preserve its thousands of years of history while boldly opening up to the future and contemporary design.
