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City of Lisbon
The
city of Lisbon is built on seven hills, descending on its south
side to the river Tagus (Tejo). Long
gone are the days when Lisbon was simply regarded as the
unfortunate capital of Portugal, the Poor Man of Europe.
Today, this proud Portuguese capital is buzzing, after
reinventing itself as one of Europes most captivating
city-break destinations. Lisbon overflows with confidence, from
its funky new avant-garde buildings and its ever-growing number
of tourist attractions, through to its trendy bars and
world-class nightclubs.
A rich and eclectic history complements the new face
of Lisbon, which is most dramatically showcased at the Parque
das Naes, the futuristic playground built for the wildly
successful Expo 98. The Parque has now become a Mecca for both
visitors and locals alike and is a shining example of urban
regeneration, having transformed one of the citys most rundown
areas. New businesses are also springing up on the city
outskirts, to complement those already prospering in the city
centre.
Lisbon is something of a playground for adults, a giant
theme park where even getting around via the clanking old
trams, the gravity defying funiculars and the bobbing boats is
immense fun and the next meal or mellow coffee in a pavement
caf is only a step away. This sense of carnival fun reaches its
zenith as the sun comes down, with the melancholy of traditional
fado contrasting with the rave clubs now brightening up the
night.
Lisbons
renaissance will be complete in 2004, when the city will boast
the two biggest stadiums as it hosts the final of the European
Football Championships, event, like Expo 98, which looks certain
to reinforce the local belief that Lisbon is now one of the
great European capitals.
The following link will provide you with everything
you need to know about Lisbon, sights, tours, districts, music,
Have a read, take a download it will provide you with enough
information for your short visit.
http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com/cities/lis/cityoverview.asp
This link will give you a choice of guidebooks, an one of which
are excellent -
http://lisbon.com/guides/index.shtml
Selection of attractions:
:
Castelo de So Jorge (Castle of St George)
The Castle of St George is perched on the highest of
Lisbons seven hills, high above the Baixa and the Mouraria (the
Moorish Quarter).
Transport: Tram 12 or 28; bus 37.
Opening
hours: Daily 0900-2100 (Apr-Sep); daily 0900-1800 (Oct-Mar).
Admission: Free.
Tram
28
The
legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction in itself.
Vintage trams still ply the well-worn route from the city centre
on sea level, right up through the jumble of streets towards the
heights of the Castle of St George.
Torre de Belm (Belm Tower)
One of the citys most famous sights is more impressive on
the outside than it is on the inside. This white stone tower
built in the early-16th century, to defend the river was the
last thing that the seafaring adventurers saw before setting off
on their epic adventures.
Avenida
de Braslia
Tel:
(21) 362 0034. Fax: (21) 363 9145.
Transport: Tram 15; bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49 or 51; train to Belm
station.
Opening
hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1830.
Admission: Esc400/EUR1.99.
Mosteiro dos Jernimos (Hieronimite Monastery)
This
16th-century monastery is one of the few surviving examples of
medieval Manueline architecture and featuring naval motifs, it
is listed along with the Torre de Belm as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. It is also the resting place of Vasco da Gama and
the nations most famous writer, Lus de Cames
Praa do
Imprio
Tel:
(21) 362 0034. Fax: (21) 363 9145.
Transport: Tram 15; bus 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 or 112; train to
Belm station.
Opening
hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700 (Oct-Apr); Tues-Sun 1000-1830
(May-Sep).
Admission: Esc400/EUR2.
Parque das Naes (Nations Park)
The
former Expo98 site has been converted into a leisure oasis, with
a shopping centre, a string of attractions, concert halls, bars,
restaurants and a walkway along the River Tagus. The
Torre Vasco da Gama the sites landmark tower and Lisbons
tallest building has an observation platform and restaurant,
two-thirds of the way up. The Oceanrio one of the
largest oceanariums in the world has huge pools that are home
to manta rays, penguins and sharks. Designed for all manner of
public events, the Atlntico Pavilion is a highly
successful venue for concert, fairs and other functions. The
waterside cable car, connecting the tower and Oceanarium,
offers excellent views over the site. Summer weekends are best
avoided, however, as every family in Portugal seems to descend
on the site.
Parque
das Naes
Tel:
(21) 891 9333.
E-mail:
info@parquedasnacoes.pt
Website:
www.parquedasnacoes.pt
Transport: Rail or metro to Estao do Oriente station; bus 5,
10, 21, 25, 50, 68 or 114.
Opening
hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.
*See our Prices Page for a link to currency converter.
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