The Colours of Lisbon
Having had the opportunity to visit many of the main cities and capitals in Europe, I never thought that I could be that surprised by another European city. I was wrong. Lisbon is just amazing.
Travelling to a new destination normally involves a couple of main attractions that make the trip worth it, and then a few secondary elements that round up the experience. In some places, the main attraction is the seaside; in others, the food; in others, the street life; in others, a historic building or monument; in some places, the weather; in some places, the people; and so on.
Well, this is not the case with Lisbon. Lisbon has everything and has it in abundance. Some places in Lisbon, such as Praça do Comercio, Castelo de Saõ Jorge, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Parque Eduardo VII, or Ponte 25 de Abril, could easily be the main attraction in any other destination; and any of those sites, alone, would attract millions of visitors every year. Lisbon has them all, and that is just a fraction of what the city has to offer.
The city, sprawled across seven hills alongside the Tagus River, also offers a magical experience when wandering around. Chiado, Bairro Alto, Baixa, and Alfama are only a few of the many picturesque neighbourhoods that bring together centuries of history; uncountable parks and plazas; walls full of colours and beautiful azulejos (tiles); the famous Portuguese pavement that makes up the unique patterns of streets and plazas; and a number of charming means of transport, including trams, tuk-tuks, lifts, and funiculars.
As if this was not enough, Lisbon also has an outstanding culinary offer based on a Mediterranean diet and a vast array of fresh and high-quality ingredients, including seafood, vegetables, fruits and juices, cheese, olives, cold cuts, wine, and extraordinary bread.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning the friendliness and warmth of Portuguese people. Everyone, from the officers that received us at the airport, to the taxi and bus drivers, to the waiters and musicians, to our Airbnb host — every Portuguese person we met was always smiling and always willing to help.
About six kilometres away from the city centre lies the beautiful parish of Belém. A trip to this part of Lisbon is a must in order to visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Belém Tower. The route is quite scenic, with Ponte 25 de Abril and Cristo Rei as main landmarks. Once in Belém, it is a must to try the Pastéis de Belém, which have been in business for almost 180 years.
Less than an hour away from Lisbon lies the beautiful town of Cascais. Located in the estuary of the Tagus River, Cascais provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sunset and to sight the beautiful beaches and the colourful Farol de Santa Marta.
