ON TOUR: Lisbon
LISBON is known as the white city, thanks to its unique luminosity. The light, the atmosphere and the climate offer marvellous walks all over the city. It has a beauty that extends beyond the monuments, that can be experienced in the streets, that is embraced with all the senses.
Situated mostly in the centre of Lisbon, the historical neighbourhoods are essential destinations for visitors to the Portuguese capital. They call to be explored, for their culture, their history, their architecture, their people or simply for a relaxed stroll. A structural part of the city”s identity, these neighbourhoods offer to those willing to explore them, a true personal map. There are so many possibilities. Don”t let them get away.
The Bairro Alto is one of the most characteristic and attractive neighbourhoods in the city. Typical and popular, the Bairro Alto has many modern features, with clothes boutiques and bars, many, many bars.
It is essential to explore it, to discover all its streets, lanes and alleys. Good restaurants alongside intimate bookshops, where things are always happening, tearooms next to design shops and the boutiques of some of the most respected Portuguese fashion designers. It is an exciting neighbourhood, full of attractions, that combines daring and sophistication with tradition and antiquity. A walk around the Bairro Alto is an experience that cannot be repeated in any other part of the city.
After the Bairro Alto, walk down to the Chiado, where you will find an even more sophisticated atmosphere. A meeting point for young people, artists and intellectuals, the Chiado is an area of emblematic caf”s, such as ”A Brasileira”, art schools, theatres and of living history. Besides its intrinsic beauty, it is the people that make the Chiado what it is, with their activity and positive attitude.
The Carmo area, next to the Chiado, has some of the most fascinating historical sites in the city, such as the Convent and Church of Carmo, which have maintained their elegance and grandeur. Here you can visit the ruins, but also the Museu Arqueol”gico do Carmo, which houses a collection of pre-historic, Roman, medieval, Manueline, Renaissance and Baroque artefacts. Largo do Carmo is also emblematic of recent Portuguese history, the site of important events in the 1974 Revolution. Carmo is connected to the Baixa by another key monument in the city, the irresistible Elevador de Santa Justa.
From the top of the Elevador there is a very fine view over the Baixa Pombalina. Don”t lose the opportunity to ride the Elevador, the only vertical lift that provides a public service and was designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, which explains its unique architectural style.
In the Baixa, the city”s traditional shopping district, you will find dozens of shops and a great area for walks.
Rua Augusta is the main artery of the Baixa Pombalina, leading between Terreiro do Pa”o (traditionally called Black Horse Square by the English), open to the river and the symbol of power, to the beautiful Pra”a do Rossio (Pra”a Dom Pedro V).
Above the Rossio, discover Avenida da Liberdade. A walk along what was, in the 19th century, the city”s ”Public Walk”, where the ”lites met for their daily promenade. Today, the Avenida is full of expensive shops, for the most cosmopolitan and international shopping in the city.
The riverside areas offer very lively nightlife and some of the most popular venues of the Lisbon night. The most well known are on Av. 24 de Julho, as well as the Santos area.
There you can find dozens of bars and discotheques, and some of the most popular clubs and bars in the city. In the Docas, in Alc”ntara and Santo Amaro, also you will find plenty of entertainment, right next to the river.
These areas, which are also lively during the day, offer the perfect backdrop for an enjoyable evening. In the area of Santa Apol”nia, you will find one of the most fashionable discos in Lisbon. Besides dancing and enjoying the unique atmosphere, you can also listen to concerts or to the best international DJs. In this riverside area, you will also find excellent restaurants. http://www.atl-turismolisboa.pt