Lisbon, Portugal is home to over 500,000 people with millions more
in the surrounding areas, and is one of the most interesting cities
in Europe. Lisbon was occupied by the French in 1807, but the English
took it in 1808 and made it a centre of operations against Napoleon
during the Peninsular War.
Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a fascinating city of old-fashione.
Lisbon's sophisticated shopping centres, fine hotels, gastronomy
and culture combine with the climate to make this a great destination,
12 months of the year.
Lisbon also hosts a great number of remarkable museums of ancient
andmodern art, some of which are the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum,
NationalMuseum of Contemporary Art, National Coach Museum, and CarmoArchaeological
Museum. The Greeks knew Lisbon as "Olissipo" and "Olissipona",
a name they thought was derived from Ulysses, though this was a
folk etymology.
The city refounded its university in 1911 after centuries of inactivity
in Lisbon, incorporating reformed former colleges and other non-university
higher education schools of the city (such as the Escola Politécnica).
Every March the city hosts the world-famous Lisbon Half Marathon,
one of the most attended events of its kind in the world. Snowfall
is a very rare occurrence — Lisbon briefly witnessed snow
on January 29, 2006 and January 28, 2007 thanks to cold waves from
the Arctic that affected Europe in those days. It is estimated that
more than one million people enter Lisbon every day from the outskirts.
Every June there are 5 days of popular street celebrations in memory
of a saint born in Lisbon – Anthony of Lisbon (or Santo António).
No visit to Lisbon is complete without riding the 1930s trams.
Situated on the north banks of the River Tagus, the charm of Lisbon
exists in its strong links to the past; renovated palaces, magnificent
churches and an impressive castle mirror the city's rich cultural
heritage. There are two big train stations in Lisbon: Santa Apolónia
and Gare do Oriente. All nearby cities and most major cities in
Portugal have direct buses to Lisbon. Even in winter, when most
other European cities are freezing, in Lisbon high temperatures
rarely go below 10C (50F). Downtown Lisbon is basically built in
a valley running from Comercio Square on the Tagus river, through
the Baixa district to Rossio and Figueira squares, then starting
to climb along Liberdade Avenue.
The Lisbon Cathedral is another landmark that has been around since
the 12th century, and is the oldest church in the region. Four Seasons
The Ritz Hotel Lisbon is one of the recommended hotels located in
the city centre close to all transport, shops and attractions like
The Lisbon Cathedral. Long considered the city's finest hotel, Four
Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon reflects the nobility and charm of historic
Portugal, and offers vistas of Eduardo VII Park, St. The Lisbon
Coast hosts some fine sandy beaches at Cascais and Estoril, fishing
villages like Sesimbra and the forests and magical architecture
of Sintra with its royal palaces and stunning vistas from Lisbon
to the wild Atlantic.
