lisbon's secrets
TRANSCRIPT
LISBONsecrets
eight well-kept
São Pedro de Alcântara
One one the best wellkept secrets in Lisbon… this shaded terrace on a hill directly
across from the castle allows you to gaze down on all of downtown towards the
waterfront. This is the perfect spot for your first introduction to this special city.
This splendid terrace is set in gardens high above the Baixa (downtown) and is a
great way to get your bearings. It's also one of the most romantic spots in the
city…
The Trendy Chiado
The cultural and shopping
mecca of Lisbon is undisputedly
the Chiado Lisbon district,
whose elegant street ‘Rua
Garrett’ has been placed along
with other glamorous and
fashionable streets around the
world. Playing neighbours to
the various world renowned
designer boutiques, are Lisbon’s
very own cultural institutions
and sights, including the
famous “A Brasileira Cafe” or
‘Ourivesaria Alianca’, just to
name a couple.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was one of the most
destructive and deadly earthquakes in history,
killing more than a third of the entire population
of the Portuguese capital. Tens of thousands of
Portuguese who survived the earthquake were
killed by the tsunami triggered by the earthquake.
When the earthquake arrived, most of Lisbon's
population were praying in six magnificent
cathedrals, including the great Basilica de São
Vicente de Fora. Within minutes, this great thriving
city-port of Lisbon, capital of Portugal and of the
vast Portuguese empire and seat of learning in
Europe, was reduced to rubble. The destruction
caused by the earthquake was beyond description.
Lisbon's great cathedrals collapsed, killing
thousands. Lisbon's whole quay disappeared into
the river, burying with it hundreds of people who
had sought refuge…
Carmo and Lisbon’s earthquake
The Rossio Square, is one of the most beautiful places to see in Lisbon. The square, which
is located in downtown Lisbon, has been a witness to various historical events in the city,
from popular celebrations and revolutions to executions and bullfights. Today, Praca do
Rossio is a popular destination both for locals and tourists. It is Lisbon’s main square, so it’s
impossible to miss it when in the city. Although the square has been renovated a number of
times already, it still managed to retain its mysticism. Every day, people from different places
flock the square just to relax, hang out, and just take in the atmosphere. It’s a popular
destination among tourists who have checked in nearby hotels and also close to some of the
city’s famous cafes and shops that include Cafe Nicola and Pastelaria Suiça.
lunch in Rossio with
King Sebastian
To the right of the National Theater, east of Rossio, is the
Church of São Domingos, that is either blessed or cursed,
having survived fires and earthquakes. Prior to the Great
Earthquake of 1755 this was where the São Domingos
Convent stood, from which the Inquisition read out its
sentences. In 1950 it was partially destroyed by a fire and
has since undergone restoration, but there are still clear
signs of the fire (the permeating smell and the scorched
pillars). Jesuit missionary Gabriel Malagrida was famously
executed at the church in 1761 after being accused of
treason. A popular hole-in-the-wall bar almost immediately
in front of the church for a glass of ginginha (a local syrupy
cherry brandy liqueur) is a must that you wont forget!
São Domingos Church & the
Holy Inquisition
Alfama is Lisbon's most emblematic quarter and one of
the most rewarding for walkers and photographers thanks
to its medieval alleys and outstanding views. The Moorish
Quarter was settled by the Romans and Visigoths (it was
also an important Jewish quarter in the 15th century), but it
was the Moors who gave the district its atmosphere and
name (alhama means springs or bath, a reference to the
hot springs found in the area). They were also responsible
for its web of streets created as a defense system, while at
the same time enabling their homes to remain cool in the
summer. It is a village within a city still made up of narrow
streets, tiny squares, churches, and whitewashed houses
with tile panels and wrought-iron balconies adorned with
pots of flowers, drying laundry, and caged birds.
The Moorish Quarter
The Castle of St George is an archaeological cluster, a palate of cultural diversity
reflecting centuries of change and adaptations. In short, it’s a symbol of Lisbon that
can be seen from every point in the city and marks the first recorded human
occupation of the city. According to legend, the Castle of St George in Lisbon was
where Portuguese knight Martim Moniz sacrificed his life trying to stop the doors from
closing with his own body, thus enabling Christians to enter the Moorish-held castle.
Perched on Lisbon’s highest hill in the city’s historic centre, the castle’s
privileged position gives you infinite views over the city and the River Tagus. The
panoramic view can be seen within a short distance from the main entrance.
The Medieval Castle
The Belém Quarter was built in Lisbon in honour of the great Henry the Navigator,
who led Portugal’s discovery expeditions into the New World during the country’s heyday
in the 15th century. Indeed, it was from Belem that Vasco da Gama embarked on his
voyage from Portugal to India in 1497, and it was here too that Christopher Columbus
anchored on his way back to Spain following his historic discovery of the Americas. Henry
the Navigator is flanked by King Afonso V, who supported the colonisation of Africa,
alongside Vasco da Gama, Pedro Alvares Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, and Ferdinand
Magellan, the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. In their wake come a series of
explorers, writers, missionaries, a mathematician, a map maker and other key figures
from the epoch. Notably the only female to be depicted is Queen Felipa of Lancaster,
Henry the Navigator’s mother, who is credited with being the brain of the discoveries.
Discovering a New World
