Lisbon offers many times more than just charming apartment buildings, romantic streets, or beautiful walking areas and walks on the water. Portugal’s capital is also a source of unusual sights worth exploring to fully understand the mentality of the inhabitants or tell your cliche friends about them.

Lisbon History

According to legend, Lisbon was founded by the Greek traveler and hero Odysseus, who visited the Iberian regions during his long return from the Trojan War. Its original name, Ulissipo or Olissipo, then meant “enchanted port”. During the Roman period, starting from the second century AD, the city became one of the most important commercial centers on the peninsula and was renamed Felicitas Julia. However, after the time of imperial domination, they were taken over by the Moors. For three centuries the Muslims resisted the attacks of the Christian crusaders, losing the city in the first half of the twelfth century. Since 1252, the liberated agglomeration has received the status of the capital of the new kingdom of Portugal. The Renaissance marked a time for the development of his thalassocracy power for a coastal power. The nearby port of Belem is today considered the main starting point for pioneering geographical expeditions. Explorers have traveled from this city around the world, penetrating new lands in South America, Africa, and even blazing a new trail to India. The glorious event was intertwined with those embarrassing, like a series of anti-Semitic speeches that ended in the pogrom of the Jews in April 1506. The crisis occurred similarly to the entire region along with the earthquake. The catastrophe happened unexpectedly during a November night in 1755. Heavily damaged buildings were restored from ruins by the Marquis de Pombal, Sebastian Jose de Carvalho and Melo. In the nineteenth century, Lisbon was attacked by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte, and most of its treasures and buildings were looted, stolen or simply destroyed.

Fancy Rides

Lisbon is an incredible conglomeration of cultural environments. These attractions will allow you to appreciate the city while avoiding the crowds of tourists in the most popular places presented in the guides.

Lisbon Garden: Bordallo Pinheiro

In the pretty, rather small garden at the Civic Museum, there are amazing installations in the form of giant porcelain works by the Portuguese artist Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro. Among the trees, shrubs and ponds, you can find images resembling snakes, lizards, toads, bees, crustaceans, mushrooms, cats. All exhibits were made of ceramics. On the other side is an art gallery, as well as souvenirs dedicated to the creator of the figure.

Chinese Pavilion – Carlos Lopes

Located in a 1901 building that used to be a grocery store, Carlos Lopes Bar is filled with personal collections of collectibles and, at least interesting items, currently filling the many showcases with curiosity. Rows of helmets and military uniforms, antique paintings, or shelves of antique dolls and figurines in each corner. Models of planes and boats suspended from dark ceilings intertwine with crystal chandeliers. Around the bar, china plates and antique mugs surround the unexpected figure of a British Palace guard on his way to ordering a delicious drink.

Lisbon Candle Shop

One ??of Lisbon’s hidden gems, the candle shop has been open since 1789. Given its age, it’s no wonder it’s considered one of the oldest wax jobs in the world. Das Vellas Loreto has been cared for by the same family for seven generations. You can feel the history hidden among old wood-paneled storefronts or chimes above the door. It’s easy to immerse yourself in the era of modernization of the Marquis de Pombal, which left its mark on the interior design of an apartment building or the corresponding interior.

Lisbon on the map

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