Lisbon Attractions

Discover the Golden Age of Bethlehem

Advantages: An area filled with beauty, history and is very laid back
Disadvantages: None

Belem is an area that lies at the western end of Greater Lisbon and it is not to be confused with the city in Northern Brazil although they bare the same. In Portuguese the name Belem means Bethlehem and sometimes the area used to be known as Santa Maria de Belem. Along with the Alfama, Belem is another favourite area of Lisbon I like to spend time in. Apart from it's very laid back atmosphere the area is filled with monuments, museums, cafes and ...
...by side while dogs run riot and frisbees fly high into the dappled blue sky. It is here where you experience the feelings of a golden time when caravelas sailed from the mouth of the River Tagus to the New World and returned ladened with jewels, spices and silks. There is an attractive cafe scene in Belem but I suggest before you get involved with that scene you have a good look at the architecture, monuments and parks in the area. Here are some ...

Praski 16.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Belém, Lisbon

For football lovers! Great Stadium!

Advantages: The tour is amazing!
Disadvantages: not having a ball while in the pitch...

The "Estádio da Luz" it's the home stadium of the Portuguese football giants SL Benfica. Opened in October 25th 2003, this stadium is the result of a troubled period in the club's life. It's construction involved many argues and debate, since it implicated the demolition of the old mythic stadium with the same name, where different generations of Benfica supporters lived unforgettable moments among crowds up to 120,000 people! The ground where the ...
...and for many Benfica fans this stadium is the modern reincarnation of the old one. With 65,000 covered seats, this facility offers to the football fans enormous comfort with plenty of leisure places. Estádio da Luz has all that it takes to host finals of UEFA's club competitions. Two giant screens, 156 company boxes, 55 bars, two panoramic restaurants, a business centre, a company centre, two health clubs, special areas for the disabled, and a VIP ...

R_A_C 24.07.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Estadio da Luz (SL Benfica Stadium)

A beautiful Tower by the river!

Advantages: A beautiful Tower in a beautiful place!
Disadvantages: none

The "Torre de Belém" (or "Belém Tower" in English), was built in1514, by decision of the Portuguese King D. Joao II. The construction was finished 6 years later, in1520 and that new facility was immediately used for controlling and defending the entrance of Lisbon through the river. The initial plan was to build 3 towers similar to this, one at the opposite side of the Tagus river and another one on the same side but a little closer to the Atlantic ...
...would eventually avoid any attempt of an assault to the city and its surroundings. As the other 2 towers never got to be built, small fortifications were made to replace them, although neither of them can be compared with the size or the beauty of the "Torre de Belém". The main reason for this change of plans was probably the time took to build and the costs of such an enterprise. Once those two small fortifications were not enough to substitute ...

R_A_C 23.07.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Torre de Belém

Fishy activities in Lisbon

Advantages: Fantastic fish, birds, otters, great layout, novel approach
Disadvantages: Absolutely none - except adults can't do sleepovers

...at Ellesmere Port. The Oceanarium in Lisbon has been on my must-see list for years. When my Portuguese friend Theresa told me there were plans to build a mega-aquarium for the 1998 World Expo, we vowed that I would visit Lisbon and we would go see the fishies. Of course, life moved on and I forgot all about it until last Friday. Like a good ciaoster with her passport in her pocket I checked out what there was to see in Lisbon and was reminded about ...
...locals taking the sun. The Oceanarium is set amongst acres of picnicking families and kids playing in the park. To one side the cable car whizzes along the waterfront. You can get the metro out to the park - there's lots of transport infrastructure put in place for the Expo. You have no excuse not to go. The Oceanarium was of major symbolic importance for the Expo. Lisbon's history and glory is closely associated with the sea and the Oceanarium ...

koshkha 08.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Oceanarium

Lisbon's Oldest Arab Quarter

Advantages: Some of the oldest miradouros in the city offering spectacular views
Disadvantages: Steep Climbs

Alfama - a district of Lisbon, named by the Moors as Alhama which means springs or hot bath. An atmospheric area filled with mystery; shady streets built and woven into a web of white washed houses with red tiled roofs. A kaleidoscope of flowers, red, purple white, and the wailing sound of Fado. An interesting but yet dangerous place to visit is what I was told many, many years ago on my first trip to Lisbon. I was instructed not to go to the streets ...
...wanted to know why the Alfama had this reputation so I took no notice of any warning and made this Arab quarter the first port of call. To be honest to this day I have no idea why it had this reputation - my guess, it was because it was the Arab quarter and when I was a young traveller these places were out of bounds. Ridiculous as it may sound but it is true. Having lived in Portugal and visited Lisbon many times in a working capacity and as a ...

Praski 22.03.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Alfama