I had the good fortune of traveling to Portugal on business and having the opportunity of traversing this magnificent country, with its unique and eclectic confluence of Iberian, Greco-Roman, Moorish and its very own Manueline architecture that confers a majesty, charm and beauty that is mesmerizing.
Lisbon is the stunning capital city of Portugal, and is one of the most charismatic and vibrant cities of Europe. It is a city that effortlessly blends traditional heritage, with striking modernism and progressive thinking.
As a holiday destination, Lisbon offers a rich and varied history, a buzzing nightlife and is blessed with a glorious year-round climate. Lisbon is a bustling and exciting city, that boasts a wide choice activities and fascinating tourist attractions. The city has a welcoming and liberal atmosphere, while still embracing its deep-rooted heritage and extensive history. Lisbon will appeal to diverse selection of ages and tourists; it can form a cultural trip, a nightlife fiesta, a family holiday, a relaxed city-break or even act as a base for a beach holiday. The Portuguese capital is constantly recognized as one of the greatest cities in the world, a claim confirmed by the “Lonely Planet Guides”, who named Lisbon one of the world’s top 10 cities. Surprisingly, Lisbon is still one of Europe’s least visited capitals, but this is rapidly changing as new visitors discover the allure of Portugal.
Here are vignettes of my travels across the majestic capital of Lisbon (or “Lisboa” as it is called in Portuguese), including districts of Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama and the Avenida da Liberdade. These areas are popular with tourists and are within walking distance of the main sights and attractions. Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodre are the nightlife districts, and are ideal for partying in the evening.
Equally enchanting are the beautiful towns of Obidos, Fatima, Syncra, and Cascais on the Riviera in Portugal – these towns reflect the architecture and landscape that the Portuguese sought to re-create in Goa, India!
Matter of fact, some of Lisbon’s greatest attractions on the Bay of Belem (see slideshow below) including the world-famous BELEM TOWER (Lisbon’s answer to the Eiffel Tower- see the photo below), the MONUMENT of DISCOVERIES, and the MONASTERY OF JERONIMOS are on a street named AVENUE OF INDIA to commemorate Vasco Da Gama’s successful voyage to India.
