Did you know, that in 1755, an earthquake and subsequent fires and tsunamis completely destroyed Lisbon? The first Marquis of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, was responsible for the reconstruction of the city. The term “Pombaline” is used to describe not only his tenure, but the architectural style adopted in Lisbon after the earthquake. A statue of the Marquis stands in a famous square in Lisbon, to symbolise his contribution to the city.
Travelling to Portugal? Be sure to check your visa requirements and obtain the appropriate documentation before you travel. It is recommended by many countries that your passport be valid for at least three months from the date of planned return, or that you have a travel document recognised by the member states of the Schengen Agreement.
Fado is the musical expression of Lisbon and Portugal, derived from the Latin word “fatum,” which means destiny. Fado is included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. One can walk into a typical fado restaurant in Lisbon and dine while enjoying a live musical performance from one of many locally acclaimed artists.
The euro is the official currency used in Portugal. Lisbon is enabled for credit and debit card use, but just as in many other parts of the world, there are some stores and restaurants that only take cash. Be prepared by exchanging the amount of currency you think you will need before you leave home. Real-time exchange rates can be found on Google at https://bit.ly/2sSun0L. In the case of unplanned needs, ATMs are also available at banks around Lisbon where you can withdraw cash. And as in other large cities, please be careful of your wallets, purses, and general belongings while touring the locale.
The Tagus River is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing 1,007 kilometres, or 626 miles. It begins in Spain, and passes through Portugal until it joins the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The Tagus has been extremely important to the modern economic development of both Spain and Portugal, and Lisbon, located at the mouth of the Tagus River, is one of Europe's busiest ports. This body of water can also be seen from Parque das Nações, the venue for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
Visiting Portugal this summer and haven’t heard about pastéis de nata yet? Pastéis de nata are traditional Portuguese tarts featuring a rich egg custard in a crisp, flaky pastry.
It was in 1837 that this culinary tradition started, at a small general store attached to a sugar cane refinery next to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, or the Heironymite Monastery, in Belém. Due to the revolution a few years before, all the monasteries in Lisbon were closed and many of the clergy and labourers lost their jobs. In order to overcome this situation, some people from the Jerónimos Monestery began selling the now famous Pastéis de Belém. The pastries became so popular that many patisseries carrying the sweet treat began popping up all over the country.
The Portuguese people are very proud of their culture and gastronomy and pastéis de nata are a must try. Either try it plain or, if you have a sweet tooth, try it with cinammon and icing sugar.
As mentioned, one of the best places to eat is pastéis de nata is Pastéis de Belém. Is it located at Rua de Belém 84-92 and it is usually very crowded, so be sure to arrive early. But don’t get distracted by the long queues outside. Once you enter the beautiful cafe, filled with traditional Portuguese blue tiles, go to the last room where the lines are usually faster.
If you’re around downtown, Baixa-Chiado, Bairro Alto, or Príncipe Real, head to Manteigaria. Is is located at Rua do Loreto 2. Manteigaria is a newer establishment for pastéis de nata, but is a formidable competitor to Pastéis de Belém. Here, you can see the pastéis being made fresh, with the puff pastry being thinner than at Pastéis de Belém while still flaky and crunchy, and the cream filling a little less sweet with a slight citrus taste. Note that Manteigaria doesn’t have places to sit down, so order take away and go for a walk with your pastéis in the nearby square, Praça do Comércio, locally known as Terreiro do Paço.
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. With a total length of 12.3 kilometres, it is the longest bridge entirely within Europe and the second-longest bridge in Europe after the transcontinental Crimean Bridge. Construction began in February 1995 and the bridge was officially opened to traffic on 29 March 1998, just in time for Expo ‘98, the World's Fair that celebrated the 500th anniversary of the discovery by Vasco da Gama of the sea route from Europe to India. The $1.1 billion project was divided into four parts, each built by a separate company, and is constructed to withstand an earthquake four times the impact of the historic Lisbon earthquake in 1755. The bridge can be seen from Parque das Nações, the site of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
Parque das Nações, or Park of Nations, is the strikingly modern side to the historic and traditional architectural landscape of Lisbon, and is the site of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The district, which extends along the northeastern side of the Tejo Estuary, was rejuvenated from a desolate, industrial wasteland for Expo ‘98, and has since been transformed into the corporate centre of Portugal. As the theme for Expo ‘98 was oceans, several of the buildings and features of Parque das Nações reflect this theme. With many activities for adults and children alike, there is lots to explore at Parque das Nações in addition to the activities of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration. Top features include:
1. Marvel at the vast array of fish in the Oceanarium, considered the best aquarium in the world by Trip Advisor in 2015 and 2017
2. Walk along the waterfront, past Vasco da Gama Tower, to Vasco da Gama Bridge
3. Explore the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, or Pavilion of Knowledge & Science, a science museum primarily for children but also an interesting experience for adults
4. Visit the Gare do Oriente, or Oriente Railway Station, designed by Calatrava
5. Fly silently over the park by riding the cable car from the Pavilhão de Portugal, or Portugal Pavilion, a gravity-defying structure by Álvaro Siza Vieira
6. Browse the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre, containing not only retail stores, but also places to eat, and a cinema
7. Spend time in the Jardins Garcia d’Orta, the Gardens of Garcia d’Orta, and at the water-focused exhibits, and admire the bold urban art and modern architecture
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