Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest, picturesque neighbourhood & history
Alfama is certainly the most famous historic and oldest neighborhood in Lisbon.
Beautiful azulejos (ancient tiles), Beco dos Loios, near Feira de Ladra (thieves market).
Beco dos Loios, Alfama, June 2008
Miradouro St. Lucia, halfway between Sé Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge.
Alfama famous tram ‘electrico 28′
Square near the Fado Museum, Largo do Chafariz de Dentro
Alfma is a narrowed maze of streets, nowadays with many fado restaurants and picturesque houses. The name Alfama originates from the Arabic word Al-Hamma meaning ‘fountains’ or ‘baths’. The area contains many important historical attractions. Authentic house for rent in Alfama , 10 minutes walk from this square
Faded elegance: Chafiraz del Rei, a palace built in 1747, nowadays a pigeons’ home.
After the Mourish domination (7-12 century), Alfama became inhabited by the fishermen and the poor, and the neighbourhood of the poor continues to this day.
In the 19th C. Alfama was a gloomy, dirty and depressing area as a result of unhealthy living conditions. Today the poorer classes continue to live here, mainly in houses in need of renovation. Insufficient heating and draughty walls ensure poor living conditions, especially in wintertime.
At present some of the houses are being renovated.
…..more about Alfama…and street guide
I adore Alfama. I manage to get lost there every time I go and always discover interesting places as a result
[...] Lisbon, pastelaria (cafe) ’O trenta e um (31) , Alfama. [...]
[...] nearby Alfama historical centre [...]
[...] International trains arrive in Lisbon every day, mainly to Santa Apolónia Station and to the Gare do Oriente. Estação Santa Apolónia, opened on May 1st 1865, is the oldest railway terminus in Lisbon, situated in the city’s central part on the bank of the Tagus river in the historical district of Alfama. [...]
[...] her career in Mouraria where she grew up and performed many times in bar ANOS 60. Together with Alfama, the area is a muddle of very narrow streets and small squares, which gives the visitor a glimpse [...]
[...] close to the historic Alfama neighborhood, a very nice street to walk around at Lisbon’ city center is Rua dos [...]
[...] Alfama. This tram is increasingly as popular with pickpockets as it is with tourists. [...]
[...] wonderful old house with three floors in historic Alfama is an excellent location to spend a perfect holiday in the heart of historic Lisbon. The owner is [...]
[...] Alfama. This street is close to the legendary Feira da Ladra (’thieves market’) [...]
[...] The trips are organised by Transtejo, starting at Praça do Comércio ferry terminal, at the foot of the hill dominated by the Castle of São Jorge (Castle of Saint George) and the historical neighborhood Alfama. [...]
[...] view on the Alfama, the oldest district of [...]
[...] huis te huur, op een gunstig plekje (Beco da Lapa) in de historische wijk Alfama, dichtbij de vele culturele attracties van Lissabon en (fado) restaurantjes. Kasteel São George [...]
[...] small but very charming 300 years old house is situated in a quiet area of Alfama, one of the most popular neighbourhoods of Lisbon. Nicely renovated (3 floors, a maximum of 5 [...]
[...] Alfama, at lunch time (almoço). The most famous historic and oldest neighborhood in Lisbon. I manage to get lost every time I walk there…! It’s still like a kasbah, this labyrinth of lanes (becos) paved with pebbles, tiny alleys, steps, arches, courtyards and small squares. Houses, shouldering each other, with tiles (azulejos) and wrought iron balconies with lazy cats, birds in cages and sometimes a sleeping dog…. [...]
[...] The name Alfama originates from the Arabic El Hamma and means something like ‘fountains’ or ‘baths’. The area contains many important historical attractions More….. [...]
[...] famous flea market Feira da Ladra . The Moorish influence is still present in Alfama and in Mouraria, where the Moors kept on living in the city after the conquist and gathered in [...]
[...] António was born in 1195 in Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood Alfama, where the small church of Santo António da Sé now stands. Young people write letters asking him [...]
[...] with Alfama, the Mouraria area is a muddle of very narrow streets and small squares, which gives the visitor a [...]