Alfama is certainly the most famous historic and oldest neighborhood in Lisbon.
Beautiful azulejos (ancient tiles), Beco dos Loios,
Historic area Graça, near area Alfama, close to the famous Feira de Ladra (thieves market).
Miradouro St. Luzia, famous viewpoint halfway between Sé Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge.
Nearby: viewpoint (miradouro) Portas do Sol
Alfama famous tram ‘electrico 28’
A ‘must do’ and cheap Lisbon attraction. This legendary tram is a tourist attraction in itself. It goes all around town and you can ‘hop on hop off’.
Square near the Fado Museum, Largo do Chafariz de Dentro, a lot of small fado restaurants
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.
Chafiraz d’ El Rei, a palace built in 1747, for many years a pigeons’ home.
Nowadays this beautiful building is restored into a romantic hotel with grandeur
After the Mourish domination (7-12 century), Alfama became inhabited by the fishermen and the poor, and the neighborhood 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
Beautiful Alfama area Lisbon
I adore Alfama. I manage to get lost there every time I go and always discover interesting places as a result 🙂