The Lisbon Connection

Alfama is certainly the most famous historic and oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon.

Beautiful azulejos (ancient tiles), near Feira de Ladra (thieves market).

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.

Faded elegance: Chafiraz del Rei, a palace built in 1747, nowadays a pigeons’ home

After the Mourisch 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.