Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest, picturesque, neighbourhood & famous tram 28

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

Alfma near Feira da Ladra azulejos

Beautiful azulejos (ancient tiles), Beco dos Loios,

Historic area Graça, near area Alfama, close to the famous Feira de Ladra (thieves market).

Alfama miradouro Tagus

Miradouro St. Luzia, famous viewpoint halfway between Sé Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge.

Nearby: viewpoint (miradouro) Portas do Sol

Tram electrico 28 Alfama

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’.

Alfama history fado restaurants

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.

Alfama Chafiraz del Rei from 1747

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

Alfama June 2008

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.

Alfama history

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.

Alfama History old people

At present some of the houses are being renovated.

Alfama history old houses

…..more about Alfama…and street guide

Lisbon 2006 Alfama overview

Beautiful Alfama area Lisbon

17 Replies to “Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest, picturesque, neighbourhood & famous tram 28”

  1. I adore Alfama. I manage to get lost there every time I go and always discover interesting places as a result 🙂

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