Riverfront terrace restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, Cacilhas, September 2009

As you get off the ferry,  it takes about 15 minutes to walk along the river to Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, after passing lots of ruinous warehouses.

Abandoned and ruinous warehouses, Cacilhas (Almada), Lisbon

Cacilhas used to be a bustling area for a long long time when shipping and fishing were still major economic activities in Portugal.

Restaurant Ponto Final’s terrace at lunchtime in June

You will love the typical Portuguese menu. Fish, meat and great Portuguese wine. €20/25 a person incl. wine. Quite reasonable prices if you consider the view! If you’re not in the mood for food, just relax, order a coffee or a bottle of wine (from € 7.50) and enjoy the scenery.

‘Ponto Final’, Cacilhas Cais Ginjal 72, Cacilhas , Almada, (00351) 212 732 108. Mail:  pontofinalrest@gmail.com. Closed: Tuesday and December 21 to January 21.

Very good Portuguese cuisine. Especialidade da Casa (specialty of the house): arroz de Tamboril (rice with monkfish), Entrecosto Assado no Forno (roasted ribs) and Peixe Fresco Grelhado (grilled fresh fish). The wine list has a quality assortment of Portuguese wines. Seats: 60.

View 25 April Bridge

It can be rather windy along the river Tagus, so don’t forget a sweater in case you like to have dinner here. Or, order a bottle of wine and a starter, enjoy it outside for at least a glass, then move inside for the main dish.

A warm summer evening while the sun is fading….whow!

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ is a perfect romantic location for a great dinner overlooking Lisbon by night. Make sure that you book a table outside in advance.

The nearby restaurant ‘Atira-te ao Rio’, (Portuguese, Brasilian and international cuisine), is also a great place to enjoy your lunch or dinner! Closed: Monday.

Cacilhas and the famous Cristo Rei statue

Both restaurants are nearby the elevator to reach the Cristo Rei monument.

Ferry from Cacilhas to downtown Lisbon

During winter season in Lisbon this place is also worth a visit! But it can be rather cold and windy. (sunset video)

Authentic holiday apartment with patio in the historical part of Lisbon

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‘Hop on and hop off’ open-topped double decker bus tours are a popular way for tourists to view Lisbon city. The “River Tagus tour” offer you the the opportunity to view the areas in which most of its monuments may be found, such as the crown jewels of the Portuguese architecture in Belém.

Lisbon ’Hop on and hop off buses’: the yellow open-topped double decker tourist bus & the “River Tagus Tour’

Famous Praça da Figueira (Square of the Fig Tree) and the bronze equestrian statue representing King John (1357-1433). This lively square is nowadays an important traffic hub, with bus and metro stops, cafes and restaurants, very popular with tourists, like cafe restaurant Pastelaria Suíça, located at the nearby Rossio Square

The famous Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) near the river Tagus

This square is also the starting point for a ‘hop on hop off” historical ’Red tramcar tour (the ‘ 7 Colinas‘ hills) route . The ‘Carristur’ company has faithfully restored the interior of the trams dating from the thirthies and fourties, preserving their charm and original character. Ticket € 18, children (4-10) € 9, Lisboa card reduction € 13,50″.

ViniPortugal, free wine tasting & tourist information Sala Ogival, Lisbon, Praça do Comércio Commerce Square)

At the same square (Praça do Comércio) you can taste fine Portuguese wines for free: a very pleasant and interesting way to learn more about history and culture of Portuguese wines. More about ViniPortugal

Campo Pequeno, a monumental Moorish-style bullring, built in 1892

Bullfights, cinema, restaurants and shopping mall (seen from the yellow ‘hop on hop off’ tourist bus “River Tagus Tour’)

Park Eduardo VII  (the yellow tourist bus “River Tagus Tour’)

This beautiful park is not worth a visit for itself, but the view from here is wonderful! Fabulous blue sky and light, and the Tagus river in the background. Situated right in the middle of the city, close to Avenida da Liberdade, a lovely and luxury shopping ’avenue’, the Portuguese equivalent of the Champs Elysees in Paris. Brands like Luis Vuitton, Emporio Armani and Escada fashionable boutiques.

On the background: the famous April 25 Brigde (Ponte 25 de Abril), connecting the Lisbon city (the yellow tourist bus “River Tagus Tour’)

Lisbon old town and April 25 Bridge, view from the Cristo Rei Statue

How to get there? A wonderful idea for a trip to the other side of the river is to take a cheap ferry to Cacilhas, (very good and cheap restaurants!) and a 20 minutes walk along the river to reach the elevator of the famous Cristo Rei statue. Amazing views on downtown Lisbon!

Belém, the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)

Although most have already been said about this momument (and Belém): this place is definitely a must see! You can go up to the top of the monument (by elevator) where you enjoy wonderful views around, like the mouth of the Tagus river, the April 25 Bridge, the Jerónimos Monastery, as well as the famous Tower Torre de Belem. a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of Lisbon’s most photographed landmarks. All the sights are near each other (more information GoLisbon).

Pasteis de Belém (Lisbon’s famous custard tarts, always warm and delicious!)

No trip to Lisbon can be called a success without visiting Belém, where Portugal’s Age of Discovery began, and without enjoying a few of Lisbon’s most celebrated custard tarts in the nearby famous Pasteis de Belém, Antiga Confeitaria, Rua de Belém 84-92.

An adventurous idea for a trip to explore Lisbon is to rent a two seater GoCar.

As part of the GPS Tours Network, several exciting tours in Lisbon are available: the Baixa, for Belém (like we did), the Castelo São Jorge (Castle of Saint George), or to the Expo (Park of the Nations). More information and rental rates: website GoCar Tours

Starting point ‘hop on hop off’ city cruise bus at Praça da Figueira

Or join the yellow bus at Praça do Comércio . Official Lisbon yellow tour buses, operated by Carris (Lisbon’s bus public company). Duration tour 1,2 hours.

Departures hop on buses: every 30 minutes to join the River Tagus Tour or Olisipo Tour : you can visit the most important museums, have fun at Parque das Nações, the leisure area of Lisbon, especially for children, or visit the ZOO.

Largo do Carmo (via Santa Justa Lift), entrance to the famous Archeological Museum

Your ‘hop on hop off’ ticket is also valid on trams, the famous Santa Justa Lift to reach the wonderful Largo do Carmo,  my favorite square in Lisbon), funiculars and public buses during 24h. Adult € 15, children (4-10) € 7,50. Lisboa Card € 11.

Parque das Nações. (Park of the Nations). Yellow ‘hop on hop off’ city  tour bus Olisipo Tour). Picture: Christel Leenen

Cablecars at Expo 98, looking towards the Vasco da Gama Bridge over the River Tagus

Cais de Sodré, train to Cascais (and to Belém)

A cheaper way from the city center to g0 to Belém is by getting tram 15 (from Praça da Figueira (watch out for pickpockets!) and from Praça do Comércio ), or by train from Cais de Sodré on the Cascais Line; get out at Belém station. All the trains pass through Belém, but not all of them stop there.

Good & cheap trip idea: the legendary old and funny tram 28, a ‘must do’ tourist attraction

If you wanna get a good impression of the historical city of Lisbon, a very good and cheap idea is taking this typical little trolley, ‘elétrico 28′. This legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction in itself. It goes all around town. Of course you can hop on and hop off.

Tram 28 in Alfama, one of the oldest areas in Lisbon.  Nearby Lisbon’s legendary flea market ‘Feira da Ladra’

These small yellow trams are extremely old and funny, they go up and down through the narrow streets of Lisbon. The electric tram No. 28 departs from Martim Moniz Square in Lisbon’s historical heart (5 minutes walk from my authentic 3- bedroom apartment in Mouraria

Lisbon, tourist attraction Portas do Sol , a famous river Tagus viewpoint (miradouro)

Old tram 28 stops in the most picturesque sights of Lisbon, like this famous river and old town viewpoint. Nearby a lovely lounge terrace, restaurant, trendy and stylish bar, (weekend DJ’)s Portas do Sol

Lisbon and the Castle of Saint George

..…….and this old tram 28 also stops close to the entrance of the wonderful Castle of Saint George , for the most breathtaking views on the river Tagus and Lisbon! More……

Lunch idea: trendy hotspot  in the legendary Bairro Alto area ‘FlowerPower’ , café/restaurant .

Healthy eating amid the hustle and bustle of Lisbon’s bohemien haunt of artists and writers ‘Flowerpower’, close to the most photographed street in Lisbon and Bica funicular (from 1892)

Nearby Bairro Alto: trendy cafe/restaurant (also open for lunch) Noobai, amazing river Tagus views!

Certainly one of the favorite places of many Lisbon locals and visitors of the city. Relaxed ambience and very nice people!

‘Adamastor’ near the river Tagus

Nearby ‘Adamastor’ is a popular viewpoint (miradouro) and gathering place in Lisbon.

From this vista point you have the most breathtaking views on the Tagus river, the 25th of April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument.

Kiosk (quiosque) Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões)

The Moorish influence in Lisbon is still present, like the lovely designed old kiosks serving old-fashioned Portuguese refreshments and snacks. More about kiosks near beautiful viewpoints, favorite tourist attractions, some recommended restaurants and how to get there.

Bar Pavilhão Chines, bizarre and ‘one of a kind’

Going out & nightlife in Lisbon: 1900s ‘one of a kind’ bar Pavilhão Chines close to the legendary Bairro Alto area. One of the most interesting bars I’ve ever seen and a good start to Lisbon’s nightlife.

The legendary Bairro Alto area in Lisbon

‘A Capela’ is one of the most popular bars in Lisbon’s heart of funky bars and restaurants.

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The (normally yellow) and famous tourist attraction funicular in Bica. Artist Alexandre Farto  covered the outside of the funicular with mirror-acrylic, called it ’Espectro’  (Spectre) and pays tribute to the neighbourhood that is reflected in the lift during the journey, as if it were a film…. (From January – June 2010). Amazing!

This project  ‘Art in movement’  (“Arte em Movimento”) is part of a Cultural Program for the promotion of Public Art, which CARRIS  (bus & tram services including timetables) intends to carry out in some vehicles of its public service fleet. In 2010, the chosen vehicles were one lift (the Santa Justa) and the 3 funiculars, all of them are national monuments since 2002.

Typical Portuguese:  hanging laundry, drying in the wind.

It climbs the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo for 245 metres from the Rua Sao Paulo.

Largo de Santo Antoninho, right next to Bica’s funicular downhill starting point.

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Kiosk Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões)

Just behind Camões’ statue , close to the statue of Portugal’s famous writer and poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935),  still mobbed by many tourists nowadays ; nearby great city views from luxury hotel Bairro Alto’s roof terrace  and, one of my favorites, a cheap and traditional Portuguese restaurant ‘Casa da India’.

Small kiosk Park Principe Real

After shopping people like to take a break in this wonderful park with lots of exotic plants and trees, near Bairro Alto, posssibly one of the best (and gay) spots in Europe for a night out! Recommended: Les Mauvais Garçons , popular and ”très-chic” cafe/restaurant.  

Nearby you’ll find the  Botanical garden , one of Europe’s finest.

Kiosk Rua Dom Pedro

Rua Dom Pedro V  is a wonderful avenue for shopping. There’s lots of boutiques, traditional antique shops and art galleries.

Kiosk Largo Trindade Coelho

Small kiosk near ‘Casa da Comida’ (’ the house of food’), a new cafetaria/ restaurant in the wonderful bamboo garden of Museum São Roque. This museum and church is home to Italian art from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Small kiosk Cais do Sodré

A major bus station is sited outside the front of the Cais do Sodré station, with a Carris small kiosk selling transport passes, tickets and guides.

On the background a glimpse of Restaurant Marisqueira ‘Guarda Rio’, overlooking the river Tagus. The marisqueira (seafood) is unfailingly fresh

Cais do Sodré  is Lisbon’s major bus, metro, trainstation (‘Linha de Cascais’ , name of the train line joining Lisbon to Cascais), and ferry terminal. Recommended: beach Restaurant Peixenalinha São Pedro do Estoril

Wonderful 20 minutes ferry trip idea from here : ferry to Cacilhas at the other side of the river Tagus and how to reach the amazing Cristo Rei monument

Viewpont Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

This wonderful belvedere will give you a unique insight into the city and magnificent views on the old Moorish castle Castelo de São Jorge.

Kiosk above Lisbon’s 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 this area. Authentic 3-bedroom apartment with patio for rent in this old Moorish quarter

After browsing the market it’s a good idea to have lunch in Restaurant ‘O Panteao de Santa Clara’  just above the market, serving real Portuguese food for a good price.

‘Adamastor’, a popular gathering place in Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river, which is officially called the Miradouro de Santa Catarina.

From this vista point you have the most breathtaking views on the Tagus river, the 25th of April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument, nearby my favorite cafe/bar Noobai 

Kiosk Rua de São Paulo, near Cais do Sodré  station and, on the other side of the road,  Mercado da Ribeira (famous market near the river, since 1882), topped with a Moorish-style dome.

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Vakantie villa Pilado, Rua Gregorio da Silva , Pilado (dorp)

Het dorp Pilado grenst aan de stad Marinha Grande, bekend van de sierglas industrie, en de uitlopers van het grootste pijnbomen bos van Portugal (Pinhal do Rei), ideaal voor een picnic met de kinderen of om te fietsen.

Vakantie villa in Pilado, tuin van 1000 m2

De villa is geheel gemoderniseerd en heeft 2 verdiepingen, een garage, een heerlijke grote tuin  (1000 m2) met fruitbomen, een kippenhok, twee waterputten, een kinderzwembad en een BBQ. Grote tafel met eetstoelen en 2 relax tuinstoelen.

Eigenares van de vakantie villa in Pilado is de gastvrije Orange da Silva.

Orange da Silva spreekt ook Frans, Spaans en een beetje Engels. Orange kan eventueel een echte Portugese maaltijd voor u bereiden en bij aankomst staat een heerlijk flesje wijn in de koelkast.

Vakantie villa Pilado, nabij Marinha Grande: woonkeuken

Omdat de villa wat afgelegenligt is met een (huur) auto reizen wel noodzakelijk. In de buurt is een supermarkt,  kleine winkeltjes, een buurtcafé en een goedkoop, typisch Portugees restaurantje.

Het strand van São Pedro de Moel is een van de populairste stranden in de regio (ca. 14 km vanaf de villa).

Indeling:

Begane grond (200 m2): 2 slaapkamers, badkamer met ligbad en toilet, grote woonkeuken en veranda’s.

Vakantie villa Pilado: slaapkamer

Basement (150 m2) : woonkamer, garage voor 2 auto’s, keuken met woongedeelte en open haard, slaapkamer, grote kledingkast, douche met toilet.  Tuin (1000 m2) met fruitbomen, een grote BBQ en twee waterputten, (kinderzwembad 4 bij 5 meter, een meter diep) en een kippenhok, iedere dag verse eitjes!.

Gebruik van wasmachine, beddengoed en handdoeken (geen strandlakens) is bij de prijs inbegrepen. Centrale verwarming voor de koelere winteravonden.

Een heerlijke lunch aan het strand van São Pedro de Moel, in november, wel met jassen aan….

Prijzen:

Week € 350 met 2 personen,  3 pers. € 400, 4 pers. € 450, 5 pers. € 500, 6 pers. € 600.  Te huur vanaf 3 nachten, € 70 per nacht (bij 2 personen, meerdere pers. € 10 pp extra). De tweede week 10 % korting. Kinderkorting in gezamenlijk overleg. Excl. € 40 schoonmaak.

Bos bij de villa

Gratis gebruik van internet (eigen laptop meenemen). Aankomst tijd in principe vanaf 15:00. Vertrek: 11:00. Reservering: 20 % aanbetaling d.m.v. huurcontract incl. coulante annuleringsvoorwaarden. Gas en electriciteit zijn inclusief, babybed gratis beschikbaar.

Voor meer informatie of een reservering mail Julie Kruijs of bel 0031 653941845. Skype: juliekr1956.

Interessante plaatsen : Nazaré, 30 km, Fatima 40 km.Coimbra90 km.  Porto ligt 188 km noordelijk. Portugal accomodaties startpagina

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Who’s watching who? Picture: Abilio Leitao

The famous Oceanarium (Oceanário) in Lisbon is the largest aquarium in Europe, with over one million visitors per year. The main tank contains approximately 5000 litres of water! A remarkable but hidden world with creatures weird and wonderful. The guided tours are a powerful educational tool that covers a broad range of scientific knowledge and stimulates learning about the oceans.

Picture: Carla Robalo Martins. Himantura uarnak (Honeycomb stingray)

The Lisbon Oceanarium website (also in English) includes all the info you need about opening hours, exhibiotions, prices and how to get there. Located in Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations), at the south end of Doca dos Olivais, a wonderful area for children! The Oceanarium Center also promotes a range of sporting activities, like canoing, windsurfing and sailing for children and adults.

There’s lots of possibilities to bike, roller skate, skate or walk by the river, and there are many green spaces for playing ball.  More information and highlights

Pavilion of Knowledge. Picture Fernanda Sampaio

Also located in this Park is The Pavilion of Knowledge (Pavilhão do Conhecimento), an interactive science and technology museum that aims to make science accessible to all, stimulating experimentation and exploration of the physical world. There are interactive blocks as well as recreation and formative areas reserved for children. See, do and learn!

Located in the city center, the Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico) has one of the best zoological collections in the world: more than 2.000 animals and 350 different species approximately, lodged in areas increasingly similar to their natural habitats. Many of them come from former Portuguese colonies like Brasil and Africa. You can watch the dolphin’s bay show or feeding time for the sea lions, and ride a cable car.

Picture: Joaquim Alves Gaspar. Two Pot-bellied pigs (Sus domesticus) resting at the Lisbon Zoo

A complementary area located at the entrance of the Zoo, the “Animax’ fair, is free of charge and has a variety of rides including the carousel, the seagulls, the crazy helicopter, as well as restaurants, shops and resting areas. Website with opening times and entry costs

Parque dos Índios (Indians Park) , located in Benfica

One of the best parks for children in Lisbon with scenic views and two different areas: for younger children, aged up to 5, and for those aged 6 to 12. This is a park with a pretty landscape, offering a good place for adults to rest at the outdoor cafe. The space is wide, allowing you to watch the kids having fun. More pictures….

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The price for eacht ticket is € 20 for adults and € 10 for children.

These Tagus river boat trips are onboard of a renovated, traditional ‘Cacilheiro‘, the boats that, in former times, ferried the local population across the river. This type of ferry is called “cacilheiro” because it connects Lisbon to Cacilhas (Almada) on the south side of the river.

Praça do Comércio, June 2009

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.

Alfama and The National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional) in which important Portuguese personalities are buried, like Amalia Rodrigues, the very famous fado singer.

São Rafael ‘twin towers’

Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations) is a modern, commercial and residential area. The Vasco da Gama is a multi-story shopping centre, around 200 stores selling a full range of products. Many attractions built for the Expo ’98 remained and keep drawing visitors, such as the Oceanarium, one of the world’s biggest aquariums.

Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge) and Christo Rei (Christ the King) Statue

The enormous Christo Rei monument is built in 1959 in thanks to God for having spared Portugal during World War II, inspired by the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro. ‘God opens his arms to the city’. How to get there

Chef máquinista (engineer) João Celestina Silva and Antonio Duarte (captain)

The boats have a capacity of 279 people. Two of the four saloons are open air and all have a bar (one free drink) and tourist information available in various languages, provided by the stewards on board.

Torre de Belém

The Belém Tower was built in the early sixteenth century in the Portuguese late-Gothic style, the Manueline. This defensive, yet elegant construction has become one of the symbols of the city, a memorial to Portuguese power as it was during the Age of Discovery. In 1983, it was classified, together with the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Belém, Monument to the Discoveries

Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the famous monument that celebrates the Portuguese who took part in the Age of Discovery of the 15th and 16th centuries, located on the estuary of the Tagus river where ships departed to their often unknown destinations.

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Lisbon Marathon December 6, 2009. Finish Estadio 1° de Maio. Jurre Schöttelndreier from Holland, finishing time: 3:41!

Get yourself fit for the  Lisbon Marathon! Or, like I prefer, catch some athletic and very good looking jubilant runners ( Dan Lixandru (l) and his friend, from Bucharest, Rumania, December 2008) crossing the finishing line at Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square).

Photo: Marcelino de Almeida

Lisbon marathon website (and video). The Marathon continues being a great popular success of participation. To run the Lisbon Marathon is not only to take part in a great race but also a great chance of a better knowledge of the centenary city of Lisbon.

Photo: Marcelino de Almeida

Photo: Marcelino de Almeida

The Half Marathon (March 22, 2010) is a complementary race of the Lisbon Marathon for all those which do not have an adequate preparation for the mythical 42 kilometres and do not want to miss the event. The race starts in Almada on the south side of the 25 de Abril bridge and there’s also a mini-marathon.

Some spectators… photo Marcelino de Almeida

Of course there are also very good looking athletic women who run the marathon ….Photo: Marcelino de Almeida

Photo: Marcelino de Almeida

Other races in Portugal and How to register online

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Bikeiberia founder & manager Jorge Didier Mimoso (r) and staff Tânia Caldas or Ana Rolo will be happy to welcome you in the bikeiberia office & shop in Lisbon, Largo Corpo Santo 5 ,  the headquarters and central Bike Rental station in Baixa in the heart of Lisbon downtown. Here, travelers are able to get information about the plentiful biking possibilities in Lisbon.

Didier: “We want to share with you the parts of Portugal and Spain we know, offering some of the most unique biking experiences in the world”  bikeiberia website . ”For those who do not want to be bothered bringing their own bicycles and gear by plane, we have created special bike rental – touring packages including chosen bicycle, helmet use, front bag, rear panniers, toolkit, bike pump, spare inner tube and luggage storage service. If you like, the bikes can be delivered directly to your hotel”.

Didier:”I started bikeiberia to share with others the unique way in which cycling, both on and off road, opens up for the adventurous traveler the hidden and still intact landscapes, history and culture of remote areas of Portugal and Spain”.

“I was born in Mozambique (a former Portuguese colony, independent in 1975). Although I grew up like lots of kids loving to ride my bike in the neighborhood streets of Lisbon, it was only at university in Évora, an ancient town set in Portugal’s vast Alentejo, that I discovered the fun and potential of biking. After my study (economy) I lived and worked in England for three years, cycled there and in over fifteen other countries (a 3 months tour from Berlin to Istanbul and from Istabul to Lisbon for instance). 10 years ago I started bikeiberia”. Now Tripadvisor ranked bikeiberia (June 2009) as #1 Activity under “things to do in Lisbon”.

Assistant Haroldo Castelo Branco, bikeiberia office & shop in Lisbon

Bikeiberia Lisbon, Largo Corpo Santo 5
phone 00351 21347 0347
mobile: 00351 96242 3455,
e-mail info@bikeiberia.com

Bikeiberia has a variety of children bells available. At the moment the collection of animals is very popular: a cow, a giraffe, a parrot or a crocodile.

In de window a beautiful Vintage bike. Didier: ” They have been the same for over 40 or 50 years and it’s amazing how they are still being made! Maybe bikes got way better mechanically but this is a Vintage with its own charm! One of the most interesting things on it is the braking system, which does not work with cables or oil and the lights working with a wheel dynamo or the 3 hub gears by Sturmey Archer! The painting work also has some interesting details and I could not believe my eyes when we found out we could still get them brand new this way! Many people stops by to tell us they got one many years ago and how much it cost then, apparently over 40 years ago it could costs the huge sum of “15 bills of 100 Escudos”…This is equivalent to 7.5 Euros!!!”

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It runs from the Rua de São José (near Largo da Anunciada) to Travessa do Forno do Torel. To reach the bottom of the funicular, turn right off the Avenida da Liberdade, or, from Rossio Square, it’s a 10 minute-walk through Rua das Portas de Santo Antão.

Waiting for the driver……Lisbon has three working street funiculars: Lavra, Gloria and Bica, which allow its citizens and visitors to move to and from its hilly districts more easily. All are operated by Carris, (including timetables and funicular’s history) the Lisbon city transport undertaking.

For me, it is still a miracle!

When you turn left off the funicular, after passing Rua do Instituto Bacteriológico, there’s a lovely park, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, located on one of the 7 hills of Lisbon, the view from here is really wonderful!

Here you will be surprised by the spontaneous religious fervour of Portuguese people who have honoured the statue of doctor Sousa Martins in front of the Faculty of Medicine. Yet since the memorial was erected in 1904, it has become the focal point for a religious devotion. People who come here believe that by praying to him and asking for his intervention, they will be cured. More….

Lavra funicular hours of operation: 07:00-22:45, every day except Sunday, when the opening time is 09:00. One way ticket € 1.40.

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