Archive for the 'Azulejos' Category

Portuguese gastronomy: ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ & the Independence Palace Lisbon

There are a lot of high quality restaurants crowding the downtown streets of Lisbon, but if you like to enjoy a great Portuguese lunch located in the heart of Lisbon in a pleasant and historic environment, I can recommend ‘Chaminés do Palácio’ (’the chimneys of the Palace’).

The restaurant’s entrance and the beautiful patio of the Palácio da [...]

The Palace of Independence & the conspiracy against the Spanish occupation in 1640

The Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independece), located in Lisbon close to the Rossio Square (just near national theatre D. Maria II ), on the north side of the Largo de São Domingos , is known by two names.

It was given its original name of Palácio de Almada in honor of its former owner, the Count of [...]

Lisbon Museum of Decorative Arts, a former 17th century Palace & beautiful azulejos

In this wonderful former Palace in Lisbon (Museu-Escola de Artes Decorativas), Museum and school, it’s forbidden to make pictures. After taking a few ones a guard warned me. Suddenly, walking from room to room, 4 guards kept an eye on me. Portugal’s most important furniture collection can be viewed here: valuable wooden Portuguese, French and English furniture dating from the 15th to [...]

Charming Rua dos Sapateiros in Lisbon: traditional cafes, cheap restaurants, Art Nouveau & peep shows

In the 19th century, Baixa was Lisbon’s commercial heart, with streets named according to their trades. Rua dos Sapateiros means ‘the shoemakers’ street.

The entrance to the Rua dos Sapateiros is spanned by the decorative arch Arco do Bandeiro. This bears the name of the wealthy sponsor Pires Bandeiro who commissioned it at the end of [...]

‘Leitaria A Camponeza’, once a milkshop, a Café in original Portuguese ‘Art Nouveau’ style

If you look for a nice and quiet café apart from all the noise and traffic after walking around in the Rossio area, this 100 years old cafe is really worth it to sit down and admire the place while enjoying your drink. Leitaria ‘A Camponeza’ is located at Rua dos Sapateiros, 155/157, Lisbon

This is [...]

A restaurant in a Moorish Palace: Casa do Alentejo, hidden jewel in Lisbon’s city center

A few minutes walk from Rossio Square, a little bit hidden behind a small door in Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, there’s Casa do Alentejo: suddenly you step in an amazing Moorish palace, with an impressive courtyard!

Casa do Alentejo was created 85 years ago, as a purpose to be a meeting place for people [...]

Lisbon shopping: ‘Santos Ofícios’, a shop exclusively dedicated to Portuguese Folk Art

In 1995, three friends gathered efforts and determination to build a project which was at that time a pioneering but also a risky one: the opening of a place exclusively dedicated to the promotion of the Portuguese Folk Art. They named it ‘Santos Ofícios’, located Rua da Madalena no. 87, in Lisbon’s Baixa Pombalina. This [...]

Impressing Cabo da Roca, ‘where the land ends and the sea begins’ (a quote from Camões, Portugal’s Prince of Poets)

If your Portugal vacation takes you to Lisbon, don’t miss Cabo da Roca (Roca’s Cape), in the municipality of Sintra, 40 km from Lisbon. The magical atmosphere of the westernmost point of mainland Europe (at 9° 29.8′ W), the nearest point between the European Continent and the USA, is really worth a visit! In summertime there’s lots [...]

Walking around: Rua Barros Queiróz near Rossio Square, a real Portuguese atmosphere

Close to the famous Rossio Square, just off Largo de São Domingos, you will notice a lively street called Rua Barros Queiróz, where the locals as well as the tourists meet.

Largo de São Domingos: ‘Lisbon, City of Tolerance’. What you’ll find here is a real Portuguese atmosphere: a variety of little shops, a typical Portuguese [...]