Terrace ‘Portas do Sol’ (Gates to the Sun) has opened his doors in October 2009, in Lisbon’s historical center, close to the famous viewpoint (miradouro) with the same name, at Largo das Portas do Sol. A new terrace coffee , cocktail bar and restaurant, designed in a way to make full use of its exceptional location. The lounge [...]
This remarkable cemetery is really an interesting place to visit. Famous Portuguese personalities are buried here, mainly actors, singers, writers, painters and television presenters. The mortal remains of Amália Rodrigues, the famous fado artist, were transferred to the National Pantheon in Lisbon (under enormous pressure from her admirers and a change in the law requiring a [...]
Fado is Portugal’s most well known music. Traditionally, the fado houses in Portugal are popular and a meeting spot for families and friends. In general: stay away in Lisbon from practically all fado places in Bairro Alto. They are too touristy and the quality not always worth the high prices, a tourist trap! ‘Vai Tu’ is a local community group. [...]
The funiculars Bica, Gloria and Lavra in Lisbon taking you up to spectacular viewpoints (miradouros). 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 [...]
MUDE Museum is really worth a visit! Opened in May 2009 in Baixa, it has already received more than 75,000 visitors. The fashion collection contains work by famous designers like Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain and Paco Rabanne. The Collection results of the Francisco Capelo’s work and dedication, started in the 1990s, with more than 1,200 design [...]
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 [...]
The beautiful Palácio da Independência (Palace of Independence), 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 [...]
Teatro Nacional Doña Maria II has a strange history, like a lot of historical buildings in Lisbon. It was built on the ruins of one of the city’s finest buildings, the Palácio dos Estaus, which had burned down and which had housed the court of the Holy Inquisition. The liberal revolution and the end of [...]
Behind one of the most famous museums in Lisbon, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, is a wonderful, a bit hidden garden overlooking the Tagus River; there’s also a small self service restaurant. From this beautiful garden a marvelous view across the Alcântara harbor area to the Tagus can be enjoyed. Open from Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00. It’s really worth [...]
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 [...]
