June 12, historic area Mouraria Rua da Guia Lisbon: Eve of Santo António (Saint Anthony)

In June, the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints), the Lisbon nights are filled with lively festivities that take over the city’s historical center. In the ancient Alfama, Mouraria, Graça and Bairro Alto neighbourhoods it all takes place. Of course, you are welcome to join the festivities!

June 2011: Mouraria Lisbon, Santo António, Rua João do Outeiro.

Santo António (Saint Anthony), Lisbon’s most popular saint

Santo António (Saint Anthony of Padua), was a Portuguese catholic priest. Many miracles have been attributed to him and he is considered a protector of the souls of purgatory, guardian of good marriages, defender of animals, healer, and advocate of lost objects. Saint Anthony was born in Alfama (1195) near Mouraria, the oldest areas of Lisbon.

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria in June, Rua João do Outeiro 34, Lisbon

Restaurant ‘Zé da Mouraria’ : delicious typical Portuguese food and a popular tourist attraction in a former Moorish quarter of Lisbon, Mouraria. In the month of June, all the streets in the historical center are decorated with garlands and lights. My 3-bedroom apartment with patio is for rent in this area (short term rentals)

June 12 in Lisbon: Adamastor, Santa Catarina  near the Tagus River, a popular viewpoint & gathering place.

In the ancient neighbourhoods it all takes place, but this party is also held in other parts of Lisbon, like Adamastor, a popular Tagus viewpoint, with the most breathtaking views on the Tagus river, the 25th of April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument, overlooking the city of Lisbon.

Lisbon, June 12, Bairro Alto area

The entire month of June in Lisbon is devoted to the Saints festivities, but June 12 is a very special day. While walking around you see people eating and drinking in the streets. The crowds can be immense, there’s music everywhere and everyone around you is in a very good mood, a wonderful feeling! ‘

June 12, 2011. Famous Bica funicular Lisbon, a popular tourist attraction

Partying in the small streets around the famous Bica funicular, highly valued by tourists.

A cool and very popular lounge bar in this street is Bicaense, near the bars of the bohemian district of Bairro Alto , possibly one of the best spots in Europe for a night out. Not only in June, but every night hundreds of people from all over the world are drinking mojitos, caipirinhas and beer out of plastic cups in the narrow streets.

Pastelaria and restaurant “D. João I”, Rua D. Duarte 1-B , Lisbon

On June 12 the festivities in Lisbon already start around noon, and everywhere you hear music coming out of the cafes and restaurants. Even this beggar started dancing spontaneously …..people are dancing on Pimba music – a term used for a variety of popular Portuguese folk solo singers and bands whose songs are frequently driven by metaphors with sexual meanings.

Historical area Mouraria in June: Rua da Guia, Lisbon

In the month of June all the narrow streets in Lisbon’s historical areas are packed with stalls selling sangria and beer. Everywhere there’s the sizzling aroma of grilled sardines – the traditional food of the Saint Anthony celebrations are grilled sardines - but you can also go for barbecued chicken, chouriços (sausage) or pork.

June 12 Lisbon historical area : Arraial da Mouraria, dancing in the streets

There’s lots of dancing through the night. The best thing to do is just keep going and enjoy! Throughout old Lisbon there are ‘arraiais‘ (open air parties). The party goes on until dawn. More about Lisbon’s craziest night of the year in Mouraria

Mouraria Saint Anthony Lisbon - pots with manjerico (basil)

During this festival it is a tradition to offer a small pot of basil to loved ones, and in the narrow streets there are also stands where pots with manjericos (basil) are sold. Traditionally bought by boyfriends and given as a present to their girlfriends in Saint’s Anthony’s night.

Historical area Mouraria Lisbon in June: religious procession

At Avenida da Liberdade, from around 8h30pm, there will be the yearly parade, with people dressed up in beautiful costumes. There’s also the Saint Anthony’s brides. Youtube movie Saint Anthony festivities 2011

Share on Facebook

‘Pop Up’ 2010 Art Gallery Santa Catarina Palace: Artwork Tiago Chagas

Nowadays the municipality of Lisbon is the owner of the former Palace, and excellent art exhibitions are regularly held here, like in December 2010: ‘Pop Up’ Art Gallery, a urban culture international festival that challenges creators of multiple areas of artistic expression to intervene in vacant or abandoned urban spaces, giving them new life through art. The  former Palace is one of the projects, more:  Website Pop Up

Cultural agenda Lisbon

‘Pop Up’ art 2010: the former Palace’s stairs in the hall

‘Pop Up’ started in 2009 in Lisbon city, but intends to become an international platform of urban culture exchange, bringing together artists and talents from different cities around the world, aiming to promote Lisbon cultural identity in and out of doors. Youtube video

Palace Verride (known as Santa Catarina) Palace Lisbon. This year, ’Pop Up’ had “Urban Nomads” for a theme and pigeons as their icon.

The 18th- century Santa Catarina Palace’s history dates back to the first half of the 18th century. The Palace has seen various uses, a number of different owners and successive work campaigns. The Baron and Viscount of Moledos, Francisco de Paula Silva Tovar, deputy to the constitutional courts, resided there in the 1820s.

Recently the MUDE museum (art, design & fashion) housed here, nowadays located in Baixa area, really worth a visit! 

Beautiful ornamented ceilings and azulejos (Portuguese tiles)

Happily many of the original and beautiful rooms of the old Palace are still preserved, such as ornaments in the ceilings and beautiful tiles. In the 1980s, the well-known architect and painter João de Almeida, made several changes.  The Lisbon City Council purchased the palace in 2003.

Popular river Tagus viewpoint right next to the Santa Catarina Palace:  Adamastor viewpoint and Moorish kiosk (quiosque) cafe.

‘Adamastor’  is a popular viewpoint (miradouro) and gathering place in Lisbon ovelooking the river Tagus, which is officially called the Miradouro de Santa Catarina. More nostalgic Moorish kiosks near favorite tourist attractions

 ’Pop Up’ 2010 Palace Santa Catarina: artwork Tiago Chagas,  ’Don’t Panic’ Lisbon

‘Don’t Panic’ is a unique free publication directed towards young people and emerging artists in areas like music, design, fine arts, cinema, theater, literature, graffiti, dance, fashon, clubbing and many others

YouTube video ‘Don’t panic’ Lisbon

‘Pop Up’  2010: Santa Catarina Palace Lisbon: artwork Tiago Chagas

Share on Facebook

‘A Camponesa’ is located in Santa Catarina near Bairro Alto ’s nightlife, 5 minutes walk from miradouro (view spot) Santa Catarina with spectacular views across the River Tejo to the 25 April Bridge and the Cristo Rei statue.

We had a very nice time, enjoyed our meal (with 7 people), including starters and 2 bottles of good Portuguese wine (Pegões, € 5 a bottle). The bill? € 105.80.

Try their own recipe ‘Picanha no forno’ (oven-roasted meat), € 10,50. Picanha (meat from Brazil) is generally considered to be the number one cut, even better than beef fillet. Picanha (pick-ahn-yeh) is much better than a steak, meltin -in-your mouth !

Célia Pinheiro, Miguel Ferreira (owners of ‘A Camponesa’) and Nadia Morais (a niece) enjoying a delicious ’sopa de peixe’ (fish soup), just before the restaurant opens at 20:00. Sometimes a lot of friends join them, they all like Miguel’s cooking, inspired by traditional Portuguese dishes!

Miguel Ferreira: “For many years I worked as a journalist in Lisbon, but besides I always had a real passion for cooking. My wife used to work as a commercial sales specialist for Unilever. We have 2 daughters, it was a stressfull life. About 4 years ago we decided to start all over again: we opened restaurant ‘A Camponesa’. It was a huge risk, but now we are very happy!”

Restaurant ‘A Camponesa de Santa Catarina’, Rua Marechal Saldana, 23/25, Lisbon. Open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday. Saturday: open for dinner. Closed on Sundays. Phone: 00351 213464791.

Share on Facebook

Bica funicular & partytime in June

Partying in the small street around the famous Bica funicular, near Bairro Alto , one of the best spots in Europe for a night out. In June, the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints), the Lisbon nights are filled with lively festivities that take over the city’s historical center. On the eve of Saint Anthony day, June 13th, Lisbon turns into one big party! A mix of religion and sex… More….

The most photographed street in Lisbon and Bica funicular Rua Loreto. 

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.

Five minutes walk from here is a beautiful viewpoint over the River Tagus: ‘Adamastor’, a popular gathering place in Lisbon, which is officially called the  ‘Miradouro de Santa Catarina’ .

Just below the small Adamastor square, you will find the fantastic terraces of cafe/ bar Cafe Noobai , certainly one of the favourite places of many Lisbon locals and visitors of the city!

Share on Facebook

‘Adamastor‘ or Miradouro de Santa Catarina ( More information on this website) is one of the favourite places of many Lisbon locals and visitors, and also the nearby cafe/restaurant Noobai.

Close to Miradouro de Santa Catarina you can go for a walk to the waterfront of the Tejo river. Rua de Santa Catarina in the afternoon, a typical Lisbon street.

A very smart way to park your car in the narrow streets of Lisbon!

View on the Tagus River from Rua Fernandes Tomas

At the end of Rua Fernandes Tomas towards the river you cross Rua Boa Vista (Street with a beautiful view), a lively street with lots of shops, typical Portuguese restaurants and bars.

Avenida 24 de Julho, just in front of the river Tejo. The beautiful building of the Mercado do Ribeira (market near the river, since 1882) is topped with a Moorish-style dome. This market is worth a visit! ‘from hot ‘piri-piri to funeral flowers’

On the waterfront, near Cais do Sodré. Women are selling fresh fruit.

The river Tejo, Cais do Sodré , Lisbon’s major bus, metro, trainstation and ferry terminal to Cacilhas, Seixal, Montijo and ferries to Trafaria and Porto Brandão (near the white and unspoilt beaches of Caparica).

Share on Facebook

Cafe Noobai, view from the wonderful terrace overlooking the Tagus River

This bar and restaurant in Lisbon is certainly worth a visit because of the wonderful view over the Tagus (Tejo) river side, the relaxed ambience and the nice people. You will find yourself coming back to this place every day after the first visit.

Noobai: a great place for watching the sunset on a warm evening

You can bring your laptop, there’s a wifi connection you can use and there’s salad’s, sandwiches and soups, special teas and fresh juices. And of course caipirinha’s.

Noobai is excellent to cool off after a hot summer’s day. In winter you can sit with a fleece blanket on the terrace.

The owners of the place are Susana and Edy and many regular visitors are friends.

The name Noobai comes from ‘Nu bai’ which means ‘we go’ in the creole dialect from Cabo Verde, a former colony of Portugal

Sometimes on Sundays there are DJ’s playing relaxed tunes on the terrace.

Noobai is good fur a lunch or to get things started before moving on to nearby bars in Bica or Bairro Alto

Cafe/restaurant Noobai

Noobai terrace overlooking the river Tagus near Adamastor

Mail: info@noobaicafe.com

Telf.: 21 346 50 14. Timetable: 12 am > 12 pm.  Sunday 12am > 8 pm. Closed on Monday.

Share on Facebook

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

Beautiful boys! There is a small terrace with a bar serving drinks and toasted sandwiches. Around the terrace you’ll find an interesting mixture of ‘alternative’ Lisbon people and their dogs.

The name Adamastor is chosen because of the large stone statue of the mythical figure ‘Adamastor’ which presides over the space.

Adamastor is a Greek-type mythological character invented by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem Os Lusíadas (first printed in 1572), as a symbol of the forces of nature Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries. Camões gave his creation a history as one of the Gigantes of Greek mythology who had been spurned by Thetis, now appearing in the form of a threatening stormcloud to Vasco da Gama and threatening ruin to anyone hardy enough to pass the Cape and penetrate the Indian Ocean, which was Adamaster’s domain. Adamastor became the Spirit of the Cape, a hideous phantom of unearthly pallor.

Adamastor Lisbon: a sunny Sunday in February

Just below of the small Adamastor square, you will find the fantastic terraces of bar ‘noobai‘. Definitely worth a visit!

Share on Facebook