A city break to Lisbon is not complete without a night with fado, the melancholy Portuguese music. Avoid most of the Fado houses in area Bairro Alto; what you’ll hear has nothing to do with pure fado. You pay too much, and also the food is too overprized! Good fado has its home in historical areas Alfama or […]
Lisbon in June: wine, sangria, beer, the smell of grilled sardines, mojitos, caipirinhas, fado, pimba music and lots of people eating, drinking and dancing in the streets of the historical areas. On the eve of Saint Anthony day (June 13), Lisbon turns into a huge open air party! June 12, party time! Historic area Mouraria Rua da […]
Artist Carlos Fernandez was born and raised in Mouraria, a historic (old Moorish) down town area in Lisbon. Together with Alfama, the Mouraria area is a muddle of very narrow streets and small squares, which gives the visitor a glimpse of a forgotten age. Mouraria, Lisbon: nostalgic drawing by Carlos Fernandez Carlos Fernandez earns his […]
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 month of June is party time in Lisbon! One of Portugal’s most popular saints, Santo António (Saint Anthony of Padua), was a Fransiscan friar canised by the Catholic Church in record time, one year after his death (on June 13, 1232). Many miracles have been attributed to him and he is considered a protector […]
Suckling pig has been a delicacy since ancient times. In many European countries it’s a traditional Christmas entrée; the dish is usually reserved for special occasions. Traditionally it is roasted. A real speciality in Portugal, known as leitão assado a lenha. Window dressing Pasteleria ‘A Merendinha’ Lisbon Suckling pig is a young pig that has only fed on […]
The unmistakable smell of roasted chestnuts (castanhas assadas) is announcing autumn’ s arrival in Portugal. ‘Quentes e boas’! ‘(Get’ em hot!). This cry goes out on the Lisbon streets. ‘Hot and good, a dozen for € 2“. Much to the chagrin of many, the traditional paper cone made out of the Yellow Papers has been replaced by […]
Already in October Lisbon is busy decorating the streets and the trees. Thousands of lovely colourful Christmas lights decorate the city, from Rossio and the Baixa/Chiado downton area to the Avenida Novas and beyond to Belém. It is said that, due to the financial crisis, the banks stopped sponsoring the Christmas decorations. Mouraria, in December, church […]
In June, the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints), the Lisbon nights are filled with lively festivities, parades and live music that take over the city’s historical center. The main Saints’ days are for Antonio (June 12-13), John (June 23-24) and Peter (June 28-29). Program ‘Festas de Lisboa’ […]
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 Lisbon turns into one big party! More: Lisbon’s craziest night in Mouraria1 Bica, near Bairro Alto – partying in […]
