Designer Alberto Gourgel Lisbon: unique pieces, atelier & shop
Close to tourist attraction fleamarket Feira da Ladra in Lisbon there’s the studio of designer Alberto Gourgel.
Where? Rua Salvador 83 , Lisbon
January 2023
Designer Alberto Gourgel’s atelier in Lisbon
January 2023: atelier designer Alberto Gourgel in Lisbon & Fernanda Vasconselos
Alberto Gourgel was born in Angola, a Portuguese colony from the 16th century to 1975. ” I studied in a boarding school in Angola, but due to economical problems my brother and I moved to Lisbon in 1983. Being a kid, I already had a lot of creative ideas”.
2008: Market ‘A Feira da Ladra‘ (Lisbon’s famous flea market)
Original Portuguese magazines
Alberto Gourgel & vintage suitcases decorated with original vintage Portuguese magazines.
Atelier Alberto Gourgel and Spanish photographer Lluís Salvadó Icart
You can find Alberto and his beautiful creations in his atelier/shop quite near the market:
Legendary market in Lisbon: Feira da Ladra
Alberto ( in 2008): ”The last years, I’m in to ‘vintage’, and I’m fascinated with the beautiful 20th Century Portuguese ‘vogue’ magazines. It’s not easy finding them, sometimes I’m lucky in a small museum or in very old bookshops”.
Alberto Gourgel
Alberto: “The vernis is made by hand, an ancient procedure. It takes a lot of time because it’s very important to keep the original colors”. Besides Alberto decorates posters, walls, doors and room separators.
Alberto Gourgel
Tourists from all over the world
Flea market “Feira da Ladra” (Campo de Santa Clara) is visited by lots of tourists from all over the world. The market in Alfama dates back around 800 years, though it may have been named ‘Feira da Ladra’ as late as the 17th century.
2009: Alberto Gourgel , Feira da Ladra Lisbon
‘Biombo’ ( a room separator) created by Alberto Gourgel. Prices from 75- 125 euro.
A creation of Alberto Gourgel in my house in Lisbon
Alberto’s work is also for sale in some antique shops in Lisbon and in loja (shop) ‘A Vida Portuguesa’. Owner is Catarina Portas. She has a passion for Portuguese identity, and everyday Catarina brings objects of the past back to life to inhabit modern-day homes.
Rua Anchieta 11, Chiado Lisbon
Fleamarket Feira da Ladra, January 2019
Alberto Gourgel & friend Margaretha de Vrieze
March 2021: unique lamp in my apartment in area Graça Lisbon
Alberto Gourgel Atelier / vintage shop
Rua Salvador 83 , Lisbon Facebook
algourgel@gmail.com – (00351) 962480996
Lovely Portuguese ceramics shop at Lisbon’s fleamarket: ‘Armazém das Caldas’
There’s a store where you step into Lisbon’s famous fleamarket, ‘Armazém das Caldas’. The traditional Portuguese ceramics and the warm service of the owners makes me feel like buying a lot.. !
April 10 2021 : Portuguese ceramic shop: ‘Armazém das Caldas’, Campo de Santa Clara 112, at the fleamarket in Lisbon
Armazém (lit. warehouse) das Caldas opened his doors in November 2014, selling traditional Portuguese ceramics from Caldas da Rainha, the ‘capital’ of portuguese pottery, popularized by artist and designer Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. (also known for his illustrations, caricatures and sculptures).
Portuguese ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon, November 2019
People who visit Lisbon a few days, usually like strolling through the fleamarket (Feira da Ladra, lit. thieves market), where you can find this lovely little shop.
I heard Chinese, Russian- or French people say: ‘How wonderful, but how do we get all this into our suitcase?’
Portuguese traditional ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ , located at the fleamarket in Lisbon, November 2019
The shelves are full of crockery, tableware and decorative objects, in an explosion of colors and iconic products such as pumpkins, cabbages, swallows, roosters, frogs, lizards, sardines and hanging codfish.
Portuguese traditional ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’, Lisbon
June 8, 2019. Picture: Christel Leenen
Designer Bordalo Pinheiro had a great sense of humor.. 😉 many of his designs, for example the collection of cabbage leaf dinnerware, are very funny…. !
Portuguese traditional ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon & swallow nest (€ 30)
Swallow nest (andorinha): symbol of loyalty and love
In 1891 designer Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro decided to produce a set of ceramic pieces that looked like swallows. They integrated into Portuguese homes and became a symbol for a Portuguese house which lives on still today. Why it had such a massive success? It represents family, loyalty and love! 🙂
Portuguese traditional ceramics Lisbon: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ , hanging salted codfish (bacalhau, € 25)
Dried and salted codfish (bacalhau), a faithful friend (fiel amigo) & history
The Portuguese adore codfish and it’s said that are 365 different ways to cook it…one recipe for each day of the year!
Portuguese traditional ceramics Lisbon: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ & designer Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
There’s a very long history with Portugal & codfish: shortly after Columbus (about 500 years ago) discovered America, the Portuguese were fishing for cod near NewFoundland. More…….
Portuguese ceramics Lisbon: ‘Armazém das Caldas’, rooster (galinha, € 35)
The legend of the ‘good luck’ rooster (Galo de Barcelos): a national symbol of Portugal
If you visit Lisbon you see brightly coloured roosters in all souvenir shops in all kind of variations and sizes. According to the legend, it brings you good luck, but you must receive it as a gift…
Portuguese traditional ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon, November 2019
YouTube – The legend of the Galo de Barcelos has been passed from generation to generation and while the stories differ, the ending is always the same.
Portuguese ceramics: ‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon, sardines (sardinhas)
Grilled sardines (sardinhas) & party time in June: Feast days of the popular saints
Sardines play an important role in Portuguese culture. In the month of June traditionally millions of big and tasty sardines (sardinhas) are grilled outdoors. The streets of the historical areas in Lisbon are filled with a delicious smell (but also the smoke!) 😉
On the eve of Saint Anthony’s day, June 12, Lisbon turns into one big party!
‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon, my favorite: crockery in beautiful soft colours
‘Armazém das Caldas’ Lisbon
Campo de Santa Clara, 112
Open from 11:00 – 19:00 (also on Sunday). Closed: Monday & Wednesday
Tuesdays and Saturdays (fleamarket days): open from 09:00 – 19:00
www.facebook.com/armazemdascaldas
Fleamarket Lisbon, Alfama district. View from ‘Armazém das Caldas’ more…..
Kiosk cafe ‘Clara Clara’ Lisbon: Tagus river view garden & children playground
The ‘Clara Clara’ Cafe in Alfama Lisbon is a kiosk in the garden-terrace of (Santa Clara), overlooking the Tagus (Tejo) River and the National Pantheon (Church of Santa Engracia).
‘Clara Clara’ kiosk cafe in the heart of fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon
Lovely & quiet garden
Summer, 2015. This small and quiet garden is a nice place to sit down and relax after browsing the legendary fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon or after visiting the nearby National Pantheon , in which important Portuguese personalities are buried.
April 29, 2021: cafe ‘Clara Clara’ terrace Lisbon
This lovely small garden was built in 1862. It provides a panoramic view of the Tagus River. Clara Clara Cafe presents complementary activities such as music or entertainment for kids . A little further down, there is a playground.
Kiosk cafe ‘Clara Clara’ Lisbon & Tagus river view december 2021
The cafe offers coffee, (bica), tea (chá) and Portuguese wines such as Vinho Verde (green wine), beer (imperial) and lemonade, fresh fruit shakes or a sandwich.
Cafe Clara Clara & a part of the garden overlooking the river Tagus
An inviting terrace in summertime: the kiosk cafe offers food and drinks – fresh seasonal products – with a careful selection of cheeses and wines, at tables under the trees in summertime.
Clara Clara cafe in June, the kiosk is decorated with garlands (Feast Days of the Popular Saints)
This beautiful garden was named after Pedro Amaral Boto Machado, a Portuguese Republican politician and governor (from May 1913 till May 1915) of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, discovered and claimed by Portugal in the 1470s. Independence was granted on July 1975.
Clara Clara Cafe is open daily from 10:00 AM to midnight. Easy to reach by old tram 28.
Clara Clara Cafe in wintertime (december)
In winter season the cafe offers heaters and blankets. Tea, hot chocolate or a Vinho Quente (hot red mulled wine) . The scones and hot croissants already have enough fans, as well as the chocolate muffins.
In Lisbon you can still find a lot of nostalgic Moorish kiosks cafes
The garden is surrounded by the flea market every Tuesday and Saturday
Fleamarket Feira da Ladra, Lisbon (every Tuesday and Saturday from dusk till dawn),
Lisbon’s legendary flea market Feira da Ladra & Ronaldo’s sexy underwear
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama at Campo de Santa Clara , is Lisbons legendary flea market, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. More or less it means ‘market of thieves’. You should take this quite literally and keep an eye on your wallet .
Fleamarket ‘Feira da Ladra’ in Lisbon & ceramics shop ‘Armazem das Caldas‘ 2022 (worth a visit!)
If you are looking for buying ‘opportunities’, or things that fell of a lorry, make sure you go there early, cause like on all flea markets, the good stuff is sold first.
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon: famous fleamarket
Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. It’s part of the game and if you don’t you’ll pay far too much. The market is held every Tuesday and Saturday, from dawn to dusk.
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon: famous fleamarket
This nice Portuguese lady speaks French and English. Good stuff!
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon: famous fleamarket, January 2019
Alberto Gourgel , designer & Margarethe de Vrieze
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon: famous fleamarket
December in Lisbon: 18 degrees and these dogs wear hand-knitted sweaters 😉 More about Dogs in Lisbon
Esta e do Ronaldo (‘This one is Ronaldo’s’) and ‘this one is Eusebio’s’.
Cristiano Ronaldo & underwear
Maybe Portugal’s famous soccer star and sexy sportsman Cristiano Ronaldo has swapped his hotpants here for something more erotical than Armani’s underwear 😉
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon: famous fleamarket
Michael Jackson‘s bestselling album of all time, ‘Thriller’. Price 50 euro, but you can always try to negotiate 😉
‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama Lisbon:
Fleamarket with lots of second hand stuff: it’s always fun to stroll around 🙂
Friend and tourist guide Josephine Lucassen & children Frederico and Alicia, February 2016
For a small fee anyone who wants can offer his stuff on this market.
Fleamarket Feira da Ladra Lisbon: Loek Polack & Ans de Graaf 🙂
Fleamarket easy to reach by tram 28
The best way to enter Feira de Ladra is through the arch ‘Arco de São Vicente’ where tram 28 stops.
Feira da Ladra and the nearby National Pantheon
Important Portugese personalities are buried in the National Pantheon , like f.e. Amalia Rodrigues, the famous fado singer.
Cafe/terrace ‘O Panteao’ near the fleamarket June 2018
Popular restaurant with a sunny terrace near the fleamarket ‘O Panteao’ : cheap and good!
Popular Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao’ Lisbon: terrace, good local food & fleamarket
After browsing Lisbon’s famous flea market Feira da Ladra, it’s a good idea to enjoy a lunch in Restaurant ‘O Panteao’ (Pantheon), located above the market. One of my favorite places in Lisbon 🙂
Terrace cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon
Legendary fleamarket Lisbon
From the terrace you can see a part of Lisbon’s legendary fleamarket, and the Pantheon, in which important Portugese personalities are buried, like f.e. Amalia Rodrigues, the famous fado singer.
May 2021: no lockdown anymore in Lisbon! & friend Margriet 🙂
This popular restaurant serves real Portugese food for a good price (less than 15 euro).
Restaurant ‘O Panteao de Santa Clara’ near the legendary flea market
Former palace & conspiracy
The beautiful building is a former palace. About 300 years ago a well-to-do and important Italian diplomat, marquis Polucci di Calboli, and his family lived here. The story tells about a conspiracy, the fact is that the family disappeared and a lot of beautiful art, collected for generations, was robbed.
Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon
Traditional Portuguese cooking – excellent food for a good price
If you are not too hungry ask for “meia dose” (half serving). Traditional Portuguese cooking – excellent food. Price: less than 15 €. From the restaurant you can see the dome of The Pantheon.
Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon January ’17
Ths place is one of my favorites. Our lunch (almoço):
Gambas com alho (prawns with garlic) € 9.50, copo de vinho branco (glass of white wine) € 1.00. Caril de frango (chicken curry) € 6.90. Agua (small bottle of water) € 1.10, espresso/cafe € 0.80
Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon June 2018
It’s really fun enjoying a lunch on the terrace overlooking the hustle and bustle of the fleamarket, or a quick nap 😉
Near the restaurant: legendary fleamarket Feira da Ladra Lisbon
If you are looking for buying ‘opportunities’, or things that ‘fell of a lorry’, make sure you go there early, cause like on all flea markets, the good stuff is sold first
Cafe/restaurant ‘O Panteao (Pantheon) de Santa Clara’ Lisbon
Restaurant owners Armando Pereira Antunes, his wife Maria Guilherina and the very friendly waiter Celso. Campo Santa Clara 146-A, Lisbon , easy to reach with the legendary tram 28, a ´must do´ Lisbon attraction
The former palace near the fleamarket in Lisbon
Restaurant Grelhador de Alfama Lisbon & owner Germano’s home-produced wine
Historic area Alfama in Lisbon can be described as the heart of tradition. It still remains characteristic, however in summertime it can be too crowdy…
Senhor Graciano Germano, owner of restaurant Grelhador de Alfama Lisbon in wintertime & friend Alexandra Tops, November 2019
Area Alfama, Rua de Remedios Lisbon
Delicious aroma in the streets
In Rua de Remedios in Lisbon there’re many restaurants to choose from. In the narrow streets you smell the delicious aroma curling up from the grills 🙂
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon
Area Alfama in Lisbon certainly is the most famous historic and oldest neighborhood, a narrowed maze of streets with many fado restaurants and pictoresque houses.
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon & lovely interior
Mainly visitors from all over the world walk around in area Alfama, nowadays it’s a very popular historic neighborhood. You hardly hear people speaking Portuguese..
Authentic Portuguese restaurants with local priced dishes are not easy to find.
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon: dish of the day: leitão Grelhado (grilled pig)
We were enticed by the 8 € for the dish of the day (leitão grelhado , grilled pig), but a glass of house wine is 3.50 € (home-produced, very good taste). Unrequested starter: 4.50 € for 5 slices of chouriço (spicy sausage) 🙁
The bill came to 40 € (2 people, incl. bread, water & dessert: mousse manga). No ATM, only cash.
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon, November 2019
Unrequested starter dishes: typical Portuguese
You have to pay for starters like bread, butter, chouriço, cheese and often olives, tuna or sardine paste, or shrimps (camarão).
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon & friendly owner sr. Germano
Those starters are not free, feel free not to touch them and they will not be charged on your bill.
You won’t pay for starters if you don’t eat them, the waiter will take them away (não, obrigado): ‘No thank you’.
Restaurant Grelhador (Grill) de Alfama in Lisbon & home produced wine
Owner Graciano Germano and his wife are very friendly. The bill was not as painful as it could have been in this area. Restaurant owner Sr. Germano took the time to tell us the story about their home-produced wine.
Then we could buy 2 bottles of wine for a friendly price 🙂
Traditional Portuguese restaurant Grelhador de Alfama, Lisbon
Restaurant Grelhador de Alfama
Rua de Remedios 135-137
Lisbon
Facebook
Closed on Sunday. Without ATM, only cash
Tram 28 Lisbon Martim Moniz: long lines, best stops & pickpockets
Popular and legendary tram 28, (eléctrico 28) is a tourist attraction in itself. It goes all around town and you can hop on and hop off. Long lines during the day (from 17:00-18:00 is a good idea!)
Tram (‘eléctrico 28’), Alfama. Starting point: square Praça Martim Moniz
STOPS
It passes the Saint George’s (São Jorge) castle , one of the main historical touristic sites of Lisbon, the famous viewpoint (miradouro) Portas do Sol (Gates to the sun) and the legendary fleamarket ‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama, Graça, Mouraria, Bairro Alto, (Lisbon’s bohemien haunt of artists and writers, and posssibly one of the best spots in Europe for a night out). Last stop: Cemetery ‘Prazeres’ (Cemetery of ‘Pleasures’), really worth a visit!
Tram 28, Largo Portas do Sol
Famous viewpoint & tourist attraction, on the background Museum of Decorative Arts, really worth a visit!
Starting point tram 28, 2018
Square Praça Martim Moniz & long lines of people waiting….
Pickpockets, take care!
Tram 28 is very popular with tourists & prime pickpocket territory! Take care! Leave your bag in the hotel/apartment, just take some money with you in your pocket !
Open air elevator square Martim Moniz near starting point tram 28
Open air elevator connecting Martim Moniz square to the streets around St George Castle
Hop on hop off
Buy the 24-hour ticket that will allow you to hop on and off whenever you want on all trams, buses, and subway lines.
Cost: around 4 euros.
Alternative idea: oficial sightseeing RED TRAM TOUR
How to avoid long lines TRAM 28 & official sightseeing Red Tram Tour Lisbon
The number of tourists has been increased since a few years, which means tram 28 route is mostly fully packed.
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The RED TRAM is the official sightseeing tram, which covers the same neighborhoods, a ticket is more expensive, but you’re always guaranteed to have a seat.
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Starting point & tickets : square Praça do Comércio
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ALTERNATIVE GREEN TRAM & STOPS
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Starting point & tickets Praça da Figueira Lisbon
The antique GREEN trams are older than the trams on tram 28
The tram departs from Praça da Figueira and passes Lisbon’s oldest Cathedral Sé de Lisboa, famous viewpoint Portas do Sol, near the Castle (Castelo) of Saint George, through the streets of historical areas Alfama and Graça
There ‘s English and Portuguese tour commentary without the need for headsets.
Starting point tram 28, square Praça Martim Moniz
Alfama. Tram 28 is increasingly as popular with pickpockets as it is with tourists.
More info about tram 28, stops and useful tips: Seeing Lisbon through tram 28
Video tram 28 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YiHO5jZYY4
Tram 28, Lisbon and Christmas, Praça da Figueira
The average intervals between each one is 15 minutes and the entire trip takes between 40 minutes and one hour (at a maximum speed of 50km per hour). All stops vintage tram 28
Tram 28, near Lisbon’s legendary flea market ‘Feira da Ladra’
Besides: a free ride, tram 12 Mouraria
Tram 28 , Lisbon
Lisbon’s historical center & hanging laundry drying in the wind
Typical Portuguese is the hanging laundry, drying in the wind. In the narrow labyrinth of cobbled alleys of Lisbon’s ancient center it’s very nice to walk around 🙂
Restaurant Solar do Duque. Calcada do Duque
Calcada do Duque is a street made of hundreds of stairs to bohemien area Bairro Alto, lined with lots of traditional Portuguese restaurants, near Largo Duque de Cadaval, a square full of open-air cafes near the beautiful Rossio Station.
Around the Castle of St. Jorge (Castelo de São Jorge)
Tiny and partially restored ancient neighborhood of Santa Cruz do Castelo , is one of the most picturesque parts of Lisbon.
Mouraria, historical part of Lisbon
City center historical area Mouraria (this laundry is not mine) 😉
Mouraria, Rua dos Cavaleiros.
From here, you can walk to a beautiful viewpoint over the city, Miradouro da Graça.
Bairro Alto Lisbon, a wonderful area for a night out!
Many older people still wash by hand..
During daytime, the famous Bairro is a very quiet district, it’s really worth it to walk around: trendy shops, art galleries and fashion. At night, bars suddenly appear everywhere from behind the shutter doors.
Quite close to the historic Alfama neighborhood
Very nice street to walk around at Lisbon’ city center is Rua dos Bacalhoeiros (street of the cod fish sellers).
Alfama (more…..)
Nostalgic Moorish kiosks in Lisbon, gathering places & Portuguese snacks
On August 6, 711 Lisbon was taken by the Moors, 400 years later the city returned to Christian rule. Nowadays the Moorish influence is still present, like the nostalgic kiosks (quiosque), serving traditional Portuguese refreshments and snacks.
Kiosk Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões), Lisbon
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 Lisbon 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!
Nearby you’ll find the Botanical garden , one of Europe’s finest!
Lisbon 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.
Lisbon 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, Lisbon
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.
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.
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
Lisbon 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 areas Alfama and in Mouraria, where the Moors kept on living in the city after the conquist and gathered in this area.
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.
Kiosk river Tagus viewpoint Miradoura de Santa Catarina. Lisbon
‘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 Lisbon
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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