What can one say about Lisbon that is not an understatement? Perhaps one can start by speaking of its light… a golden light that each day, whether Summer or Winter sprays its tones over the white city buildings, or plunges into the dark blue of the Tagus river. Another possibility is to refer to its seven hills, amongst which we stroll along the narrow streets discovering the secrets of this ancient town lying along the waters that once allowed the Portuguese people to dream further and sail away in a quest for new worlds… Better yet is to talk about its continuing renewal, ever since it was first destroyed by the earthquake in 1755, and it’s rebuilding afterwards, Lisbon never stopped to evolve and permanently adapt until becoming into a modern town of the 21st century and yet keeping its small and cozy atmosphere of the past.
In order for you to taste a little bit of the above we suggest taking one of the most ancient means of transportation in Lisbon, the tram, and discover the town for yourself… Let the sun bathe you through the big windows of this vehicle which will take you to the castle hill and enjoy one of the most beautiful views over Lisbon. If this does not catch your attention just walk along the river side for a while, preferably by sun set and then try to get to Belém, the ancient quarter from where the ancient sailors sailed away, where you can experience the harmonically inhabitancy between the future and the past, just looking at two masterpieces of modern and ancient architecture; Belém Cultural Centre and Jerónimos Monastery. If you still are not convinced… just take a walk to the city centre and let yourself go… discover the lifts, the tiles, the balconies, the colours, the light, the people…
What can one say about Lisbon that is not an understatement? Come and tell us…
Geographical & Demographical Information
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and lies on the north bank of the Tagus Estuary, on the European Atlantic coast. It is the westernmost city in continental Europe. Greater Lisbon has an area of approximately 1,000 km2. The city lies more or less in the centre of the country, approximately 300 km from the Algarve in the south and 400 km from the northern border with Spain.
Lisbon offers a wide variety of options to the visitor, including beaches, countryside, mountains and areas of historical interest only a few kilometers away from the city centre.
Approximately 600,000 people live in Lisbon. However, if one includes the various satellite towns, the population of Greater Lisbon rises to approximately 1.9 million people.