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Belem
Belem is most famous for the Belem Tower and the Monument of Discoveries, but also the Pasteis de Belem (Rua de Belem) for delicious, world-famous custard tarts (just a short walk away from the quirky Museum of Coaches). Also worth checking out is the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery (Praca do Imperio), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Belém Cultural Center
The massive Belem Cultural Center offers over a million square feet of space for a conference center, performing arts halls and exhibition galleries. The center often hosts performances with a range of artistries such as theater, dance, jazz and opera.
Belem Tower
Considered to be one of the main works of the Portuguese late Gothic style, the imposing Belem Tower is a must-see while in Lisbon. Built from rare, local limestone, the tower was commissioned by King John II in the early 16th century and is considered one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Open to the public, the tower can be climbed to the top, where visitors will catch beautiful views of the river.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Carmo Convent
Located in the center of the city in Chiado, the ruins of the Carmo convent offer a striking legacy of the massive earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the map in 1755. Originally built in 1389, the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was destroyed by the magnitude 9 earthquake; the Gothic complex’s roof caved in, leaving only its pillars and arches. Most of the city was eventually rebuilt (with seismically robust edifices, of course), but this site — which was the largest church in the capital at the time of the tragedy — was purposefully left roofless as a reminder of the natural disaster. Today, in addition to the remains of the nave open to the sky, you can visit the Carmo Archaeological Museum with a collection of tombs (including King Ferdinand I’s), 13th-century coins, South American mummies, and other archeological bits and bobs.
Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
Designed in red concrete by Pritzker Prize-winner Eduardo Souto de Moura, the museum is dedicated to artist Paula Rego. Across seven rooms, visitors can view a collection of Rego's drawings and paintings (many of which are based on fairy tales or stories). Sometimes disturbing, sometimes surreal Rego wove politics and religion into many of her artistic works.
Castelo de São Jorge
Overlooking the city of Lisbon, this Moorish castle dates back to the 10th century. As legend has it, the Portuguese were only able to reclaim the castle during the Crusades when a young knight noticed one of the castle doors was open. He threw his body into the entranceway, preventing the Moors from shutting it and allowing Christian soldiers to flood the castle and reclaim the city. Housing the royal family at periods while Portugal was a monarchy, the castle is now open to the public and houses an enthralling exhibit on Lisbon’s history.
Day Trip: Évora
Elevador de Santa Justa
Lisbon, with its hilly terrain and steep streets, has always presented accessibility problems. In 1874, civil engineer Roberto Armentio presented a revolutionary idea: build a lift connecting the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Carmo Square. His concept was an instant hit and the lift was reopened in 2006 after being closed for repairs during its centennial birthday.
FRESS Museum of Decorative Arts
Igreja de São Roque
One of the first Jesuit churches in the world, the Igreja de Sao Roque is worth a visit. Decorated with ornate tiles from Seville’s Triana district, the church houses eight chapels, each more gorgeous than the next.
Igreja São Domingos (Church of Saint Domingo)
Jerónimos Monastery
This former monastery in Belem has some of the most beautiful Late Gothic architecture in Lisbon with an intricate cloister.
LX Factory
A former mid-19th-century complex of factories and manufacturing outlets, LX Factory is today a reinvented compound consisting of restaurants, cafés, shops and markets. With buildings adorned with fascinating graffiti, locals and tourists mingling, excellent shopping and delicious bites, this is a not-to-be-missed aspect of today’s Lisbon.
MAAT
Monument of Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)
Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Museum of Coaches
Oceanário de Lisbo
Palácio dos Marqueses da Fronteira
Povo (Fado bar)
Visit this intimate tavern to listen to Fado (the soulful guitar street music indigenous to Portugal) while savoring traditional Portuguese cuisine.
Praça do Comércio
Rossio Square
Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral)
The oldest church in the city, the Roman-Catholic Lisbon cathedral is an amalgam of many architectural styles. Impacted by multiple earthquakes, Sé de Lisbon has been rebuilt throughout the centuries and different parts of the grand cathedral reflect elements of the Romanesque, Gothic, neoclassical and Rococo.
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