3H Walking Tour “Best of Lisbon”

Santa Luzia viewpoint is the most Instagramable spot of Lisbon. Built on the old wall, offers a privileged view over Alfama, the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, over the Tagus and the south bank.

The view from this viewpoint is exactly the same as the one you get from the nearby Portas do Sol viewpoint, but the place itself is much more pleasant, with the setting given by the bougainvillea and the live music.

No one can say they know the capital of Portugal without getting lost in Alfama, where Lisbon was born.

During the first millennium BC. the great civilizations of the Mediterranean (Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians) established permanent occupation in Alfama (which was not yet called that) as a support base for their navigations between the Mediterranean and northern Europe and vice versa.

In century VIII, long after the departure of the Romans, the Moors (Islamic populations of North Africa) dominated the city but were not happy to live in a Roman city and built a madina (city of North Africa) in the image of the cities of Casablanca, Marrakech or Tanger in Morocco.

During the 2nd Crusade (1147), knights from almost all of Europe, including French, German, Dutch, Italian, English and Scots carried out a siege that resulted in the fall of Lisbon to Christendom.

The area between churches of Saint Michael (with two towers) and Saint Stephan (with one tower) is the most picturesque in Alfama. The visitor who decides to join this tour in Alfama, in a safe and fun activity, will find an opportunity to take a picture in every alley and wherever they turn.

Baixa, the city of Pombal, is the flat area of Lisbon that starts at Squares of Rossio and Figueira to the north and extends south to Square of Commerce where the city opens onto Tagus river.

On November 1, 1755, the city of Lisbon was hit by a major earthquake, followed by a tsunami and a fire that lasted several days. No neighborhood in Lisbon was hit as hard as Baixa. Simultaneously with the tragedy, the historic opportunity also arose to build a modern city in the center of Lisbon.

The general plan for Baixa was drawn up in just 5 months. The royal palace of Ribeira was removed from Palace Courtyard, which was renamed Square of Commerce. The main street of Baixa became Rua Augusta, which starts at Rossio and ends at Arco Triunfal of Square of Commerce.

19th century saw many of the current buildings being built in the Pombaline style, following the model of the Baixa buildings. The emergence of Chiado as Lisbon’s sophisticated and elegant neighborhood dates from this century.

Chiado was the epicenter of Portugal in the roaring 1920s. In this area of the city, clubs, restaurants and gambling halls multiplied. Seeing and being seen as a criterion of social relevance made Lisbon society roam itself in Chiado.

In the 50 meters restricted to cars at the top of Garrett St there are several establishments that, a century ago, already had the same name and the same decoration that you can see today. Start by going to “Paris in Lisbon” to do your shopping. Then cross Garrett St for a coffee at Pastry shop “Benard”. Further up you will find another pastry shop, “Brasileira”, which was frequented by the poet Fernando Pessoa, who is immortalized in the bronze statue. Between the two pastry shops is the Hotel Borges, the oldest in Lisbon.

With a little imagination you can even travel back in time. Sit down on one of the terraces and imagine listening to the jazz-band playing Charleston as if you were in the roaring 20s.