Come Fall in Love With Lisbon

With its cobblestone alleys, trams, centuries-old churches, hand-painted ceramic tiles, and buildings in pastel shades with quaint balconies, this city is sure to fascinate travellers who love the old-world charm.

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Are you a traveller who loves to revel in a city that takes pride in its old-world charm with all its trappings? Then you will definitely fall in love with Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Spread across seven hills just like its Italian counterpart, Rome, Lisboa, as the city is called in Portuguese, beckons visitors with its rich history, art, music and gourmet laced with a vintage charm that no one can resist. Cobblestone alleys, trams, centuries-old churches and monasteries adorned with hand-painted ceramic tiles and buildings in pastel shades with quaint balconies overlooking the streets, this city is sure to fascinate you with its timelessness.

Located on the western part of the Iberian Peninsula on the shore of the fag end of the Tagus River before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is Europe’s second-oldest capital city after Athens.

A Toast to the Age of Discoveries

Ideally, the tour of Lisbon should begin at the Belem Tower, a 16thcentury fortification built in the Manueline and Moorish styles on the shore of the Tagus. It is a proud testament to the crucial role played by Portugal in Europe’s Age of Discoveries. The tower is situated at the point where Portuguese ships returned home with spices and riches from India and other destinations in the Orient. At a stone’s throw is the imposing St Jeronimos Monastery, which can be called a poem in limestone. It is the necropolis of the Portuguese kings and national heroes, including Vasco Da Gama who discovered the sea route to India in 1498. After soaking in the majestic sights of the monastery, head to the shore of the Tagus for a glimpse of the Monument of the Discoveries, an ode to Portugal’s maritime legacy and exploration. It features the prow of a caravel (a three-mast ship) with 33 sculptures of illustrious rulers, explorers and missionaries.