Category: what to do

Icons of Lisbon Street Art

In July 2017, as part of a public program linked to the Underdogs gallery and Shepard Fairey’s exhibition in Lisbon, the two artists (Fairey and Vhils) joined forces to create a mural on a facade in the Graça neighborhood: Rua da Senhora da Glória, nº 39. ​​The result is a large-scale mural that immediately became a point of interest in urban art in Lisbon. The intervention was produced as a joint piece—each artist took on half of the face depicted on the wall—combining two strong and distinct visual languages.

A mural decorated by either of them would always be interesting, but what makes this Fairey and Vhils work brilliant is the perfect combination of two such different styles, without either of them abandoning their artistic personality. A case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

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This Fairey and Vhils co-production depicts a woman’s face. On the left side of the viewer is Shepard Fairey’s painting, and on the right side the wall is chipped away in Vhils’ style.

The woman depicted has her mouth and hair covered, but only in the painted area, while in the chipped area the face is more visible. This difference symbolically reflects the difference in techniques. Fairey, in painting, is adding something to the wall, which is the paint. On the other hand, Vhils, in his work, is removing material from the wall. If we consider the fabric of the scarves covering the mouth and hair as the first layer of the drawing, Vhils, in his work, is exposing the woman’s face in a way that is not present in the painted area.

Vhils (Alexandre Farto)

Alexandre Farto, known artistically as Vhils, was born in Lisbon in 1987 and studied art in London; he gained international recognition for an unconventional method of urban intervention: instead of simply painting, he “sculpts” the city, removing layers of plaster, paint, and materials to reveal portraits and textures that emerge from the wall itself. His work combines industrial tools (drills, chisels, chemical jets) with a documentary sensibility about urban memory and identity.Wikipedia+1

Shepard Fairey

Frank Shepard Fairey (born 1970), known for the OBEY project and the famous “Hope” poster of Barack Obama (2008), emerges from the world of stenciling, graphic design, and activism. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he creates works that combine pop aesthetics, political iconography, and impactful graphic images—often using stencils, carefully composed layers of color, and symbols that seek to generate public debate. Encyclopedia Britannica+1

Conclusão (coprodução Fairey e Vhils)

The collaboration between Fairey and Vhils on Rua da Senhora da Glória is exemplary because it brings together two complementary methods—graphic stenciling and surface sculpture—to create an image that is simultaneously an instant read and a progressive discovery. Beyond being a visually stunning piece, it functions as a narrative about participation, memory, and the humanization of public space, remaining an essential landmark on Lisbon’s street art routes.

If you’re interested in this collaborative work of Fairey and Vhils work by Oze Arv, you’ll probably also enjoy the the works of Oze Arv and Add Fuel. Since you’re in the Graça neighborhood, don’t miss the Senhora do Monte viewpoint.

This piece of street art can be seen aboard my tuk-tuk on the Historical Tuk Tuk Tour in Lisbon and Half-Day Tuk Tuk Tour in Lisbon and Belém, as well as on the Lisbon Street Art Walking Tour.

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Things to do in Lisbon

Lisbon Street Art with Color and Character

José Carvalho, better known by his artistic name Oze Arv, was born in Lisbon in 1980 and is one of the most representative names in contemporary urban art in Portugal. Oze Arv’s work in Lisbon (Graça) received an international award. A graduate in Visual Arts from the Higher School of Arts and Design of Caldas da Rainha (part of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria), Oze Arv began his artistic career at a young age, in the late 1990s, immersing himself in the world of urban art and graffiti.

Oze Arv’s work is characterized by a fusion of vibrant colors, organic forms, and motifs inspired by nature, especially birds and natural elements that appear in dialogue with the urban space. The artist masters diverse techniques—from spray painting and stenciling to illustration and photography—reflecting a multimedia approach and a permanent interest in the relationship between city, color, and movement.

Oze Arv has participated in numerous public art projects since 1998, including group and solo exhibitions, interventions in urban art festivals, and collaborations with local communities and public institutions. He is considered an active member of the first generation of street artists in Portugal, contributing to the affirmation of street art as a legitimate form of cultural and artistic expression. arteforadomuseu.com.br

Fado Tropical em Tons RGB — Oze Arv em Lisboa

One of Oze Arv’s most emblematic interventions in Lisbon is the mural “Fado Tropical em Tons RGB” (Tropical Fado in RGB Tones), created on September 5, 2021, on Rua Natália Correia, in the Graça neighborhood. Street Art Cities

This mural stands out for its chromatic intensity and the way it evokes elements of Portuguese cultural identity—namely fado—reinterpreted through a vibrant and contemporary urban aesthetic. The work does not directly represent fado as a musical genre, but rather captures its emotionality and sensory complexity through a mix of images, figures, and colors that dialogue with street life and the viewer. aswetravelled.com

The work was integrated into the context of curatorial interventions by the Urban Art Gallery (GAU) and supported by the São Vicente Parish Council and the Lisbon City Council—a collaboration that reinforces the importance of urban art as a factor in cultural dynamism and the revitalization of public space. Street Art Cities

You can see this work from the number 28 tram as it passes along Rua da Graça, but you have to pay attention and sit on the correct side of the tram. It’s even better to visit this work on foot, to properly appreciate it, and even better if you combine it with a visit to Senhora do Monte or the joint work of Fairey/Vhils.

A work of this scale isn’t created overnight. This particular work, which Oze Arv titled “Tropical Fado in RGB tones”, took a month to produce. The artist had the support of a crane and an operator, in a true display of teamwork, precision, and method. For three-quarters of this time, only a few strange marks appeared on the wall, full of meaning for the artist, but completely unintelligible to passersby. When Oze Arv finally began to fill in the color, the magnificent work we can appreciate today emerged.

Despite the meticulous way the work is planned, it’s clear that the color filling phase doesn’t follow the sketch 100%, with the artist reserving the freedom to correct the sketch according to the inspiration of the moment and how the final work appears to him.

One of the photographs shows a detail of the only bird presented with realistic plumage; all the others have stylized plumage.

Legacy and Impact

Throughout his career, Oze Arv has left visible marks in several cities, not only in Lisbon but also in other parts of Europe, with murals that engage with the urban landscape and invite reflection on culture, nature, and the role of art in public space.

Oze Arv’s work on Rua Natália Correia remains an excellent example of how street art can enrich and transform a neighborhood, promoting new forms of interaction between the public and the city’s spaces.

How can you see this?

Either in the confort of my tuk-tuk on the Historical Tuk Tuk Tour in Lisbon and Half-Day Tuk Tuk Tour in Lisbon and Belém, or on the Lisbon Street Art Walking Tour.

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Things to do in Lisbon

Literature, Lisbon, and the Spirit of Chiado

Few writers are as closely associated with Lisbon — and particularly with Chiado — as Eça de Queirós, one of the greatest Portuguese writers. Through his novels, the city became both a setting and a character, reflecting social change, ambition, and contradiction in 19th-century Portugal.

A brief portrait of Eça de Queirós

Born in 1845, Eça de Queirós was one of Portugal’s most influential writers and intellectuals. He studied law at the University of Coimbra and later pursued a diplomatic career, which allowed him to live abroad in places such as Havana, Bristol, and Paris.

Despite spending much of his life outside Portugal, Eça maintained a deep and critical connection to Portuguese society. He observed his country from a distance, with clarity and irony, qualities that would define his literary voice.

He died in 1900, leaving behind a body of work that continues to shape Portuguese literature and cultural identity.

Renewing Portuguese literature in the 19th century

Eça de Queirós played a central role in the renewal of Portuguese literature during the second half of the 19th century. Influenced by realism and naturalism, he moved away from romantic idealization and instead focused on social reality.

His novels examine themes such as hypocrisy, social ambition, class divisions, and moral decay, often using sharp satire and psychological insight. Through his writing, literature became a tool for social observation and critique.

This modern approach placed Eça among the most important European writers of his time and marked a turning point in Portuguese literary history.

Chiado and The Maias

Eça’s connection to Chiado is especially strong through his most famous work, The Maias novel (Os Maias). In this work, Chiado appears as a vibrant social and cultural center — a place of cafés, conversations, appearances, and intellectual life.

The neighborhood serves as the ideal stage for Eça’s exploration of Lisbon’s elite society, revealing its elegance, contradictions, and limitations. Walking through Chiado today, it is still possible to recognize the atmosphere described in the novel.

Eça de Queirós in today’s Lisbon

Eça de Queirós remains a key reference for understanding Lisbon’s cultural and literary heritage. His vision helps visitors see the city beyond monuments, revealing the social life, values, and tensions that shaped modern Portugal.

His legacy is often explored during my Historical Tuk Tuk Tour and Half-day Tuk Tuk Tour, especially in Chiado, where literature, history, and urban life intersect.

It also fits naturally into the Historical Lisbon Walking Tour, offering a literary lens through which to experience the city.

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Things to do in Lisbon

One of Lisbon’s Most Authentic Neighborhoods

Graça is one of Lisbon’s most authentic hilltop neighborhoods, known for its history, panoramic viewpoints, and vibrant street art scene. Located just above Mouraria, this traditional area offers visitors a chance to experience a more local side of Lisbon while enjoying some of the best views in the city.

Historical roots of Graça

The neighborhood of Graça has deep historical roots that date back several centuries. Its development is closely linked to important religious buildings such as the Convento da Graça, and the area played a role in key moments of Lisbon’s past, including the aftermath of the 1755 earthquake.

Unlike the Baixa district, which was rebuilt with a strict grid plan, Graça grew organically. Its narrow streets, small squares, and traditional buildings reflect an older Lisbon that has survived modern transformations. Walking through Graça feels like stepping into a living chapter of the city’s history.

The best viewpoints in Lisbon

Graça is home to two of the most famous viewpoints in Lisbon. The Miradouro da Graça and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte are widely considered among the best places to enjoy panoramic views over Lisbon and the Tagus River.

From these miradouros, visitors can see Lisbon’s historic center, the river, and many of the city’s iconic landmarks. These viewpoints are ideal stops on a Lisbon sightseeing tour, offering perfect photo opportunities and a moment to appreciate how Lisbon’s hills shape the city.

Street art in Graça: an open-air gallery

Graça is also a key area for Lisbon street art, making it especially appealing to travelers interested in contemporary culture. The neighborhood features works by internationally recognized artists such as Vhils + Shepard Fairey (Obey), Oze Arv, and Add Fuel.

Vhils’ carved portraits reveal faces hidden within the city’s walls, while Shepard Fairey’s murals add bold visual statements. Artists like Ozz Arv and Add Fuel contribute colorful works inspired by traditional Portuguese tiles, blending modern street art with Lisbon’s cultural heritage.

Graça’s street art is not confined to galleries; it is part of the urban fabric, discovered naturally while walking through the neighborhood.

A traditional neighborhood in a changing city

While many Lisbon neighborhoods have become highly gentrified, Graça remains a popular and residential area, still strongly connected to local life. Small cafés, bakeries, and family-run businesses coexist with street art and viewpoints, creating an atmosphere that feels authentic and lived-in.

This balance between tradition and creativity makes Graça one of the best neighborhoods to visit in Lisbon for travelers seeking an experience beyond the main tourist routes.

Explore Graça on my Lisbon tours

Graça is included in my Historical Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour and in the Half-Day Tuk Tuk Tour, allowing visitors to explore the neighborhood’s history and viewpoints comfortably while covering more of the city.

For guests interested in urban art, Graça is also part of the Lisbon Street Art Walking Tour, where the neighborhood’s murals are explored on foot and placed within their historical and social context.

All tours are personally guided by me, offering a relaxed pace, direct contact, and a more personal way to discover Lisbon. Exploring Graça through these tours provides a deeper understanding of the city’s history, culture, and everyday life.

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Things to do in Lisbon

History and Patronage

St Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon, is the main martyr of Hispania (Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Empire).

At the beginning of the 4th century, the persecution of Diocletian struck Christian communities with particular cruelty. In this context, Vincent of Zaragoza refused the practices of worshiping traditional deities and, for this reason, he was taken to Valencia where he was martyred in the year 304.

The Roman soldiers abandoned the body so that it be eaten by the animals, but in vain, because the crows protected it from other predators. This was the first miracle of St Vincent and the beginning of his connection with these birds. So the legionaries decided solve the problem tying up the body to a millstone and throwing it into the sea. To everyone’s great astonishment, days later the body washed up on the shore, freed from the stone and the moorings.

The Link with Lisbon

Centuries later, already during the Islamic occupation, the followers of St. Vincent tried to take the remains of the saint to Asturias (northern Spain), but the circumstances of the trip ended up causing the relics to be deposited on the coast of the Algarve (south of Portugal).

When the first king of Portugal (Afonso Henriques) conquered Lisbon (1147) he began the process of locating and bringing the relics of St. Vincent to Lisbon. For this he sent a first expedition, which was unsuccessful. Later, in 1173, Afonso Henriques sent a second expedition, which finally located the saint’s tomb. The remains were then placed on a boat that went up the coast towards Lisbon, escorted by two crows, one at the front and one at the back.

In medieval Lisbon, Baixa was not as flat as it is today and there was an arm of the sea that reached close to the current Rossio. In this area there was the Church of Santa Justa where the boat escorted by the crows finally ran aground. The mortal remains of St Vincent rested in the Church from the 15th to the 16th of September 1173. St Vincent was already venerated throughout the city of Lisbon and his relics were disputed by the communities of the Church of St Vincent and also of the Lisbon’s Cathedral. By royal intervention, the relics were then taken in procession to the Cathedral (at the time still under construction), where they are to this day.

St Vincent is everywhere

Anyone wishing to see the saint’s relics must attend the mass held at the Cathedral on the 22nd of each January.

After 1173, the city of Lisbon adopted St Vincent as its saint and protector and in doing so, also adopted the boat and crows as a symbol of the city. It is impossible to walk around Lisbon without finding the boat and the crows everywhere, in the designs on the sidewalk, in the lamps in Baixa, in the uniforms of the City Council employees and in their vehicles.

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Things to do in Lisbon

Elegant Lisbon, Literature, and Cultural Life

Chiado is one of Lisbon’s most refined and culturally rich neighborhoods. Long associated with writers, artists, cafés, and elegant shops, it represents a Lisbon that looks outward — European in spirit, intellectual in character, and deeply connected to the city’s cultural history.

A neighborhood shaped by history

Chiado developed as a central meeting point between the old city and the expanding modern Lisbon of the 18th and 19th centuries. Its location, between Baixa and Bairro Alto, made it a natural crossroads for commerce, ideas, and social life.

Over time, Chiado became the preferred neighborhood of Lisbon’s intellectual and cultural elite. Despite fires, political change, and urban transformation, it has retained its distinctive atmosphere — elegant without being rigid, historic without feeling frozen in time.

Echoes of the Roaring Twenties

In many ways, Chiado can be seen as Lisbon’s heir to the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. In the early 20th century, cafés, theaters, bookstores, and fashion shops turned the area into a lively stage for debate, creativity, and modern life.

This tradition of urban elegance and social exchange is still present today. Walking through Chiado, one senses a continuity between past and present — a place where ideas are shared over coffee, and culture remains part of everyday life.

Historic shops and iconic places

Chiado is home to some of Lisbon’s most emblematic historic establishments. The department store Paris in Lisbon reflects the neighborhood’s long-standing connection to European fashion and style. The São Carlos National Theatre stands as a symbol of Lisbon’s operatic and musical tradition.

The Bertrand Bookshop, officially recognized as the world’s oldest operating bookstore, continues to anchor Chiado’s literary soul. Nearby, the historic cafés A Brasileira and Benard have been gathering places for writers, artists, and thinkers for generations — spaces where time seems to slow down.

Writers, thinkers, and cultural identity

Chiado is inseparable from the figures who shaped Portuguese literature. Fernando Pessoa, often seen today as a statue outside A Brasileira, spent countless hours in the cafés of Chiado, observing city life and reflecting on identity, modernity, and existence.

Eça de Queirós, one of Portugal’s greatest novelists, also walked these streets, drawing inspiration from Lisbon’s society and contradictions. Their presence gives Chiado a literary depth that goes far beyond monuments — it lives in the atmosphere itself.

A living cultural district

Beyond its history, Chiado remains one of Lisbon’s most important cultural areas. Bookshops, theaters, galleries, and concert venues continue to shape its identity. It is a place where culture is not confined to institutions but woven into daily life.

Chiado’s elegance is not only visual; it is intellectual, social, and human.

Discover Chiado on my tours

Chiado is an essential part of my Historical Lisbon Walking Tour, where its streets help tell the story of Lisbon’s cultural and literary life.

It is also included in my Historical Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour and Half-Day Tuk Tuk Tour, allowing you to experience Chiado comfortably while connecting it with Baixa, Bairro Alto, and other key neighborhoods.

All tours are personally guided by me, offering direct contact, time for conversation, and a relaxed pace. Exploring Chiado this way reveals an elegant Lisbon — shaped by history, literature, and a vibrant cultural tradition.

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Things to do in Lisbon

A Hidden Religious Treasure in Lisbon

In the heart of Bairro Alto and just a few steps from the viewpoint of Sao Pedro de Alcântara you can find the Convent of Cardaes, one of the jewels of the city of Lisbon.

Is it Monday and everything is closed in Lisbon? It’s raining and you want to occupy your time without getting wet? Is the heat hard to bear and don’t want to spend the day at the hotel? In any of these cases, don’t think twice because the convent of Cardaes is waiting for you.

The building was built in the 17th century outside the medieval walls of Lisbon by donation from the founder, D. Luísa de Távora, who lived in the convent until her death and is buried there. The ensemble survived the 1755 earthquake with little damage, only the ceiling of the Church collapsed.

The Church has magnificent Dutch and Portuguese tiles, with scenes from the life of Mary. The set at the Convent of Cardaes has more than 100 of the most important paintings in the history of Portuguese art.

Convent of Cardaes: the origins

In its origins, the Convent housed 21 nuns from the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Now, the Convent is home to Dominican nuns who are responsible for caring for around 35 women with profound disabilities and who have found their heaven in Cardaes. Revenue from ticket sales and donations help keep this work of great merit.

Contrary to other Convents and Monasteries in Lisbon, which lost their original contents in the earthquake, the Napoleonic invasions and the civil war, the Convent of Cardaes shows a history of resilience as it reached the 21st century with its contents, furniture and decoration intact, as they were experienced by the nuns who ended up there after the foundation of the convent. Even the floors and ceilings are original (except for the Church’s ceiling), naturally subject to maintenance imposed by the passing of the years.

Convent of Cardaes Today

Today, the Convento dos Cardaes is at the same time a unique tourist attraction, an active religious institution and a work of solidarity. These 3 worlds co-exist without the privacy of religious women and the people they care for being violated.

So you know, do you have an early afternoon to occupy? Pass by Cardaes, visit an artistic, historical and cultural complex in Lisbon and help put a smile on the face of those who need it most.

guided tours: in Portuguese, French and English

telephone: (+351) 213427525

address: Rua do Século, 123 (Bairro Alto)

email: conventodoscardaes@conventodoscardaes.com

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Things to do in Lisbon

The Vision Behind the Age of Discoveries

Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) was the 5th son of king João I and Philippa of Lancaster and the one who gathers greater notoriety after 5 centuries. Henrique’s great contribution to history was to have conceived the oceans as the highways that would connect the continents.

Prince Henry and the Birth of the Age of Discoveries

The first public act of great visibility took place in 1415 with his participation in the conquest of Ceuta, in Morocco. Chronicles say that Prince Henry was one of the most courageous on the Portuguese side, which earned him the knighthood on the sands of North Africa, the day after the conquest of Ceuta.

In 1418 and 1419, the crews financed by the prince made known the islands of Madeira and the Azores and the beginning of their occupation.

In 1420, Henry was appointed administrator of the Order of Christ, the heir in Portugal to the tradition and heritage of the Knights Templar. The enormous resources placed at his disposal allowed him to finance maritime exploration until the end of his life.

Year after year, new expeditions were sent along the coast of Africa. Crews mapped the coastline, placed a stone marker in a prominent location, and returned. The process was repeated so that, by the time of the prince’s death, the entire coast of Africa had been recognized up to the latitude where Sierra Leone is located.

Legacy of Prince Henry the Navigator

In a country that has always been averse to planning, prince Henry was the exception. He devised a plan and carried it out rigorously throughout his life. 40 years after his death, Vasco da Gama finally arrived in India, fulfilling the cycle started by Henry.

Henry helped to shape the world by bringing the continents together and he helped to shape Lisbon by selecting the mouth of the Tagus River, in the place now known as Belem, as the departure and arrival point for the expeditions he financed.

The prince found eternal rest in the royal pantheon of the Batalha monastery, as did all the monarchs and princes of the Avis dynasty, up to king Manuel.

Discover the spirit Prince Henry on my tours

Although the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower did not yet exist during Prince Henry’s lifetime, you may truly understand the spirit of the time, by embarking on one of my tours Belem Tuk Tuk Tour or Half-Day Tuk Tuk Tour

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Things to do in Lisbon

Sunset, Poetry, and Lisbon’s Living Spirit

Overlooking the Tagus River and the western edge of Lisbon’s historic center, the Adamastor Viewpoint, also known as the Santa Catarina Viewpoint, is more than just a place to admire the view. It is a meeting point, a cultural stage, and a space where Lisbon’s past and present naturally come together.

History along the old city walls

This area once marked the edge of Lisbon. Nearby stood sections of the medieval city wall and the historic Gate of Santa Catarina, one of the entrances that connected the city to the riverfront and maritime routes.

Although the walls themselves are no longer visible, the elevated position of the viewpoint still reflects its strategic importance, offering wide views over the Tagus and the movement along the river.

Close to Bica, Chiado, and Bairro Alto

One of Adamastor’s great strengths is its location. Just steps away lies the Bica neighborhood, known for its steep streets and the iconic Bica Funicular, one of Lisbon’s most photographed elevators.

From here, it is an easy walk to Chiado, with its cafés and cultural life, and to Bairro Alto, famous for its nightlife. This central position makes Adamastor a natural stop both during the day and in the evening.

A viewpoint with its own life

Unlike quieter miradouros, Adamastor has a life of its own. Locals and visitors gather here to talk, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere, often staying long after the sun has set.

The viewpoint feels informal and welcoming, making it a place where Lisbon is lived, not just observed.

Adamastor and the poetry of Camões

The statue that gives the viewpoint its name represents Adamastor, a mythical giant from Os Lusíadas, the epic poem by Luís de Camões. Adamastor symbolizes the dangers and fears faced by Portuguese sailors during the Age of Discoveries.

Standing here, overlooking the river, the connection between the myth, the poetry, and Lisbon’s maritime history becomes easy to imagine.

Sunset and live music by the river

Adamastor is one of the best places in Lisbon to watch the sunset over the Tagus River. As the sky changes color, the atmosphere becomes even more relaxed.

For much of the year, the viewpoint is also known for live music, often spontaneous, adding a soundtrack to the sunset and making each visit slightly different from the last.

Adamastor on my tours

The Adamastor Viewpoint is not included in my tuk tuk tours because is mostly a pedestrian area, however may be defined as a ending point of my Historical Tuk Tuk Tour, my Belem Tuk Tuk Tour and Half-day Tuk Tuk Tour, especially as a late-afternoon or early-evening stop.

It also fits naturally as a pickup or drop off point of my Historical Lisbon Walking Tour , helping visitors understand how neighborhoods Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Bica connect to the river and to one another.

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Things to do in Lisbon

the Birthplace of Lisbon

No one can say they know the capital of Portugal without getting lost in Alfama, in Lisbon old town.

The origins

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. The reasons for this choice are the abundance of fresh water sources and the existence of a “safe harbor” (Alis Ubbo in Phoenician, hence the name Lisbon).

Romans and Moors

The first time that the city of Lisbon had a city structure was with the Roman Empire, in the time of Julius Caesar (1st century BC). From this period you can visit the ruins of the Roman Theater, next to the Cathedral of Lisbon.

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. Although there is a great abundance of remains of the Roman city, the structure of the city as it stands today has the characteristics of a city in North Africa.

Crusaders

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. In the Alfama district you can find several pieces of the wall (Cerca Moura) that comes from this period. After 5 months of siege, the surrender was finally negotiated. The former occupants were allowed to leave the city empty-handed as a way of saving their lives (25 October 1147).

The population of Alfama is made up of the mixture of descendants of the Crusaders, the Moors, the former slaves, the Jews and many other influences that have caused a homogeneous population in which it is no longer possible to know who descends from whom.

strolling around

If you want to walk around Alfama, don’t waste time studying a map. You just have to choose if you want to visit Alfama from the top down or from the bottom up. The first choice is to go to Largo das Portas do Sol and go down the stairs towards the Tagus, without forgetting to notice the magnificent section of the wall that is on the right side as you descend. To start walking around Alfama on the lower side, go to Largo do Chafariz de Dentro and follow the Beco do Mexias where you have a public washing facility on the right where you can wash clothes by hand. Alternatively, you can go up Rua dos Remédios, with the portal of the Ermida de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios on the left, in Manueline style, just like the great monuments of Belém. In any of these cases, just follow where your eyes or the camera take you.

For those who feel uncomfortable walking around a city that they do not dominate, there are always some references, the Church of S. Miguel (with two towers) and the Church of S. Estêvão (with one tower). The area between these two churches is the most picturesque in Alfama. The visitor who decides to get lost in Alfama, in a safe, fun and free activity, will find an opportunity to take a picture in every alley and wherever they turn.

Trivia

• the continuous occupation of Alfama for the last 3000 years makes Lisbon the second oldest capital in Europe, after Athens in Greece
• in Alfama there were public baths until the 20th century
• “Chafariz de Dentro” was formerly called the fountain of horses (go there and see why)
• each door of the Old Wall had a name. One of them, called Door of Alfama (“place of a thousand waters” in Arabic) gave the neighborhood its name.
• 1000 years ago the high tide arrived where the Fado Museum is today
• in the 1755 earthquake, the Alfama neighborhood was one of the least affected in the city
• at the top of the stairs of Terreiro do Trigo was one of the four Jewish quarters in the city

Conclusion

On tuk-tuk tours, immersion in Alfama is limited due to the narrow streets where vehicles cannot enter. During tuk-tuk tours (either Historical Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour or Half-day Tuk Tuk Tour), my clients have the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of Alfama from the Santa Luzia viewpoint. However, to truly experience Alfama, one needs to put boots on the ground, and this can be achieved on my walking tours (Historical Walking Tour or Street Art Walking Tour).

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Things to do in Lisbon