Lisbon holds enormous touristic appeal and is one of the ten topmost European tourist destinations for the year 2008. The city has spruced itself lately in the last decade and has built up its image to become an attractive tourist destination. This capital city of Portugal has a splendid natural setting and a rich and glorious traditional past. This has been coupled with the warm, friendly nature of the local folks and buzzing nightlife and Lisbon has made its presence felt on the world tourist map by combining all these elements in an attractive package.
Lisbon had already been credited in 1994 as being the European City of Culture and its golden age of fame had begun then itself. Lisbon continued to remain in the spotlight by being the host for many matches of the European Football Championships in the year 2004 and MTV Europe Music Awards in the year 2005. Lisbon has a superb setting that is widespread amongst seven hills on the banks of estuary of the wide Tagus River. This was what attracted settlers to Lisbon dating back to 900 BC and the Phoenicians were the first settlers. Lisbon reached its pinnacle in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when the Portuguese explorers set out to reach new shores and seas. Most of the grand buildings on the waterfront of Bélem suburb stand as a testimony of those glorious times.
Lisbon was devastated by an earthquake completely in 1775. Most of the buildings in the city center area of Baixa were built in the 18th century when the city of Lisbon was rebuilt after the earthquake. Lisbon has the famous music- fado, which mournfully recollects the golden maritime age and the trauma of the earthquake. The Lisboetas have overcome grief quite successfully though, and have stepped up with renewed vigor. They have traveled far in a short span of time and have triumphed over the fatalism of fado with their never say die attitude.
Modern Lisbon is a throbbing city, full of life and zest, a creative city that has successfully synchronized history and traditions with its modern life. It can be best experienced on a leisurely summer evening, when the riverside restaurants and pavement cafes are bustling with interesting activities. Lisbon is beautiful even during winters, when there are sweeping rains and the tables are brought out at the slightest sunshine. This city enjoys everything about life and takes time to appreciate all the small and precious moments.
The tourists can enjoy a laid back and pleasant holiday at Lisbon and enjoy its chilled and cool café culture. You can take walks along the narrow alleys of the old and hilly downtown area of Alfama and stop over for a meal or coffee. You can see the beautiful structure of the Vasco Da Gama Bridge that stretches above 12, 000 m in length. The tourists can also see the lovely forests and beaches, which are quite closely located to Lisbon. The places of tourist interest in Lisbon include the Belem Tower, National Museum of Historical Art, Castle of Sintra, Lisbon Cathedral, Glubenkian Foundation, Coach Museum, Hieronymite Monastery and the Monument to the Discoverers.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Leave a Reply