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Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and of the Lisboa region. It is a wonderful and captivating city with a diverse past. It was taken over by the Moors in 1147 and had an active history which can still be demonstrated in its museums and architecture. The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisbon and most of its architecture is untouched and even survived the famous earthquake in 1755. Together with the Alfama quarter, here you will find Castelo and Mouraria quarters which are also one of Lisbon’s oldest quarters. If you are visiting this area during June, you will see a different side to these quarters. June is when the locals celebrate the feasts of their saints and the streets are lit up and festivities go on till the early hours of the morning.
If you visit Alcobaca, Batalha and Tomar you will find the ancient convent and monasteries which form part of UNESCO’s global heritage.
Interesting to know, but am sure that you will find out for yourself, is that Lisbon was built on seven very steep hills which makes it impossible for any human car to drive up some of the hills, therefore there are several Funicular and elevators to help you on your journey to the top.
The Tagus River offers an ideal landscape and flows through Lisbon from the east to west. It originates in Spain but shares its splendour all through Lisbon and finally washes out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Also interesting to visit is the town of Sintra, which has a rich landscape and vegetation. A very famous tourist activity here is to ride a horse-drawn carriage and admire the surrounding landscapes and beautiful mansions. Most of the rides take you up to Palacio da Pena at the very top of the hill for some scenic views and admiration of some fine architecture.
Just to add a little more excitement to your stay in Lisbon why not visit the seaside resort which you will find on the way to Cascais or the Mafra Convents. It is also recommended that you drive down south and witness some breathtaking and untouched beaches which lie on the Alentejo Coast.
Apart from the festivities, customs and beautiful architecture, Lisbon is also famous for its shopping and ever so exciting nightlife thanks to its many pubs and clubs.
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