Tourist attractions in Lisbon, Portugal
List of tourist attractions in Lisbon
Lisbon Portugal’s capital and a city with a special history. There are in Lisbon major tourist attractions and a lot of museums that can make your holiday very enjoyable in Lisbon. Lisbon Card can offer free or reduced acces to most of the Lisbon tourist attractions, museums and sightseeing tours. It may be useful because it provides free access to public transportation, so you can move efficiently between the attractions you wish to visit.
Of the many tourist attractions in Lisbon I chose a few that we present in more detail in the lines below. Besides the symbols of the city such as the Tower of Belem and Vasco da Gama Bridge there are other interesting places that you can find in your vacation in Portugal’s capital.
Jeronimo Monastery
Lisbon Jeronimo Monastery is listed in UNESCO World Heritage list and is the resting place of Vasco da Gama. Jeronimo Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal’s power and fortune in the great geographical discoveries. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a monastery founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal, praying before leaving to India.
Belem Tower
Built in 1515 as a fortress with role of defense at the entrance of Lisbon harbor, the Belem Tower was the point of start of many expeditions and for the seafarers was the last thing on earth that they saw on the mother country until the return to sea. Belem Tower is a monument dedicated to Portugal during the era of great discoveries, often used as a symbol of the country. Unesco has put the Belem Tower the monuments list that are part of world heritage.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
At north east from park Eduardo VII is located Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, is one of the most important museums in the world and one of Europe’s priceless treasures. Part of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the museum houses collections of Egyptian art, Greek, Romanian, Islamic, Asian and European. In 2001 it was renovated and modernized substantially – during renovation works many masterpieces have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Lisbon Oceanarium
Lisbon Oceanarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world . Designed by american architect Peter Chermeyeff, Oceanarium has been built exactly on the river Tejo and you must cross a pedestrian bridge to reach it. Lisbon Oceanarium is an experience in the depths of the ocean without all the risks that would entail such an adventure. Here there are over 25,000 fish, birds and marine mammals. There is a huge central tank that is like four Olympic size pools together.
Castelo de Sao Jorge
You can see the castle from almost any point of Lisbon and is one of the major sights. The oldest parts of it date back to the sixth century when the Romans fortified it, Visigoths and Moors eventually. The castle served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques conquered it in 1147 with the help of warriors from northern Europe who were on their way to the Holy Land to attend the crusade. That’s why it was dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England.
Monument of Discoveries
Across from Jeronimo Monastery, is located the Monument of Discoveries . It was built on the north bank of the river Tagus in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. The monument is a large three canvases ready to sail with the sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I, the poet Camoes, Vasco da Gama, Magellan and other explorers, crusaders, monks or Portuguese cartographers. All following Prince Henry the Navigator.
Vasco da Gama Bridge
Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is a wonder of modern technology and a landmark of the city. Vasco da Gama bridge is the newest bridge in Lisbon and allow traffic flow between the north and south of Portugal. This bridge that looks like has no end is a cable bridge whose construction have made by great efforts. Have been taken special measures to protect local species of birds. Over three hundred families of this species were relocated to allow construction of the bridge.
Statue of Christ the King
Monumento Cristo Rei is located on top of a hill about 110 meters high on the south bank of the Tejo river and you can see it from far. Resemblance with Jesus Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro is not accidental. Cartinal Patriarch of Lisbon saw the statue in Rio in 1934 on a visit to Brazil and then to spread the idea of having a similar statue erected in Portugal. At a meeting held in 1940 in Fatima, Portugal priests took a vow to erect the statue of Christ, if Portugal will not be drawn into the Second World War.
Vasco da Gama Tower
From the Oceanarium, a lift takes tourists to the extremely futuristic building. Vasco da Gama Tower is named by one of the greatest explorers of Portugal and was inaugurated in 1998, the 500th anniversary of his trip to India. Vasco da Gama tower shape reminds of a ship sail and its height of 145 meters makes this tower the tallest building in Lisbon. At the top of the tower is an observation deck, inspired by those platforms that existed on top of the masts.
Ajuda Palace
Ajuda Palace in Lisbon is an exuberant extravaganza. Although the construction of this palace was not completed as they planned due to exile of the royal family in Brazil, caused by the invasion of the armies of Napoleon, but is still one of the most beautiful romantic buildings in Europe. The interior is richly decorated with furniture, tapestries, statues and extravaganza decorative art . All these are the result of boundless wealth in the 18th century when diamonds were discovered in Brazil, portuguese colony at the time.
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