Lisbon Lisboa, the capital of Portugal since 1255, was conquered from the Moors by Portugal?s first king in 1147. It lies on the right bank of the Tagus river and in a region that offers a rich landscape diversity.
Library, Mafra Convent. The imposing Tagus river (Tejo) flows alongside Lisboa from east to west. Its source lies in Spain, but a good part of its journey to the sea lies inside Portuguese frontiers before it meets the Atlantic ocean. As it approaches Lisboa, the river bed widens to create a green and fertile plain called the lezíria. The effect as it nears the capital is to grace the landscape with its broad blue estuary. The special beauty of the riverbank enriches a number of towns past which the Tagus makes its way: Abrantes, Constância, Vila Nova da Barquinha and Santarém. The whole green river valley is like a stage setting upon which deeply-rooted cultural traditions are enacted. There is popular music and dance, and the traditional costume worn by the horsemen still seen rounding up their cattle in rural pastures is a real feature.
Lisbon, the dazzling city that stretches along the banks of the Tagus, is an enchanting capital. There is the fortress around which the city originally sprang up, and which is now circled by neighborhoods drenched with medieval charm. Everywhere are fine monuments that bring to mind the great Age of Discoveries, and picturesque houses whose facades are decked with ornate ceramic tiles. As the dusk turns to night, the yellow electric tramcars continue to wind their way up and down the hills of the old capital, while the sound of traditional Fado songs enlivens many a candle-lit dinner table in restaurant or home. But the capital also provides ample opportunity for seeing popular celebrations, for shopping, and for enjoying the nightlife along the river bank. With the port and marinas situated nearby, water sports are a natural attraction too.
Not far from the capital lies the town of Sintra, with its marvelous surrounding vegetation and landscape, Sintra is classified by Unesco as of outstanding cultural importance. There is no better way to see the exuberant trees and vegetation than to take a horse-drawn carriage ride and pass by ancient mansions before reaching the Palácio da Pena at the top of the hill. Its fabulous romantic architecture keeps vivid the atmosphere of a truly royal residence.
Back in the Lisboa area, there are many other places worth a visit: the imposing Mafra Convent, the cosmopolitan seaside resort of Cascais, the Arrábida hills and their nature reserve stocked with ancient trees or picturesque Sesimbra, the city of Setúbal and the aristocratic country-houses of nearby Azeitão. The area provides something for every taste: beach, water sports, golf courses and, in the summer, open air music festivals.
The Atlantic coast, which stretches to the south, north and west of Lisbon, is of surprising beauty: here the landscape swiftly changes from high, sweeping cliffs to beaches of white sand, backed by lagoons. Let us not forget that here, at Cabo da Roca, is Europe?s westernmost point. This is a region of enchanting coastal villages or towns such as Sezimbra, Peniche and Nazaré, where the brightly-coloured fishing boats still ply their trade. Further inland, at Alcobaça, Tomar and Batalha, are to be found the ancient monasteries and convents of the religious orders, which are part of UNESCO?s global heritage. They stand as witnesses to Portugal?s rich historical and cultural traditions. These are lands that were won back from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. And the memory of that era lives on in the ancient castles that loom above Leiria, Tomar, Óbidos and Santarém.
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