The Portugal spreadsheet is growing & unfortunately, so is my suitcase!!!
This time next week we will be arriving into Lisbon or, as the Portuguese call it, Lisboa and I canāt wait to take in this magical cityā¦
A bit about our first stop as weĀ embarkĀ on a 2 week odyssey of Portugalā¦
Lisbon is the capital and largest city ofĀ PortugalĀ with the urban area extending beyond the city limits and a a population of over 3 millionĀ making it theĀ 11th most populous urban areaĀ in theĀ European Union.Ā
Not only is Lisbon the westernmost largest city in Europe, it is also its westernmost capital and the only one along the Atlantic coastā¦it lies in the western Iberian PeninsulaĀ on theĀ Atlantic OceanĀ and theĀ River Tagus (Tejo).
RecognizedĀ as aĀ global cityĀ because of its importance in finance, commerce,Ā media, entertainment,Ā arts,Ā international trade, education, and tourism, Lisbon is one of the major economicĀ centersĀ on the continent, with a growing financial sector and the second largest container port on Europeās Atlantic coast.
The city is the 7th most-visited in Southern Europe, afterĀ Istanbul,Ā Rome,Ā Barcelona,Ā Madrid,Ā AthensĀ andĀ MilanĀ and Iām happy to say that Iāve been to 4 and, after this trip, 5 of them!
Lisbon is one of theĀ oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city inĀ Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years. Ā Julius CaesarĀ made it a municipium calledĀ Felicitas Julia, adding to the nameĀ Olissipo. Ā Ruled by a series ofĀ GermanicĀ tribes from the fifth century, it was captured by theĀ MoorsĀ in the eighth century. Ā In 1147, theĀ CrusadersĀ underĀ Afonso HenriquesĀ reconquered the cityĀ and since then it has been a major political, economic, and culturalĀ centerĀ of Portugal.Ā
Once the center of the richest empire in Europe, Lisbon now faces one of the worst financial crises in the EU. But even as it struggles with rising debt and unemployment, it is the home toĀ two sites listed byĀ UNESCOĀ as aĀ World Heritage Site:Ā BelĆ©m Towerā¦
and JerĆ³nimos Monasteryā¦
that Iām hoping we get to visit on this trip. Ā Furthermore, in 1994, Lisbon was theĀ European Capital of CultureĀ and in 1998 organised an Expo ā98Ā (1998 Lisbon World Exposition).
A bit about our first stop as weĀ embarkĀ on a 2 week odyssey of Portugalā¦
Lisbon is the capital and largest city ofĀ PortugalĀ with the urban area extending beyond the city limits and a a population of over 3 millionĀ making it theĀ 11th most populous urban areaĀ in theĀ European Union.Ā
Not only is Lisbon the westernmost largest city in Europe, it is also its westernmost capital and the only one along the Atlantic coastā¦it lies in the western Iberian PeninsulaĀ on theĀ Atlantic OceanĀ and theĀ River Tagus (Tejo).
RecognizedĀ as aĀ global cityĀ because of its importance in finance, commerce,Ā media, entertainment,Ā arts,Ā international trade, education, and tourism, Lisbon is one of the major economicĀ centersĀ on the continent, with a growing financial sector and the second largest container port on Europeās Atlantic coast.
The city is the 7th most-visited in Southern Europe, afterĀ Istanbul,Ā Rome,Ā Barcelona,Ā Madrid,Ā AthensĀ andĀ MilanĀ and Iām happy to say that Iāve been to 4 and, after this trip, 5 of them!
Lisbon is one of theĀ oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city inĀ Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years. Ā Julius CaesarĀ made it a municipium calledĀ Felicitas Julia, adding to the nameĀ Olissipo. Ā Ruled by a series ofĀ GermanicĀ tribes from the fifth century, it was captured by theĀ MoorsĀ in the eighth century. Ā In 1147, theĀ CrusadersĀ underĀ Afonso HenriquesĀ reconquered the cityĀ and since then it has been a major political, economic, and culturalĀ centerĀ of Portugal.Ā
Once the center of the richest empire in Europe, Lisbon now faces one of the worst financial crises in the EU. But even as it struggles with rising debt and unemployment, it is the home toĀ two sites listed byĀ UNESCOĀ as aĀ World Heritage Site:Ā BelĆ©m Towerā¦and JerĆ³nimos Monasteryā¦
that Iām hoping we get to visit on this trip. Ā Furthermore, in 1994, Lisbon was theĀ European Capital of CultureĀ and in 1998 organised an Expo ā98Ā (1998 Lisbon World Exposition).
Aside from itās beauty, Lisbon enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and hot summers andĀ although it wonāt be beach weather while weāre there, temps will be in the 70ās making it ideal forĀ sightseeingā¦
In Portugal, snails are a bar snack, a plate piled with maybe two or three dozen miniature hulls and of course drinkingā¦
Ahhh, I feel faint just thinking about all the fun times weāre going to haveā¦must rest!
Oysho in Lisbon
Adeus para agora
3 Comments
John
July! Counting the days!
I am sure that you will claim mayorship of cities there like you did in Italia!
Alya
Hope to claim mayorship everywhere! When do you leave for Barcelona. ..love that city and make sure u take the faniculor to Monjouk (spelling? )
John Torres
Exciting!!! Cannot wait to see pic and your check ins on Foursquare! Where will you become a mayor this time!
This makes me even more excited (if that's possible) for our trip to Barcelona!
Rome will be out next trip after this!