An Ionian seaside town, Avola is a mix of old and new. The town focuses heavily on the sea, with its history as a tuna fishing port. Today, the remains of the Vecchia Tonnara at the wharf are a stone backdrop to the sandy beaches. Avola dates back to a pre-Greek people called the Sicani.…
Located about 11 kilometres north of Catania, it is the perfect little commune to visit during the ottobrata – the local festivity that occurs every October here in Sicily, celebrating the fruits of the land: frutti di terra. The first encounter went wrong already 🙂 Approaching the booth with fruit, I have noticed quince – one…
If something is worth visiting in life, it is the Aeolian islands. Becasue it makes you think about winter in the south. It makes you think about simplicity of life. And it makes you realise how not to treat the tourists: just some bags of potatoes that need to be shipped from one island to…
I haven’t had a chance to spent a bit more time discovering this city. But just a glimpse and it made me think to re-visit and make it’s due. When the time will come, I promise to update with more photos. But for now, enjoy the story 🙂 Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left…
I didn’t expect much from this harbour city, to be honest. I knew they have a great beer – Messina cristali di sale: a great Sicilian beer brewed since 1923 and one of the most loved Italian beers. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy.…
Senlis is a city in the northern French department of Oise, Hautes de France. Cute, medieval and charming. It offered us great peek into history: The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived in Senlis, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. Senlis is situated on the river Nonette. Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus. During the 3rd century, a seven-meter…
The Château de Chantilly is one of the finest jewels in the crown of France’s cultural heritage. It is the work of a man with an extraordinary destiny: Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale, son of the last King of France, Louis-Philippe. This historic French château located in the town of Chantilly, Oise, about 50 kilometres north of Paris. The site…
The Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle. It has become a tourist attraction, partly due to its mention series of detective stories about Commissario Montalbano. The cliffs lie between two sandy beaches and are a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The latter part…
Picture this episode: we parked on a roundabout. Some local approached us (my brother and me) – we thought because we should have not park in a roundabout, but then again they all did, so… in fact the guy just wanted to ask if we have cigarettes. Ok Sicily, episode n. At the roundabout is…
Enna or as the Sicilians would say Castrugiuvanni; is a city located roughly at the center of Sicily, towering above the surrounding countryside. It has earned the nicknames belvedere (panoramic viewpoint) and ombelico (“navel”) of Sicily. At 931m above sea level, Enna is the highest Italian provincial capital. To arrive there is not a piece of cake. Passing the two viaducts Morello and…
From its dramatic natural surroundings to its historic churches, Sicily has something to offer every traveler. The island of Sicily is a unique part of Italy. Its craggy mountains, wild vegetation, and omnipresent sea have fired the imagination of poets, wayfarers, and visitors alike. Though it is one of 20 Italian regions, its history under…
Aci Castello and the other Acis around are destinations not to be missed in Sicily, especially for lovers of Greek myths and literature. It is here that the poets Virgil and Ovid gave birth to the myth of Galatea and Aci and their love story. In the second half of 1100 the town was destroyed…
Living in Madrid, I had a chance to sit on a bus and visit Lisabon and some nearby places and wait for new 2013 on the banks of river Tejo. Taking […]
Living in Madrid, I had a chance to sit on a bus and visit Lisabon and some nearby places and wait for new 2013 on the banks of river Tejo.
Taking the night bus, I arrived around 5 am to Lisboa bus/train station, realizing it is actually 4 am cause of the CET+1. I took a walk around since the station is new building called Sete Rios with a beautiful design.
At Praça do Comércio I noticed that Portugal kinda wears the fenomen of once being world ruler and powerful nation.In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global empire, becoming one of the world’s major economic, political and military powers.
At the main entrance from the old port, where it used to stand all those mightfull ships that would sail away or enter bringing all kinds of goods, stands the statue of portugeese King José I and the arch with the descript: Who enters the door of the city to recall that Portugal once ruled the world.
Commerce Square
Around the statue is what used to be the king’s palace with the view on river Tejo and Atlantic ocean.
On the other side, through the arch, there is a shopping street and entrance to the city itself. The triumphal arch is called Rua Augusta and it is historical building and visitor attraction. It was built to commemorate the city’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake with coat of arms of Portugal.
Closeby is the Carmelite Convent dating back to 14 century and once Lisbon’s largest convent, but it was severely damaged in the again 1755 earthquake.
During this time, Portuguese explorers pioneered maritime exploration in the Age of Discovery, notably under royal patronage of Prince Henry the Navigator and King João II, with such notable discoveries as Vasco da Gama‘s sea route to India (1497–98), the discovery of Brazil (1500), and the reaching of the Cape of Good Hope. To this events it is dedicated Mosterio dos Jeronimos (a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome and and today Maritime Museum and the National Archaeology Museum).
Jeronimo Monastery
Manueline ornamentation in the cloisters
The monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Portuguese discoveries are the numerous territories and maritime routes discovered as a result of portugeese intensive maritime exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries in what became known as the Age of Discovery. Methodical expeditions started in 1419 along West Africa’s coast under the sponsorship of prince Henry the Navigator, with Bartolomeu Dias reaching the Cape of Good Hope and entering the Indian Ocean. In 1498, Vasco da Gama led the first fleet around Africa to India, then proceeded to southeast Asia, where they reached Japan. In 1500, the Portuguese discovered Brazil.
Great discoverers: Magellan, Vasco da Gama & Bartolomeu Diaz
Neomanueline tomb of navigator Vasco da Gama
An inscription plaque of naval explorer Diogo Cao arrived in the south of Africa, 1483
Portugal monopolized the spice trade during this time, and the Portuguese Empire expanded with military campaigns led in Asia.
It is intolerable to miss just in front the museums, the Torre de Belem – a fortified tower which played significant role in the Portuguese maritime Age of Discoveries. The tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defence system at the mouth of the Tagus/ Tejo river.
Torre de Belem
Monument to Maritime Explorers
Vasco da Gama as first in the line in the fraction of Monument to Maritime Discovers
But the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, the country’s occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, the independence of Brazil (1822), and the Liberal Wars (1828–34), all left Portugal crippled from war and diminished in its world power.
From the 17 century time is Panteao Nacional. A beautiful and unique church that acts as the national pantheon of Portugal and the final burial location for many important Portuguese. The church is situated in theAlfama district and the massive white dome is a prominent feature of the skyline of eastern Lisbon.
The Alfama district is the oldest district of the city. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning “hot fountains.” In centuries before it was inhabited by the fishermen and the poor, and its condition as the neighbourhood of the poor continues to this day.
Tram 28 through Alfama
Since the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not destroy the Alfama, which has remained a picturesque labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares, lately the neighbourhood has been invigorated with the renovation of the old houses and new restaurants where Fado—Portuguese typical melancholy music—can be enjoyed.
It is also important to mention the famous pastries like manteigara.Rows of flaky, palm-sized pastries fill window displays in stacked pans and it is absolutely amaizing. 🙂
Anyhow, back to educational part! After the 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy, the democratic but unstable Portuguese First Republic was established, later being superseded by the Estado Novo right-wing authoritarian regime.
Remembrance Wall of the Victims of authoritarian regime
Democracy was restored after the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974. On the memory of this military coup, the famous bridge carries the name od the date of the revolution.
Carnation Revolution in 1974
Bridge 25 April
Shortly after, independence was granted to almost all its overseas territories, marking the end of the longest-lived colonial empire. Portugal has left a profound cultural and architectural influence across the globe and a legacy of over 250 million Portuguese speakers today.
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by centuries.
I was impressed as well by the Oceanario de Lisboa – opened after Lisbon hosted Expo ’98. It is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe showing the flora and fauna of all the oceans of the planet.
Oh yeah, and here is one photo from the Silvester night! 🙂 Waiting for new 2013 in 16 degrees in Lisbon is such a great memory… ❤
Such a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing so many details! I love the photo of the snacks, made me hungry 🙂 Lisbon looks amazing, I hope I can make it there soon as its not that far from London as well. And the station Sete Rios… I think its the most wonderful bus station I have ever seen 🙂
I loved Lisbon when I was there. I enjoyed the Manueline architecture at the Mosterio dos Jeronimos. I also loved the Belem Tower. But I did not get a chance to see the Aquarium like you did! I hope I will be able to do that when I am next in Lisbon.
Great post!! It just makes me go to Lisbon as soon as possible! The city looks great, I have friends living in there and I might go later on this year. It will be an interesting experience to visit the country that colonized mine (I’m from Brazil).
🙂
Everyone has to witness FADO when in LISBOA. It’s such a great city and I didn’t know it was older than London and Paris. Does it really predate Rome though? Love their pastries too, sinfully delicious
Wow it definitely sounds like you made the most of your 4am arrival! I learned so much from this post. It’s quite educational. (I also want to eat ALL the pastries!!)
I’ve heard so many great things about Lisbon. It’s one of the top places I want to visit. The architecture looks beautiful. I love all the history you provide!
We just visited Lisbon in November last year and absolutely loved it! It’s such a cute town with its colourful houses and narrow streets. There are some many beautiful and impressive buildings and a bunch of great viewpoints looking out over the city. My favourite thing about Lisbon? Their pastei de nata. These pastries are heavenly! Did you see a Fado performance as well? That was a pretty unique experience. 😉
Normally I don’t read post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite great article.
After looking over a handful of the blog posts on your website, I honestly like your technique of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website too and tell me how you feel.
Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your content. This article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.
Such a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing so many details! I love the photo of the snacks, made me hungry 🙂 Lisbon looks amazing, I hope I can make it there soon as its not that far from London as well. And the station Sete Rios… I think its the most wonderful bus station I have ever seen 🙂
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Lisbon is on my list of places I want to visit. Are those egg custard tarts? They look so good! Thanks for sharing your trip.
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I loved Lisbon when I was there. I enjoyed the Manueline architecture at the Mosterio dos Jeronimos. I also loved the Belem Tower. But I did not get a chance to see the Aquarium like you did! I hope I will be able to do that when I am next in Lisbon.
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Great post!! It just makes me go to Lisbon as soon as possible! The city looks great, I have friends living in there and I might go later on this year. It will be an interesting experience to visit the country that colonized mine (I’m from Brazil).
🙂
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Everyone has to witness FADO when in LISBOA. It’s such a great city and I didn’t know it was older than London and Paris. Does it really predate Rome though? Love their pastries too, sinfully delicious
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Wow it definitely sounds like you made the most of your 4am arrival! I learned so much from this post. It’s quite educational. (I also want to eat ALL the pastries!!)
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I’ve heard so many great things about Lisbon. It’s one of the top places I want to visit. The architecture looks beautiful. I love all the history you provide!
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I’m getting hungry looking at the deliciously pastries! Yum 🙂
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We just visited Lisbon in November last year and absolutely loved it! It’s such a cute town with its colourful houses and narrow streets. There are some many beautiful and impressive buildings and a bunch of great viewpoints looking out over the city. My favourite thing about Lisbon? Their pastei de nata. These pastries are heavenly! Did you see a Fado performance as well? That was a pretty unique experience. 😉
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Thank you for this great introduction to Lisbon (and Portuguese) history. Now I’ll have a head start when I go visit.
Happy continued travels!
C
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After falling in love with Porto and Northern Portugal, I’m hoping to visit Lisbon soon. This post is great, makes me want to go even more!
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Beautiful post, great place to visit. Thanks for sharing your experience
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Thank you for sharing it in so much detail…. Makes me want to go here.
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Beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to live vicariously through you.
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Thanks for the history lesson! I know very little about Portugal but it is somewhere I’d love to visit
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My kind of post. Working in the travel industry this is how people should write – based on their own experience. Thanks!
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I would love to go to Portugal, It looks so fun and the scenes and photos look really culturally rich!
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Thanks for sharing your experience… This is really inspiring, the city looks great!
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What’s up, I log on to your blog daily. Your story-telling style is
witty, keep up the good work!
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Great information and beautiful photos! Lissabon is one of my favourite cities in Europe! 🙂
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Normally I don’t read post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite great article.
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After looking over a handful of the blog posts on your website, I honestly like your technique of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website too and tell me how you feel.
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Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
LikeLike
I blog quite often and I truly appreciate your content. This article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.
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