If
want to get away but can't decide on medieval mystery or slick modern
shopping why not head to Lisbon, capital city of Portugal? Situated
on Europe's Atlantic coast, Lisbon has been the home port of
explorers for hundreds of years but still remains an undiscovered
treasure of a city, less than two and a half hours by plane from
London.
When
to go
Whatever
the time of year, the weather in Lisbon is always likely to be warmer
and sunnier than the UK. Major sites and tourist attractions,
including art galleries and museums, are open all year round, but
timing a visit to coincide with one of Lisbon's many religious or
cultural festivals, will add extra colour and variety to a trip.
Highlights include:
- The Festa de Santo António, 12 to 13 June
Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195 and was revered in his
lifetime for his compassion and his help with matchmaking and
relationships. This two day feast celebrates his legacy with parades,
music, dancing and fireworks, plus lots of wine and grilled sardines.
Even today single women pray for Saint Anthony's help to find
husbands, and newly-weds dedicate gifts in his honour.
- Festa do Vinho, first fortnight in November
Winter visitors may find the Festival do Vinho more heart-warming.
The year's young wine is toasted and drunk in vast quantities, music
and folk dancing is plentiful, and handicrafts are on sale for some
early Christmas shopping.
Where
to stay
With
a long history of hospitality to visitors, Lisbon offers a range of
accommodation options within easy walking distance of the main
attractions. For a short stay, visitors can splash out on the
old-fashioned grandeur of the Hotel Metropole overlooking the
fountains of Rossio Square.
For
a short or longer term budget option, why not consider a local home
stay? Shared apartment
rentals in Lisbon can be booked through
wimdu.co.uk, an online service putting city visitors in touch with
locals offering quality-checked spare rooms to rent out. It's a great
option for visitors wanting to make the most of local knowledge to
enhance their stay.
What
to do
While
there are many options on a longer stay, for a short stay there are
certain sites and activities that should be on everyone's Lisbon to
do list.
The
UNESCO world heritage site at Belém is approximately six kilometres
west of the centre, and is worth the small effort to get there. The
area is important as the place from which Vasco da Gama set sail in
1497 on his two year voyage to discover the sea route to India,
thereby changing the balance of world economic and political power.
The monastery built to celebrate his achievements is only one
highlight of this area. At opposing ends of the human timescale,
there are also the National Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of
Design.
For
those with a sense of irony, check out the We Hate Tourism tours.
What
to eat and drink
Eating
and drinking in Lisbon is what many people come to do. Making the
best of its coastal location, seafood is plentiful. The influence of
Indian and African spices and French cuisine can also be can also be
found in many of the indoor and outdoor restaurants. So even if you
have a holiday apartment
to yourselves, make sure you venture out for some local dining.
Resources:
- Visitors to Portugal - Official Portugal tourism website
- Lisbon turism - Find out what there is to do in Lisbon
- Vasco da Gama - Wikipedia information on the Portuguese explorer
