Living in Europe’s only capital city blessed
with ocean-facing beaches, lucky Lisbonites
enjoy sensational surf and marvellous
marine cuisine. It’s the kind of place you
never want to leave, yet the golden age
of exploration began right here, with
Portuguese ships sailing west, off the edge
of the known world.
Lord of the pies
All Portuguese cuisine is delicious
(especially the seafood), but in the
capital a mysterious little pie
is the undisputed top of the
taste pops. Pastéis de Nata
–
cloud-soft, sweet-as-you-like
custard tarts – are a Lisbon
sensation. The café at
Antiga Confeitaria de Belém
sells 16,000 handmade,
warm Pastéis de Nata
a day.
The sweet treats were invented
by Catholic monks at the city’s
Jerónimos Monastery in Santa
Maria de Belém. Their 180-year-
old recipe is a guarded secret, only
disclosed to three chefs at a time.
Jurassic Park Life
Lisbon is surrounded by nature parks. Cabo da Roca in
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is mainland Europe’s westernmost
point, known as the place ‘where the land ends and the sea
begins’. Real dinosaur tracks can be seen wandering up the
chalky south cliff behind the park’s Praia Grande, as though
the mighty monsters have just waded ashore. The fossilised
footprints are 100 million years old, and are believed to
belong to Megalosaurus and Iguanodon.
Discovery Zone
In medieval times, the Atlantic was known as Mare
Tenebrosum
(Sea of Darkness). The Portuguese
helped light up the modern map during the Age of
Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, producing
explorers like Vasco da Gama, who left Lisbon to become
the first European to reach India by sea. Padrão dos
Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) on Lisbon’s
Tagus River celebrates these adventurous achievements.
Fado
Sad-o
Lisbon has its very own
soundtrack – a traditional
style of music called Fado
,
which features people
playing guitars and mandolins. A
fadista
sings a story over the top.
The tale is usually a sad one about
love, mourning or loss.
PLACE OF WONDER
The Jerónimos Monastery is an
amazing 500-year-old Gothic
landmark, carved out of pale
stone. Beauty lies in every intricate
detail. The buildings are decorated
with some of the most awesome
gargoyles and scary beasts
in Europe, but there are also
astonishing scalloped arches, tiered
cloisters and columns twisted with
stone vines and leaves.
SURF AND SOCCER
With the Atlantic Ocean lapping at their door, fun-loving city dwellers
regularly hit the seaside at weekends or after school. Central Carcavelos is
popular with local kids, who spend hours playing beach football on its flat
golden sands. Praia do Guincho beach, just north of the city centre, is famous
for its amazing sunset and great breakers for surfing.
Hill Busters
Lisbon’s nickname is A Cidade das Sete Colinas (The City of Seven Hills). Bright canary-
yellow trams wobble and screech up and down the sloped streets, which sometimes sit
on different levels. A bizarre lift has been also erected to help residents get around.
The Elevador de Santa Justa was designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel (who
built the Eiffel Tower). The lift is now so famous it has become a tourist attraction.