Few days Arrives in Lisbon

The Lisbon region featuring its sports and cultural diversity is an ideal holiday spot for va- cationers seeking variety. Whether it be concerts, theatre, museums, nightlife, history, gastronomy or outdoor leisure sports such as golf and surfing — the Lisbon region leaves no wish unfulfilled.
Found at the mouth in the Tagus River (“Rio Tejo”) and presumably founded with the Phoenicians around 1200 B.C. like a trading post, Lisbon fascinates visitors having its rich cultural and historical heritage and it is always worth a weekend city break. In the eventful history they have witnessed many invaders such as the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Alans, Vandals, Suebi, Visigoths and Moors. In 1147, the 400 years long moorish domination of Lisbon was ended when crusaders led by Alfonso I of Portugal reconquered Lisbon during the Christian Reconquista.
All rulers left their cultural imprints around the city, thereby making Lisbon an exilerating and unique mixture of one of the most different cultural and architectural influences with Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and Traditional Portuguese architecture. In the so-called “Portuguese Chronilogical age of Discovery” relating to the 15th and 17th century Lisbon became strategi- cally essential as place to start for the Portuguese search for Africa, India, cina and Brazil. The legendary Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama left Lisbon in 1497 to disco- ver the sea option to India.
Although Lisbon was largely destroyed by way of a disastrous earthquake in 1755 and entirely rebuilt in contemporary architectural style afterwards, many historical monuments have remained untouched with that nature catastrophe and are proof of the cultural and historical diversity on this seaport. Among these historical sites appealing you find Lisbon Castle/ Castle of Sao Jorge (“Castelo de Sao Jorge”) built-in a citadel-like style and Lisbon Cathe- dral (“Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa” or “Se de Lisboa”) internal the 12th and 13th century at the end of Romanesque style, just to mention several. The Belem Tower (“Torre de Belem”) featuring its Portuguese Late Gothic, Manueline and Renessaince Style as well as the Jeronimos Monastery (“Mosteiro dos Jeronimos”) with its Manueline, Plateresco, Renaissance and Gothic style were built in the 16th century and declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO in 1983.

At the outset of the 19th century Lisbon was invaded and pillaged through the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1910 the first Portuguese Republic was declared. In 1998 Lisbon hosted the globe Exhibition Expo ?98.
Art lovers will relish various museums in Lisbon such as the “Museo do Azulejo” (Museum of Portuguese-style Tile Mosaics), the “Oceanario de Lisboa” (Lisbon Oceanarium) as well as the “Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga” (National Museum of Ancient Art). Opera lovers will appre- ciate the rich cultural agenda on the “Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos”. Tourists will also love the many cafes and restaurants along with the numerous shopping possibilities including the Vasco da Gama Shopping Mall and Amoreiras Local mall. Don?t miss a fado music performance in the Alfama, Lisbon?s oldest quarter.
The general public transport system in Lisbon is incredibly well-developed and allows easy and quick acces towards the surrounding Lisbon region with Sintra, the Estoril Coast along with the Setubal peninsula. Sintra as well as the Estoril Coast can be obtained from the Ribatejo region north from the Tagus estuary (hence the name “Ribatejo” meaning “riba do Tejo” (“on, or beyond, banks of the Tagus”)). The Estoril Coast featuring its beaches and holiday resorts provides a large variety of free time activities including tennis, wandering, swimming or sailing and is also the best choice for beach holidays. The prime density of golf courses on the Estoril Coast also helps it be a pa- radise for golf players. Surfers will favour surfing hotspots like Carcavelos and Ericeira.
Another daytrip destination simple to reach from Lisbon is Sintra. Its historic monuments such because 1800s Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional de Pena), the 9th and 10th century Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) and also the 15th and 16th century Sintra National Palace (Palacio Nacional de Sintra) as well as the Sintra-Cascais Park are invariably worth visiting. Sintra was declared a World Heritage Site from the UNESCO in 1995.
The Setubal peninsula (also called “Costa Azul” (“Blue Coast”)) is found in the Alentejo region south of the Tagus estuary (hence the name “Alentejo” which suggests “alem do Tejo” (“beyond the Tagus”)). It’s famous for the Arrabida National Park. Visitors will probably be impressed with its unique Mediterranean vegetation untouched by touristic development and also the unspoilt wildlife and can expect to see storks, flamingos and dolphins, flamingos. Dolphin watching is a major tourist attraction. The nature protection area invites the traveller to various leisure time activities such as river cruises, walking, mountain biking, riding, heat ballooning, diving and golf.
Check out about day trip from Lisbon web site: click here.