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Lisbon ancient European city

August 27, 2013 by David Herd

Lisbon hilltop district of Bairro Alto.

Lisbon ancient European city

Lisbon ancient western European city is an experience to remember. Wandering through the winding narrow streets among dozens of restaurants and bars, with jazz, reggae, electronica and Fado filling the air and revelers partying until dawn.

Baxio district

Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions.

Amazing restaurants in Lisbon.

Food fabulous food, I think Lisbon is one of the most underrated cities in Europe.

Mouthwatering display of cured ham

The atmosphere in many of Lisbon’s restaurants is wonderful.

Lisbon ancient western European city

Bairro Alto is a great district for interesting restaurants.

Bairro Alto at night

Many of Lisbon’s buildings have not changed in centuries.

Fado, traditional melancholic singing.

Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar Rui Vieira Nery states that “the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best. But even that information was frequently modified within the generational transmission process that made it reach us today. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a characteristic sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia (loosely captured by the word saudade, or “longing”). However, although the origins are difficult to trace, today fado is regarded, by many, as simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which symbolizes the feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent lifelong damage) Many thanks to Wikipedia.

Play it again Jorge.

Jorge really seemed to love his work. 🙂

The famous Café A Brasileira.

The Brasileira was opened by Adriano Telles on 19 November 1905 at No.122 (an old shirt shop), to sell “genuine Brazilian coffee” from the State of Minas Gerais, a product generally unappreciated in homes of Lisboetas of that period. In order to promote his product, Telles offered each shopper, who bought a kilogram of ground coffee (for 720 réis), a free cup of coffee.

Of course coffee at Brasileira was excellent

The Brasileira is one of the most famous cafes in Europe.

Lisbon, both modern & ancient.

There is a modern side to this ancient European city.

São Jorge Castle

Although the first fortification on this hilltop date to the 2nd century BC, archaeological excavations have identified a human presence in the Tagus valley as far back as the 6th century BC. The first fortification was, presumably, erected in 48 BC, when Lisbon was classified as a Roman municipality.

Beautiful Lisbon building.

A wonderful city to wander around in the evening.

Should the guy on the left be considered suspicious?

The cops are too busy trying out their new Segway.

This is one very steep hill.

Walking down is not a problem.

Lisbon tram.

The old fashioned Lisbon trams are a great way to get around the city.

So many restaurants & such little time.

Lisbon was such a total surprise for me, unlike the more popular busier European cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona & Berlin, Lisbon turned out to be a gem. I am probably a little biased being such a lover of good restaurants, wine and music, coupled with the beautiful old buildings and narrow winding streets in the Bairro Alto district, this city has it all.