Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and the largest city of the country at the same time. Lisbon is the center of politics, economy and culture of this country. The name of the city Lisbon, according to historical documents and evidences means ‘’The Safe Harbor’’, and this name originated in Roman times.
Lisbon was also inhabited in prehistoric times - the city was actually founded by the Phoenicians. There is a myth spreading through people that the mythical hero Odysseus passed through the city, and the people of Lisbon themselves like to tell this legend to the visitors. Under Roman rule, Lisbon experienced the greatest prosperity and development of crafts and trade. Lisbon then becomes an important port. In the Middle Ages, rulers changed: Germanic tribes, Visigoths, Moors, and Lisbon has long been a mix of Christian, Arab and Jewish populations.
In 1225, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal. In the 15th century, Lisbon became an important port from which all important world expeditions departed. Expeditions significantly connected the city with the rest of the world, and most importantly with America. In the 16th century, the city became extremely developed and modern for that time. In the period between the 16th and 17th centuries, Portugal was part of Spain. For a whole decade, under Napoleon Bonaparte, Lisbon was ruled by the French. Although always its own and unique, the culture of Lisbon is a mix of several cultures that ruled the city and thus left their mark. At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a civil war and the fall of the kingdom in Portugal. Both world wars bypassed Portugal, but the dictatorship of Antonio Salazar did not bypass this country.
The municipality of Lisbon has over 500 thousand inhabitants, and together with the suburbs, it is estimated that Lisbon has about 3 million inhabitants. The quality of life in Lisbon is considered to be very good, mostly based on tourism, trade and various businesses. As before, so today, the port of Lisbon has a large share in trade and profit of both the city and the entire country.
Buildings of various architectural styles were mostly built in the 18th century in the city, and they are the ones responsible for today's appearance and beauty of this city. The old part of the city has been declared a World Heritage Site and is under the protection of UNESCO. The oldest building is the Lisbon Cathedral from the 12th century. There is also the Belem Tower from the 15th century, built in honor of all the naval discoveries that started from Lisbon. It was built by King Manuel I of Portugal, and it was from this tower that the port of the city was defended from the enemy.
The city is rich in museums, most of which are dedicated to the seas and oceans. The largest European bridge is located in Lisbon (Vasco da Gama), the largest airport in Portugal is located in Lisbon, as well as some of the best European football teams. Lisbon has been the European Capital of Culture since 1994, and since 1988, popular EXPO exhibitions have been held regularly in the city.
Madeira is a beautiful island in the Atlantic Ocean that is teeming with life, offers a display of brilliantly coloured flowers and fragrant fruits which most visitors might have never seen before, wonderful nature, splendid views, amazing hiking trails etc. it is so hard to put into words the uniqueness of Madeira Island and its nature. The volcanic nature of the island cossets away most of the island’s beaches behind its high cliffs, but instead offering spectacular viewpoints onto the ocean, lush forests that hide incredible animal and plant species as well as many hidden locations waiting to be uncovered. Even though the main attractions of the island are its exotic tropical nature and botanical gardens, Madeira also has well-developed cities catering for the needs of modern tourists with a lot of sights, history, shopping areas, restaurants etc.
The capital of Portugal, located in the extreme western part of the Iberian Peninsula, is Lisbon. Tucked among seven hills, on the north side of the river Tejo, Lisbon is often referred as the city of hills. We will selfishly say that this is the most beautiful city in Europe. It lies on the Atlantic coast, rich in history and culture. As the largest city in the country, it has approx. 2.9 million inhabitants with suburbs. It is the trade, economic, cultural and political center of Portugal
Romantic, inspiring, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and lies along the Douro River, occupying the northern part of the country and is often called the "Capital of the North". It is known for its wines, gastronomy, granite, football, moderate-continental climate and beautiful landmarks. It belongs to the district of Porto, and forms one of the centers of the Iberian Peninsula. Flowery balconies, narrow streets, bridges and tiles are something that gives this city a personal touch and makes it perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The origin of the name Port is linked to the ancient Roman city called Portus Kale. The name of the country Portugal is derived from the same name. Porto has been on the list of UNESCO's world cultural heritage since 1996. Porto is known for its historic center which looks colorful, and the rest of the city is very young and energetic, just like its inhabitants.
