Colorful, charismatic and irresistible Lisbon provides a unique sensation of modern and at the same time old. In Alfam, you will experience Lisbon as it once was. The architecture of this oldest part of the city tells incredible stories, and the oldest bookstore in the world, created in 1732, testifies to its beauty. Known for its yellow tram, fado music, good nightlife, great shopping, amazing restaurants with seafood specialties, good wine, olives and very tasty treats such as traditional "pastel nata". What is characteristic of Lisbon are the famous Portuguese tiles that adorn most of the walking zones and squares. White is the color of warriors, while black was the favorite color of the patron saint of Lisbon, São Vicente.
The Palace of Ajuda was built in 18th century, and the royal family lived in it for some time. Construction in the Baroque style was started by architect Manuel Caetano, and was finished by Costa de Silva and Francisco Xavier in the neoclassical style. During its construction, the royal family lived in the palace, but in the beginning of 19th century the family fled to Brazil because of bad political situation. After that, the work on the completion of palace was slow, both due to political conflicts and lack of financial resources.
The National Pantheon was built in the 17th century, as the Church of the Santa Engrácia, to be transformed into the National Pantheon at the beginning of the 20th century. The church or Pantheon is located in a part of the city called Alfama, along the river Tagus and with its incredibly white color and size it stands out from other Lisbon buildings. Numerous famous Portuguese personalities are buried in this church.
Another symbol of Lisbon is the imposing Statue of Christ the King or Cristo Rei. This is something you can’t help but see while you’re in this city. It is over 110m high and is inspired by the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. The Patriarch of Lisbon visited Rio in 1934, and seeing the statue of Jesus Christ, he was inspired that on could be in Lisbon as well. The Catholic monument and sanctuary was built in 1959 as a sign of gratitude to God that Portugal was spared during World War II. The pedestal on which the statue stands is 82m high and consists of four arches with the chapel of Our Lady of Peace. The elevator is built into the pedestal and takes you to the part where you can enjoy a perfect view of Lisbon, more precisely, the area around Christ's feet is intended for visitors.
Commerce Square - Praca de Comercio. Squares are parts of the city that depict the energy of the people who live in it, a place to meet and talk. The commerce square is known for its history but also for its beauty; you will often hear that it is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It was built on the site of the old Royal Palace, destroyed in an earthquake. It faces the harbor while the southern end of the square is open towards the river Tagus.
The stone triumphal arch of Rua Augusta is one of the symbols of Lisbon, often visited and photographed. It is located on the Praca Comercio square and apart from being monumental and unrealistically beautiful, it is a significant historical attraction. In 1755, Lisbon was hit by a catastrophic earthquake, and after 100 years, this triumphal arch was built in memory of the reconstruction of the city, which suffered a lot. When they started building the gate, it was conceived as a bell tower, and in the end a triumphal arch was created.
