Historic Locals

Lisbon Town Hall

In addition to its architectural and artistic value, the Lisbon Town Hall building reflects both the image of the city and of a Liberal, Regenerating and Republican Portugal. Important events in Portuguese history, such as the Proclamation of the Republic on 5th October 1910, have strong associations with this building.

Rua Augusta

Rua Augusta is located in one of the busiest quarters of Lisbon. Closed to traffic, it has all sorts of shops for all sorts of tastes, flower sellers, hot chestnut sellers, street artists like the "statue-man" or the familiar harmonica player and many, many more. At both ends of Rua Augusta are two magnificent squares: Praça do Rossio and Praça do Comércio. Near the archway opening onto Praça do Comércio, street stalls sell a wide variety of items: rings, jewelry, shoes, bags, scarves or temporary tattoos.

Praça Marquês de Pombal

Praça Marquês de Pombal is located between Avenida de Liberdade and Parque Eduardo VII. At the centre is a Monument to the Marquês de Pombal, inaugurated in 1934. Once named Rotunda, it was the scene of the decisive events leading up to the Proclamation of the Portuguese Republic on 5th October 1910.

Views of São Jorge Castle

The São Jorge castle is located in the parish of Castelo (castle), in the city, municipality and district of Lisbon, Portugal. Primitively known simply as the Moorish Castle, it dominates the city from the highest hill of the historic centre, offering visitors one of the finest views of the city and the Tagus estuary. It was conquered from the moors by King Afonso Henriques in 1147.

The Jerónimos Monastery

The monument to the wealth of the Discoveries, the Jerónimos Monastery, is located in Lisbon at the entrance to the River Tagus. A prime example of manueline architecture, it is the finest 16th century monastery in Portugal and one of Europe's major hall churches.

The Lisbon Sé or Cathedral

The Lisbon Sé or Cathedral, originally named the Church of Santa Maria Maior, was built by order in 1150 of King Afonso I of Portugal, three years after he had reconquered Lisbon from the Moors. Built on the site of a former mosque for the first bishop of Lisbon, English crusader Gilbert of Hastings, the Sé was badly damaged by three earthquakes in the 15th century and the devastating earthquake of 1755, and has undergone extensive renovation over the centuries.

The Praça do Império Garden

The Praça do Império Garden is located in Lisbon. With an area of 3.3 hectares, it is situated between Avenida da Índia and Rua de Belém near the Monastery of Jerónimos. Created in 1940 for the Great Portuguese World Exhibition, the area was formerly a beach, known as "Restelo beach".

Praça dos Restauradores

Praça dos Restauradores is located in Lisbon and is characterised by a tall obelisk raised in 1886 to commemorate the end of Spanish rule in 1664. The bronze figures on the pedestal represent Victory, bearing a palm and a crown, and Liberty. The names and dates on the sides of the obelisk list the battles in the War of Restoration.

The Belém Tower

The Belém Tower is one of Lisbon's most emblematic monuments. Located on the right bank of the Tagus, on the site of the former beach of Belém, it was originally totally surrounded by water, however with the progressive creeping of the shore over the years, it is now completely on land. Classified World Heritage Site by UNESCO, on 7th July 2007 it was voted one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Originally dedicated to St. Vincent of Saragossa, patron saint of Lisbon, and known in the 16th century as the St. Vincent or Belém Fortress and Restelo Fortress, it was a fortification forming part of the defence system that guarded the entrance to the Tagus River initiated at the time of King João II of Portugal (1481-95), which also included the Cascais Fortress on the right bank and the Caparica Fortress on the left.

Church or Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

The Church or Monastery of São Vicente de Fora is dedicated to St. Vincent of Saragossa, who was declared patron saint of Lisbon in 1173 when his relics were brought from Algarve to this church outside the city walls. Designed by Italian architect Filippo Terzi and completed in 1627, it has an austere, symmetrical Italian style facade with towers on either side and the statues of saints Agostinho, Sebastian and Vincent over the entrance. Inside the eye is drawn to the baroque canopy by Machado de Castro over the altar, flanked by life-sized wooden statues.