Going to Lisbon

What to do in Lisbon

by Candyce H. Stapen

Coasts, castles, and beaches come with a stay in Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese). The warmest and westernmost capital in Europe, Lisbon rises on seven hills situated along the Tejo River and its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean. The port made Lisbon—and Portugal—powerful in the 15th century; during this "Age of Discovery," ships sailed from Lisbon's harbor to the New World in search of gold and glory.

You can get a sense of the city during its medieval prime by strolling the cobblestone streets of Alfama, a centuries-old neighborhood once populated by nobles. It's fun to search for the family coat-of-arms fronting the 16th - to 18th-century houses. Along the winding streets, you pass shops, cafes, old churches, and even vendors selling canaries.

The high, stone walls of the Alfama's...

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