Spring break: Lisboa, Portugal

Marina Aagaard, MFE

Well, well, well. A very busy start-of-year teaching schedule leaves no time for long trips or vacations. Uhhh uhhh, uhhh, what to do?
If I want to see something new? With time and money too few …

Seek out a destination not too far away. Find cheap travel offer. Find friend(s) to visit.
Take a city trip to Lisboa (Lisbon), Portugal? There is much to see in a relatively short time frame and though it was not on the Top 10 of my to-see list, it fits the requirements nicely and so I get a sort of travel surprise …

Ponte Vasco da Gama (1998), designed by Armando Rito. Lisboa, Portugal.
The longest bridge in Europe, 17.2 km (10.7 mi).

What is Portugal famous for? Apart from Port wine among other things tiled houses … and being pretty certain, that Christoffer Columbus (~1451-1506) was really Portuguese – born Salvador Fernandes, later renamed (by the order of the king) Cristofom Colon – and not Italian (Genova) …

          

Portugal is also famous for a charming and interesting capital, a city with a special blend of ancient history, old houses, novel street art and state-of-the-art architecture.
Why had I not thought of visiting Lisboa before?

Lisboa Portela Airport Interior

Gare do Oriente Station interior. Amazingly beautiful.
Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Gare do Oriente Station exterior. One of the largest train stations in the world.
And one of the most photographed due to the unique architecture.
Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Lisboa Metro views, huge and elegant spaces.

Above ground: Take a tram.

Lisboa is the oldest city in Western Europe, one of the oldest cities in the world and the westernmost capital in Europe, situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the river Tagus. There are approximately 3 mio. people living in the Metropolitan Area representing more than a quarter of the population in Portugal.

Lisboa has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Belém Tower (photo above of model and tower behind) and Jerónimos Monastery in late gothic Manueline style, finished in the 1520’s by architect João de Castilho. (three photos below).

     

In 1994 Lisboa was the European Capital of Culture and in 1998 it hosted the Expo ’98 (1998 Lisbon World Exposition). Expo area with a.o. Oceanário de Lisboa, the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, below:

According to an expatriate friend in Lisboa, Portugal is a country with many business opportunities, because the country is developing in many areas, the prices are reasonable (cheaper than in many other European countries) and the Portuguese people are apparently much friendlier and forthcoming than many other Europeans …

And the highlights of Lisboa are absolute free as in gratis: Wonderful views of beautiful and interesting oldschool and newschool architecture and street art side by side.

Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown.
Not another museum of modern art, but a research and diagnostic center with top scientists and medical science helping people with cancer, brain damage and blindness. Architects: Charles Correa Associates:
“Architecture as Sculpture. Architecture as Beauty. Beauty as therapy.”

Lisboa Praça do Comércio and arch leading to Augusta street.
The 1755 Lisboa earthquake, tsunami and fires destroyed many buildings.
The city centre was rebuild in the Pombaline style, a secular, utilitarian architecture with rational, regular structures mixed with rococo details.

And everywhere, murals and graffiti … plus ugly tagging.

This Lisboa trip had my eyes working overtime …
A must-see city for art and architecture lovers.