Jerónimos Monastery (pt. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) is a massive religious complex located in Lisbon’s Belém district on the Tagus coast. The building became a symbol of the power of the powerful during the era of overseas territorial expansion, coinciding with the end of the Renaissance. Today, the monastery is considered one of the wonders of Portugal.
Casa dos Bicos, or translated as “house of thorns”, is one of the most charming townhouses within the center of Lisbon. It owes its uniqueness to its miraculous rescue during the 1755 earthquake. This fact allowed the building to remain unchanged since its construction several centuries ago.
Lisbon is a city of monuments and architectural gems, but not all of them date back to ancient times. The Portuguese capital is also regarded as a pearl of utilitarian architecture, the crowning glory of which is considered to be the Gare do Oriente. Located virtually in the heart of Lisbon, the station serves 75 million passengers a year.
Lisbon’s airport is located about seven kilometers northeast of the city center. In January 2019, the Portuguese government announced a plan worth more than one billion euros to expand the current port, as well as build a new airport in the sub-Lisbon city of Montijo. The construction of the new port has been criticized by naturalists and environmentalists due to plans to build on current nesting zones in the Tagus Valley.
Monument to the Explorers (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) is located in Lisbon’s Belém neighborhood on the northern shore of the Tagus River estuary. It was built as a tribute to the bygone era of geographic discovery of the Portuguese nation, at a time when the country was considered a thalassocracy. The site was not chosen at random, as it rises above the destination of ships returning from transoceanic voyages that were the source of the power of the Portuguese empire.
The Troia Peninsula is a very important place on the tourist map of Portugal today. It is located in the county of Grândola, right next to the mouth of the Sado River to the Atlantic Ocean. It is characterized by long, sandy beaches, a marina filled with yachts, a unique harbor built on wooden stilts, as well as magnificent monuments of the period of the Roman Empire.
Thousands of thrill-seeking daredevils flock to this small Portuguese town every year. Nazaré is one of the meccas of surfing and if you are planning a bit of water frenzy it is, next to Peniche and Ericeira, a must-see point on the map of Portugal. The city is located about 120 kilometers north of Lisbon on the Costa de Prata (Silver Coast). Below I try to present the easiest ways to get to Nazare from Lisbon.
Lisbon Airport is the largest airport in Portugal, so it is natural that the Humberto Delgado Airport tarmac also receives the most tourists. However, not everyone wants to stay on the Tagus River and chooses to go to the warmer and sandy Algarve. Below is a packet of information on how to get to the south of Portugal most easily.
Tomar, the last stronghold of the Knights Templar, one of the most beautiful monasteries in Portugal and by far the prettiest window in the entire country. The town, located just 150 kilometers from Lisbon, also attracts hundreds of tourists every year for the Festa dos Tabuleiros one of the most beautiful traditional festivals. The mysticism that accompanies the fun fits perfectly with the dozens of myths that have grown up around the settlement. Some speak of hundreds of secret tunnels under the old town, others of great riches hidden by the Knights Templar. In addition, near Tomar is the supposedly haunted castle of Castelo de Almourol, where phantoms beg for forgiveness on St. John’s night.
Fatima, located 125 kilometers north of Lisbon, is the most visited tourist destination in Portugal. The homes of the shepherds who experienced the apparition in the early 20th century and the shrine standing in the village of Cova de Iria are visited by more than six million pilgrims every year. Below I outline how to get from Lisbon to Fatima.