Lisbon

Sunrise over Lisbon as seen from Ajuda; Portugal

Sunrise in Lisbon | Portugal

For over two years we had been beating ourselves up with thoughts of moving to Lisbon. On the one hand, in Berlin, we had family,

Mafra Palace - library; Portugal

Mafra Palace | Portugal

In 1711, Portuguese King John V vowed to build a convent if his wife Mariana would give him offspring. So with the birth of his

Picture of Azulejo in Lisbon; Portugal

Portuguese Azulejo | Lisbon, Portugal

If you’ve ever been to Portugal, you probably know “Azulejo” very well. These are colourful tiles that are used to decorate buildings, palaces, churches, schools, etc. They are usually of different forms and tints. It was a big surprise for us to discover that in actual fact, the primary purpose of Azulejo, was a practical and not a decorative one.

Jerónimos Monastery and The Garden in Lisbon; Portugal

Jeronimos Monastery | Lisbon, Portugal

Golden hour is one of our favourite times to visit the Jerónimos Monastery. The tourist buses disappear briefly, and the soft evening light frames the Manueline style façade of the building and the gardens become a calm wonderland.

The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) in Lisbon; Portugal

The Monument to the Discoveries | Lisbon, Portugal

We were very lucky to see the Monument to the Discoveries following its renovation, which was accomplished a few years ago. This shot was taken during a winter sunrise; when the sun was rising just behind the monument, softly enlightening the limestone statues. You could almost imagine the Portuguese discoverers, setting sails early in the morning and leaving the safe Lisbon shores to explore the new lands.

Lisbon - Queijo de Azeitão and Vinho Verde; Portugal

Wine and cheese | Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon delicacies always test the health of our bodies – in particular, our liver. With so many quality bottles of wine and cheese, it’s very difficult to survive just even a day, without trying one of these or better yet – the duo combination…

The Church of Santa Maria de Belém together with Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal

The Church of Santa Maria de Belém | Lisbon, Portugal

The Church of Santa Maria de Belém together with the Jerónimos Monastery, are the finest examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style. Though carrying similar architectural styles, in our modern world now, the church and the monastery have quite a contrasting experience.

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon at sunrise

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) | Lisbon, Portugal

Have you ever wondered what MAAT is and what it stands for? This is an abbreviation of the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. The purpose of this modern building is to be a space for international dialogue, critical thinking and debate. Located on the coast of Lisbon in Belem, it is easy to reach and is a must-see!

Street art by Bordalo II in Lisbon, Portugal.

Street art | Lisbon, Portugal

This bee by Bordalo II is not difficult to find. There are more of these sculptures with various other animals in Lisbon and some are more challenging to find. If you’re a street art lover, I can only recommend that you wander around Lisbon to find more of these beauties.

Cantina restaurant in Lisbon’s LX Factory; Portugal

LX Factory Cantina | Lisbon, Portugal

LX Factory is like a separated small city in Lisbon. It is an old industrial part of the capital which was transformed during the late 90’s to a modern art site. In our day, it has become a paradise for street photographers and store owners who do not like the traditional concepts of commerce and restaurants with a typical style.

Lisbon LX Factory with a concept store; Portuguese sardines as souvenirs.

LX Factory and a Portuguese sardine shop | Lisbon, Portugal

We found this sardine shop while visiting LX Factory in Lisbon – a city in itself. In 1896, in this part of Lisbon (Alcântara), there was a fabric factory and many other stores that also moved to this industrial site. Unfortunately, these companies did not survive the decay of the golden industrial age and soon the complex of the building was deserted.

Cristo Rei (Statue of Jesus Christ the King) in Almada opposite to Lisbon, Portugal.

Cristo Rei in Almada | Lisbon, Portugal

This photo was literally taken from our kitchen window. We were staying in one of the Airbnb’s in Bairo Alto, which gave us a clear view of the Tagus River, 25 Abril Bridge and the Statue of Christ the King located on the opposite shores and Almada.

Historical Lisbon tram in Alfama, Portugal.

Tram in Alfama | Lisbon, Portugal

Who hasn’t seen any photos of a Lisbon Tram passing through the narrow streets of Alfama? I think it’s one of the popular icons in the capital of Portugal, much like the bikes are for Amsterdam.

View of Lisbon with the sunset – Uptown to Avenidas Novas; Portugal.

Sunset View | Lisbon, Portugal

There are 16 official viewpoints in Lisbon. Whilst we walked through old parts of Portugal’s capital, we noticed particular signs “Miradouro” and the assigned titles or names of these points. Aside from these official viewpoints in Lisbon, there are dozens of cafes, bars, restaurants and even streets from which the view of the city, is simply spectacular.

Lisbon Panorama from St George Castle; Portugal in the winter.

Panorama from St George Castle | Lisbon, Portugal

This old castle, São Jorge, is likely one of the oldest, historical sites to visit in Lisbon. The hill that Saint George Castle is situated on, was previously inhabited by the Celtic tribe, the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans. This site was built in the 10th century as a protection against invading groups; the first walls were built in order to do this. Centuries later, the castle survived through many earthquakes, sieges and even the ever-changing rulers.

The 25 de Abril Bridge and Christ The King statue on Tagus River – Lisbon, Portugal.

The 25 de Abril Bridge and Christ The King statue | Lisbon, Portugal

The 25 de Abril Bridge connects the city of Lisbon with the municipalities of Almada. It is the 32nd largest suspended bridge in the world. During the day, you will see that it appears as a dark red colour and it reminded me so much of the Golden Bridge in San Francisco. Just behind 25 de Abril Bridge in the municipality of Almada stands a statue of Jesus Christ – as its name emphasises – “Sanctuary of Christ The King”.

The Bica Funicular in Lisbon on a sunny day, Portugal.

The Bica Funicular | Lisbon, Portugal

It is not only the Bica Funicular that makes this location so picturesque. The traditional yellow tram perfectly blends into the joyful homes of the Pombaline downtown of Lisbon, which dates back to 18th century. The view is accompanied by the beautiful turquoise water of the Tagus River down the street. It is definitely one of my favorite places in Lisbon!