City Overview
Long gone are the days when Lisbon was simply regarded as the unfortunate capital of Portugal, the ‘Poor Man of Europe’. Today, this proud Portuguese capital is buzzing, after reinventing itself as one of Europe’s most captivating city-break destinations and a key business hub, with the famous seven hills and the sweeping River Tagus once again full of life. Lisbon overflows with confidence, from its funky new avant-garde buildings and its ever growing number of tourist attractions, through to its trendy bars and world-class nightclubs.
Things have not looked so good since the halcyon days of the ‘Great Age of the Discoveries’ in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Lisbon was at the helm of a grand empire that ruled over numerous territories across the globe. Voluminous sailing ships and their brave adventurers set sail from this city west coast of Portugal and waved goodbye to Lisbon, not knowing whether they would ever make it home again or if they would return in triumph, having discovered new lands. Remnants of this golden age remain both in the city centre and also further out, in the suburb of Belém, where visitors can immerse themselves in Portugal’s epic past. This rich and eclectic history complements the new face of Lisbon, which is most dramatically showcased at the Parque das Nações, the futuristic playground built for the wildly successful Expo 98. The Parque has now become a Mecca for both visitors and locals alike and is a shining example of urban regeneration, having transformed one of the city’s most rundown areas. New businesses are also springing up on the city outskirts, to complement those already prospering in the city centre.
If Lisbon constantly shifts between old and new it also fluctuates between work and play, formal and informal, trendy and tacky. It is very much an living city, with the oldest streets not given over to museums but to old women who harangue passers-by with their wares in a scene more 15th century than 21st. If Lisbon impresses families as a playground for children, it is also something of a playground for adults, a giant theme park where even getting around – via the clanking old trams, the gravity defying funiculars and the bobbing boats – is immense fun and the next meal or mellow coffee in a pavement café is only a step away. This sense of carnival fun reaches its zenith as the sun comes down, with the melancholy of traditional fado contrasting with the rave clubs now brightening up the night.
In summer, Lisbon boils through the hot, humid days, which are mercifully often cooled by afternoon sea breezes, while even in the colder months, tables often spill out of the cafés. Lisbon’s renaissance will be complete in 2004, when the city will boast the two biggest stadiums as it hosts the final of the European Football Championships, an event, like Expo 98, which looks certain to reinforce the local belief that Lisbon is now one of the great European capitals.
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