City Orientation Walking Tour

Transcription

1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - City Orientation Walking Tour Lisbon is renowned for its architectural splendor presented in many of the old and modern buildings, as well as recognized cultural heritage carefully preserved in museums and art galleries. This tour will help you explore three most centrally located districts of Lisbon: Chiado, Baixa and Bairro Alto. These bairros or neighborhoods carry great historical, cultural and social significance and are the best places to see the Lisbon life in vivo. Guide Location: Portugal» Lisbon # of Attractions: 12 Tour Duration: 2 hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.5 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Lisbon Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Lisbon Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Lisbon. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Praca do Comercio B) Mude - Design and Fashion Museum C) Santa Justa Lift D) Chafariz do Carmo E) Carmo Convent (Museu Arqueológico do Carmo) F) Igreja de São Roque G) Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara H) Restauradores Square I) Rossio Square J) Figueira Square K) Castle of Saint George L) Lisbon Cathedral Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Praca do Comercio Regarded as the Gateway to Lisbon and Portugal, the Praca Do Comercio was once the main commercial hub of the city where the wealth from the colonies was brought to enrich the city and the country. It is a large U shaped square facing the Tagus River. The Praca Do Comercio is popularly known as Terriero do Paco or Palace Square. This is because it is on the site of the former royal Ribeira Palace. The palace and surrounding buildings were completely destroyed by the earthquake of The area was rebuilt as a square under the aegis of Marquis of Pombal. The square was renamed Praça do Comércio, the Square of Commerce, to indicate its new role in the economy of Lisbon. Architect, Euginio dos Santos designed the square in a U shape. The open end of the U shape faces the river and a large tower marks each end of the U. A large sculpture stands at the center of the square with the figures of Vasco da Gama and the marquis of Pombal among others. When Portugal was a flourishing colonial power, all government and port offices and commercial buildings were located around the square. Today, the tourist office is located at the Placa Do Comercio. It is also the site of the oldest café in Lisbon, the Martinho da Arcada a well known meeting place of artists, writers and politicians. Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - Address: Commerce Square, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Osvaldo Gago B) Mude - Design and Fashion Museum (must see) Mude which means change in Portuguese is the name given to the Design and Fashion Museum in Lisbon. It has an impressive collection of design and fashion classics from the 1930s to the present. Mude is located in the Palacio Verride, an eighteenth century palace that later became a bank. The old vault of the bank that was installed nearly 80 years ago is still located in the basement. It became the Design and Fashion Museum in In keeping with its name exhibits at Mude keep changing with new themes and new design displays at different times. The collection consists of works of over 230 designers from all over the world. A notable collection is that of Portuguese businessman, Francisco Capelo that includes 1200 dresses including the Jean Desses gown worn by Renee Zelweger to the 2001 Oscars and the 1947 New Look gown by Christian Dior. There is all an impressive collection of furnishings, jewelry and glass in addition to clothes. The underground vault and second floor host temporary changing exhibitions while the ground floor has displays of experimental and iconic clothing, furnishings and household objects. Visitors can view the creations of some of the best known names in the fashion business including Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier. Operation hours: Tue - Sun: 10:00-18:00 Address: Rua Augusta, 24, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Flickr and Chris C) Santa Justa Lift The Santa Justa Lift is a lift in the city of Lisbon situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo. The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in The Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - iron lift is decorated in neogothicstyle, with a different pattern on each storey. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that offers views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. There are two lift cages, each with a wooden interior and accommodation for a maximum of 20 passengers. The lift has become a tourist attraction in Lisbon as, among the urban lifts in Lisbon, Santa Justa is the only vertical one. Address: Rua Aurea and Rua de Santa Justa, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Flickr and Christine und Hagen Graf. Sight description based on wikipedia D) Chafariz do Carmo The Chafariz do Carmo is one of the several public fountains built in the city throughout the 15th-18th centuries to solve the acute problem of water supply. One of the most remarkable fountains, it is located in Largo do Carmo, beside the convent of the same name. Built in 1769, it was designed by Field Marshal Don Miguel Angelo de Blasco. The fountain is enclosed within a porch supported by four majestic pillars and was built on an aqueduct that carried water to the city. Address: Largo do Carmo, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and CorreiaPM E) Carmo Convent (Museu Arqueológico do Carmo) (must see) The Carmo Convent that was home to Carmelite nuns was ruined by the devastating earthquake that shook Lisbon in The ruined structure stands atop a hillock overlooking the busy Rosseo Square and faces the Lisbon Castle Hill. A well known knight, Nuno Alvares Pareira, who was the Supreme Commander of the Army next to the King commissioned the building of the Carmo Convent in Carmelite nuns from Moura in southern Portugal were its first residents. At the time it was the largest convent in Lisbon. After the earthquake, the ruined Gothic structure was put to many uses. It became military barracks and later wood was stored in the building. During the Carnation Revolution, it was the place of refuge of Marcelo Caetano, the successor of the dictatorial president, Antonio de Oliviera Salazar, and those loyal to him. He was later deposed, ending over half a Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - century of authoritarian rule in Portugal. Today, Carmo Convent houses an archeological museum. Exhibits displayed include tombs, mosaics, statues and ceramics. There are Visigothic Pillars, the remains of a Roman Tomb, a jasper figure of the Virgin Mary, South American Mummies, Spanish Moorish Azulejos and Visigothic artifacts and coins that date back to the thirteenth century obtained from excavations by the Association of Portuguese Archeologists. Opening hours: Oct - May: , Jun- Sep: , Closed: Sundays, January 1, May 1 and December 25 Address: Largo do Carmo, Lisbon , Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Georges Jansoone. Sight description based on wikipedia F) Igreja de São Roque (must see) The Igreja de São Roque (Church of Saint Roch) was the earliest Jesuit church in Portugal and one of the first Jesuit churches in the world. It served as the Society s home church in Portugal for over 200 years, before the Jesuits were expelled from the country. After the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, the church and its ancillary residence were given to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (the Charity House of Lisbon) to replace their church and headquarters, which had been destroyed. It remains a part of the Santa Casa today, one of its many historic buildings. The Igreja de São Roque was one of the few buildings in Lisbon to survive the earthquake relatively unscathed. It contains a number of chapels, most in the Baroque style of the early 17th century. The most notable chapel is the 18th-century Chapel of St. John the Baptist, a project by Nicola Salvi and Luigi Vanvitelli. At the time it was built, it was reportedly the most expensive chapel in Europe. Address: Largo Trindade Coelho, Bairro Alto, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Ron B. Thomson. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

7 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - G) Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (must see) The Miraduoro de Sao Pedro de Alcatara is a small well laid out park that serves as one of the many viewpoints found around Lisbon. It offers a spectacular view over the central part of the city especially St. George Castle and the Graca Hills. The Miraduoro de Sao Pedro de Alcatara is laid in two levels. It has a map made of tiles to help visitors in spotting landmarks they see from the viewpoint on the horizon. The upper part of the park has a fountain and a monument in honor of Eduardo Coelho. He was the founder of the newspaper, Diario de Noticias. Near the monument is the figure of an Ardina or newspaper boy who sold the paper in the streets of Lisbon. At the lower level, there are flower beds and busts of famous Portuguese heroes, Greek Gods like the Goddess Minerva and heroes like Ulysses. There is also a beautiful small waterfall built into a walled archway in this part of the garden. The park has benches where visitors can relax and take in the view and a small café serving refreshments. The Port Wine Institute lies opposite the Miraduoro de Sao Pedro de Alcatara where visitors can sample over 300 different types of port. Address: Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara, Bairro Alto, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Flickr and Bernt Rostad H) Restauradores Square Restauradores Square is a public square in the city of Lisbon. It is located at the southeast end of Avenida da Liberdade, near Rossio square. The square is dedicated to the restoration of the independence of Portugal in 1640, after 80 years of Spanish domination. The obelisk in the middle of the square, inaugurated in 1886, carries the names and dates of the battles fought during the Portuguese Restoration War, in The monument was designed by António Tomás da Fonseca, with statues symbolising "Independence" and "Victory" by sculptors Simões de Almeida and Alberto Nunes. The rectangular square is surrounded by 19th and early 20th century buildings. The most remarkable are the Palácio Foz, a palace built between the 18th and 19th centuries and boasting magnificently decorated interiors, and the old Éden Cinema (now a hotel), with a beautiful Art Deco façade dating from the 1930s, a work by architect Cassiano Branco. Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -

8 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 - Address: Restauradores Square, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Tiseb. Sight description based on wikipedia I) Rossio Square (must see) The Rossio Square is one of the main squares in Lisbon from the middle ages. It is a popular meeting place for locals and visitors to Lisbon for centuries and some of the surrounding cafes date back to the 18th century. Rossio is the popular name for the Pedro IV Square in honor of Pedro IV, the King of Portugal and the first Emperor of Brazil. His statue is placed on a column at the center of the square. Rossio means commons or commonly owned terrain. In 1450, the Palace of Estaus was built at the northern part of the square. The palace was used at first to receive foreign dignitaries and later became the seat of the inquisition. Once inquisition sentences were pronounced, those declared as heretics were burned at stake in public at the Rosseo. It has also been the site of bullfights, revolts and celebrations. Today, the Rosseo square is a pleasant place where locals and visitors come for a stroll, for browsing in the surrounding quaint shops or for a drink at the many cafes that offer outdoor seating. It is paved with cobblestones in wave patterns, a paving style used in Portugal and many of its colonies. There are two baroque fountains on either side of the square and at the site of the former inquisition palace is the Dona Maria II National Theatre. Address: Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Szilas J) Figueira Square Figueira Square is a large open space in the center of Lisbon which also serves as a major traffic hub. It is surrounded by quaint and historic cafes, hotels and shops. Figueira Square means Fig Tree Square. It was once the location of the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos (All Saints Royal Hospital). The hospital existed at the site from the 15th century till 1755 when a devastating earthquake destroyed almost all the buildings in Lisbon. It was demolished Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 -

9 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 - and a large covered market was built at the location. The market was taken down in 1949 and the site remains an open square since. Today, Figueira Square is surrounded by uniform four storied buildings. A bronze statue of King Joao I by sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida was erected at the center in 1971 and relocated to a corner of the square in the year The sculpture has medallions and effigies of the revolutionaries, Nuno Alvares Pariera and Joao Das Regras who helped King Joao I seize power in A historic café called the Pastelarica Suica and one of Europe s most elegant pastry shops, the Confeitaria Nacional that has served customers delicious cakes from 1829 are located around Figueira Square. Address: Praça da Figueira, Baixa, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Osvaldo Gago K) Castle of Saint George (must see) The Castle of São Jorge is a Portuguese castle that occupies a commanding position overlooking the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and the broad Tagus River beyond. The strongly-fortified citadel, which, in its present configuration, dates from medieval times, is located atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city. The castle is one of the main historical and touristic sites of Lisbon. The castle's footprint is roughly square in shape, and it was originally encircled by a wall, to form a citadel. The castle complex consists of the castle proper (thecastelejo), some ancillary buildings (including the ruins of the royal palace), gardens, and a large terraced square from which impressive panoramas of Lisbon are afforded. The main entrance to the citadel is a 19th-century gate surmounted by the coat-of-arms of Portugal, the name of Queen Maria II, and the date, Address: Edificio das Antigas Prisões, , Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and fulviusbsas. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 -

10 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 - L) Lisbon Cathedral (must see) The Lisbon Cathedral also called the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Mary Major is the oldest church in the city and the seat of the Archbishop of Lisbon. The building has a mixture of architectural styles caused by several modifications to its structure through the ages. The Lisbon Cathedral was first constructed in It was built on the site of a Moorish Mosque after the conquest of Lisbon by Christian forces under King Afonso Henriquez. The first structure was constructed in Romanesque style. The relics of St. Vincent of Sargossa, the patron saint of Lisbon were brought from Southern Portugal and placed in the Cathedral during this time. The building suffered extensive damage during the many devastating earthquakes that rocked Lisbon. The present cathedral was rebuilt in the 20th century giving the structure a predominantly medieval appearance. The façade has imposing towers like a fortress. This style is used in many Portuguese churches of the period of the Christian conquest when they were used as a military base from which attacks on enemies were launched. Two noteworthy chapels within the church are the chapel of St. Ildefonso that has a carved sculpture of one of the first Portuguese Ambassadors, Lopo Fernandez Pacheco with a dog at his feet and the Chapel dedicated to San Antonio de Padua who was born in Lisbon. Archeological excavations in the courtyard have unearthed several objects from the Visigothic, Roman and Moorish periods. Address: Largo da Sé, Lisbon, Portugal Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Osvaldo Gago. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 -