Flying from Manila via Amsterdam, our connecting flight, we landed at Lisbon, the capital and the largest city of Portugal. Lisbon is also known as Lisboa. It was raining when we had our very first tour, a city tour. Luckily, we were still able to see and appreciate the significant structures of the city, which are as follows:
The Aguas Livres Acqueduct ("Aqueduct of the Free Waters") is a historic aqueduct in the city of Lisbon.
It is one of the most remarkable examples of 18th-century Portuguese engineering. The aqueduct arches, with a pointed shape, are over the Alcantara valley.
The 25 April Bridge, inaugurated (as Ponte Salazar) on August 6, 1966, and later renamed after the date of the Carnation Revolution, was the longest suspension bridge in Europe and although made by the same engineers as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it is not, as thought by some, a replica (the Golden Gate Bridge does not have X braces).
The Belem Tower is a symbol of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
Belém's other major historical building is the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), which the Torre de Belém was built partly to defend. The building of the monastery, an example of Manueline architecture, was begun in 1502 on the instructions of Manuel I and took 50 years to complete. It was built as a monument to Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to India and was funded by a tax on eastern spices. The monastery contains the tomb of Vasco da Gama.
The Lisbon Cathedral was built after 1147, over the remnants of the mosque of the Islamic period.
We even had the chance of seeing a Lisbon tram, a traditional form of public transport in Lisbon. Transportation in Lisbon is more charming than in most cities. Much is owed to its geography; a part of Lisbon has been built on its seven hills. No visit to Lisbon is complete without riding the 1930s trams.
The Aguas Livres Acqueduct ("Aqueduct of the Free Waters") is a historic aqueduct in the city of Lisbon. It is one of the most remarkable examples of 18th-century Portuguese engineering. The aqueduct arches, with a pointed shape, are over the Alcantara valley.
The 25 April Bridge, inaugurated (as Ponte Salazar) on August 6, 1966, and later renamed after the date of the Carnation Revolution, was the longest suspension bridge in Europe and although made by the same engineers as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it is not, as thought by some, a replica (the Golden Gate Bridge does not have X braces).
The Belem Tower is a symbol of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
Belém's other major historical building is the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), which the Torre de Belém was built partly to defend. The building of the monastery, an example of Manueline architecture, was begun in 1502 on the instructions of Manuel I and took 50 years to complete. It was built as a monument to Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to India and was funded by a tax on eastern spices. The monastery contains the tomb of Vasco da Gama.
The Lisbon Cathedral was built after 1147, over the remnants of the mosque of the Islamic period.
We even had the chance of seeing a Lisbon tram, a traditional form of public transport in Lisbon. Transportation in Lisbon is more charming than in most cities. Much is owed to its geography; a part of Lisbon has been built on its seven hills. No visit to Lisbon is complete without riding the 1930s trams.
