The Lisbon region, with its cultural and sporting diversity, is an ideal vacation destination for tourists.

cationers looking for variety. Be it concerts, theater, museums, nightlife, history, gastronomy.

or outdoor leisure sports such as golf and surfing: the Lisbon region leaves no wish unfulfilled.

Located at the mouth of the Tagus River (“Río Tejo”) and presumably founded by the

Phoenicians around 1200 BC. C. as a trading post, Lisbon fascinates the visitor with its rich

cultural and historical heritage and always worth a weekend getaway to the city. In its rugged

History has seen many invaders such as Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Alans,

Vandals, Suevi, Visigoths and Moors. In 1147, the 400 years of Moorish domination of

Lisbon ended when the crusaders led by Alfonso I of Portugal reconquered Lisbon during

the Christian Reconquest.

All the rulers left their cultural traces in the city, making Lisbon an exciting and

unique mix of the most different cultural and architectural influences with the Romanesque,

Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and traditional Portuguese architecture. During the call

The “Portuguese era of discoveries” between the 15th and 17th centuries Lisbon became a strategy

important as a starting point for Portuguese exploration of Africa, India, the Far East

and Brazil. The legendary Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama left Lisbon in 1497 to

see the sea route to India.

Although Lisbon was largely destroyed by a disastrous earthquake in 1755 and completely

rebuilt in contemporary architectural style afterwards, many historical monuments have

remained intact by this natural catastrophe and are proof of the culture and history

diversity of this seaport. Among these historical sites of interest is the Lisbon Castle /

São Jorge Castle (“Castelo de São Jorge”) built in the style of a citadel and Lisbon Cathedral

dral (“Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa” or “Sé de Lisboa”) built in the 12th and 13th centuries

in late Romanesque style, just to mention a few. The Torre de Belém (“Torre de Belém”)

with its Portuguese, Manueline and Renaissance late Gothic style and the Jerónimos

Monastery (“Mosteiro dos Jerónimos”) with its Manueline, Plateresque, Renaissance and

They were built in the Gothic style in the 16th century and declared a World Heritage Site by the

UNESCO in 1983.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Lisbon was invaded and sacked by Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. In 1910 the first Portuguese Republic was declared. In 1998 Lisbon hosted the Universal Exhibition Expo ´98.

Art lovers will enjoy the various museums in Lisbon, such as the “Museo do Azulejo” (Museum

of Portuguese-style tile mosaics), the “Oceanário de Lisboa” (Lisbon Oceanarium) and the

“Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga” (National Museum of Ancient Art). Opera lovers will appreciate

Create the rich cultural agenda at the “São Carlos National Theater”. Tourists will love it too

the various cafes and restaurants and the many shopping possibilities such as the Vasco

Da Gama Shopping Center and Amoreiras Shopping Center. Don’t miss a fado performance

in Alfama, the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon.

Lisbon’s public transport system is very well developed and allows quick and easy access.

to the region surrounding Lisbon with Sintra, the Estoril coast and the Setúbal peninsula.

Sintra and the Estoril Coast are located in the Ribatejo region north of the Tajo estuary.

(hence the name “Ribatejo” which means “riba do Tejo” (“on or beyond the banks of the

Tagus “)). The Estoril coast, with its beaches and tourist complexes, offers a great variety of

free time activities such as tennis, walking, swimming or sailing and is the best option

for beach vacations. The high density of golf courses on the Estoril coast also makes it a

Radise for golf players. Surfers will prefer surfing hotspots like Carcavelos and Ericeira.

Another easily accessible day trip destination from Lisbon is Sintra. Its historical monuments such as

such as the National Palace of Pena from the 19th century (Palácio Nacional de Pena), the 9th and 10th centuries

Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) and National Palace of Sintra from the 15th and 16th centuries

(Palácio Nacional de Sintra) and the Sintra-Cascais National Park are always worth a visit.

Sintra was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.

The Setúbal peninsula (also called “Costa Azul” (“Blue Coast”)) is located in the Alentejo region

south of the Tagus estuary (hence the name “Alentejo” which means “além do Tejo” (“beyond

el Tajo “)). It is famous for the Arrábida National Park. The visitor will be impressed with its

unique Mediterranean vegetation that has not been touched by tourism development and with unspoiled nature

wildlife and you can expect to see storks, flamingos and dolphins, flamingos. Dolphin watching

It is a great tourist attraction. The nature protection area invites the traveler to various leisure activities.

temporary activities such as river cruises, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides,

diving and golf.