There are good shops and little cafes in the Chiado part of town. This part of Lisbon is ‘newer’ in that it was entirely rebuilt after the earthquake/fire/tsunami of 1755. It represents the culture and shopping of Lisbon whereas the Alfama and surrounding neighbourhoods are the older part of Lisbon and weren’t too destroyed but the event in 1755.
Santa Justa Lift
The Santa Justa Lift, in the Chiado area, will take you up to get really good views of the city. You can save yourself 5 Euros but walking up to Conceição Velha Church (the church that survived the Great Earthquake). There’s a nice little square to rest once you’ve made the climb here to walk across the bridge to the mid-point of the elevator. The walk goes through the shopping area so it can be done leisurely while popping into the shops along the way.
Conceição Velha Church
The Alfama was the most interesting part of Lisbon. It’s the oldest district in the city and still maintains it’s moorish alleys and homes. I had done a free walking with Wild Walkers through this part of town – although geared for the young people staying in hostels, look for the couple people wearing red shirts in Rossio Square by the fountain. On the walking tour, we were told that Fado had it’s beginning in this part of the city and also where the Moors lived with hopes that the Portuguese would leave them in peace. Other historic stops is the Saint George Castle – the entrance cost is 7.50 Euros but we were told it wasn’t worth the cost as we would only be paying for the views.
Walking Tour
Grafitif tribute to Fado
I had a fantastic guide for the walking tour I did who did an extra few stops for us that weren’t part of the regular tour. I had the tour again with my aunt and weren’t taken to these stops. One was a permanent outdoor exhibit of photos titled ‘Tribute’ by a photographer named Camilla Watson. She had taken photos of the elderly that live in a certain part of the Alfama and installed their photos (printed on tiles) on the residential buildings where they live. It was so interesting to see this exhibit. A lot of the elderly live in the Alfama and have lived their all their lives and often will also own stores or some commercial space within walking distance from where they live. We were also told that they often talk to each through the windows of their homes – the streets are that narrow. The same tour guide also told us the influences that the Moors had not only on Lisbon but also on the Portuguese language. There are certain sounds that occur in the language that are a result of the Moors.
Camilla Watson Installation, “Tribute”
