Fado, funicular and Fun So Lisbon!

A holiday in Europe is mostly associated with razzmatazz destinations like London, Paris or Rome. But those who had the courage to veer off the beaten track were rewarded with the captivating charms of Lisbon – capital of Portugal. Sitting pretty on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon is the uncrowned queen of the Iberian Peninsula – the wealthiest city in Portugal, home to more than 3 million people and Europe’s best kept holiday secret.

One of the most enjoyable cities of Europe, Lisbon regales visitors with its Art-Nouveau buildings, museums and galleries, its churches, monuments and vast green spaces. Preferred by globetrekkers for its arresting beauty – the city is spread on seven hills – and easy pace of life, Lisbon is also the budget travelers’ heaven – where else do you get €1.00 beers and smashing accommodation for as little as €20.00? Lisbon is also the country’s political epicenter, the seat of the government and home to the head of state.

Lisbon is easy to get around in and runs an efficient public transport system that includes trams, funiculars, ferries and elevadors. Its compact city center means your two feet would get you everywhere and if you need a rest there is always a street café at hand. The city’s nightlife takes you by surprise and its mix of traditional and modern shopping centers are hard to resist. Add the friendly Lisboetas, fabulous food and the famed Fado and you have a city break that will be fun for the whole family.

A peek in the past

Lisbon Castle – Site of the first settlement

Lisbon’s history is an exciting one, filled with stories of explorers, battles, inventions and political intrigue. Assorted Iberian people are credited with being first inhabitants of the city although the ‘colorful’ Phoenicians also lay a strong claim. The most popular legend regarding Lisbon’s birth, however, is that Ulysses founded the city on his way back home from the battle of Troy and called it Olissipona! Lisbon’s formative years were spent in continuous battle with Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians in turn gaining and loosing control over the city. Then in 205 BC the Romans laid eyes on this beautiful city, quickly overthrew the current rulers and began their two-century reign over Lisbon. Lisbon became an important city in the western Iberian region and was rechristened Felicitas Julia by Julius Caesar.

 

 

Tariq Ibn Ziyad, Conqueror of Lisbon

From 714 to 1147 the city was shuttled between the Romans and the powerful Moors who captured and fortified the city, keeping the Roman Christians at bay for an impressive 400 years. Although by 1147 the Moors had been overthrown by the Christians, it took them another century to get total control of Portugal. The biggest development that followed the ‘Reconquista of Lisbon’ was in mid-13th century when Lisbon replaced Coimbra as Portugal's capital and driven by its strong maritime presence and inland trade, started developing rapidly as an important commercial center.

 

 

Henry the Navigator

The Age of Discoveries in the 15th century was the zenith of the city’s history marking Portugal's golden era of sea exploration. Lisbon was the port that flagged off many a glorious expedition to far off places including the famed Vasco da Gama’s epic journey to India. The exploration drive was in part fuelled by the need to find new and reliable routes to the eastern world and in part by the need to end the Islamic Empire’s economic power resulting from their supremacy of existing routes to the occident. Prince Henrique also known as Henry the Navigator, was responsible for beginning this glorious era and for turning the fortunes of the early Portuguese empire with the help of overseas trade in gold, silver, spices, slaves and textiles, making it one of the richest in the world. This was also the time when the opulent Manueline style was in favor and the two most important 16th century monuments depicting the style that remain today are the Belem Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery.

Sadly, the cost of discovering new lands, maintaining overseas empires and Christianizing heathens resulted in Portugal loosing its status as a rich and powerful empire. The last straw in the story came in 1580 when after a succession crisis Felipe II of Spain claimed the throne. The bitter blow to national pride was restored by nationalists in the 1640 revolt that was centered in Lisbon.

Lisbon Earthquake

 

The city’s fortunes rose again in the late 17th century when the discovery of gold in Brazil brought prosperity to the city and allowed King John V to splurge on several Baroque churches and theaters. This period of exuberance and huge expenditures in improving the city were cut short in 1755 when a massive earthquake reduced the city to rubble. Lisbon never quite recovered from the shock and never regained its earlier power and prestige. After Napoleon's four-year occupation of the city Lisbon, like the rest of the country, fell into political chaos and military insurrection for over a century.

The early years of the 20th century were a politically tumultuous period and after 45 new governments in sixteen years, António de Oliveira Salazar came to power after the coup of 1926. Salazar ruled till 1976 and his reign was marked with loss of political freedom, censorship, propaganda and brute force that kept the country constantly looking over its shoulder. Democracy arrived after the 1974 revolution and political turbulence was gradually displaced by stability and ultimately with membership of the European Union in 1986. With the political and financial support of the EU, Lisbon finally shook off the old dust and welcomed the new world with open arms.

Today, Lisbon enjoys its status as European City of Culture, a politically and financially stable city with world class infrastructure and a growingly popular tourist destination.