Lisboa, the capital of
Portugal since 1255, was conquered from the Moors by Portugal's first king in
1147. It lies on the right bank of the Tagus river and in a region that offers
a rich landscape diversity.
The imposing Tagus river (Tejo) flows alongside Lisboa from east to west. Its
source lies in Spain, but a good part of its journey to the sea lies inside
Portuguese frontiers before it meets the Atlantic ocean.As it approaches Lisboa,
the river bed widens to create a green and fertile plain called the leziria.
The effect as it nears the capital is to grace the landscpae with its broad
blue estuary.
The special beauty of the
riverbank enriches a number of towns past which the Tagus makes its way:
Abrantes, Constancia, Vila Nova da Barquinha and Santarem. The whole green
river valley is like a stage setting upon which deeply-rooted cultural
traditions are enacted. There is popular music and dance, and the traditional
costume worn by the horsemen still seen rounding up their cattle in rural
pastures is a real feature.
Lisbon, the dazzling city that stretches along
the banks of the Tagus, is an enchanting capital. There is the fortress around
which the city originally sprang up, and which is now circled by neighbourhoods
drenched with medieval charm. Everywhere are fine monuments that bring to
mind the great Age of Discoveries and picturesque houses whose facades are
decked with ornate ceramic tiles. As the dusk turns to night, the yellow
electric tramcars continue to wind their way up and down the hills of the old
capital wind,
while the sound of
traditional Fado folk songs enlivens many a candle-lit dinner table in
restaurant or home. But the capital also provides ample opportunity for seeing
people celebrations, for shopping, and for enjoying the nightlife along the
river banks. With the port and marinas situated nearby, watersports are a
natural attraction too.
There is no better way to
see the exuberant trees and vegetation than to take a horse-drawn carriage ride
and pass by ancient mansions before reaching the Palacio de Pena at the
top of the hill. Its fabulous romantic architecture keeps vivid the atmosphere
of a truly royal residence.
Back in the Lisboa area,
there are are many other places worth a visit: the imposing Mafra Convent, the
cosmopolitan seaside resort of Cascais, the Arrabida hills and their nature
reserve stocked with ancient trees or picturesque Sesimbra, the city of Setubal
and the aristocratic country- houses of nearby Azeitao. The area provides
something for every taste: beach, water sports, golf courses and in the summer,
open air music festivals.
The Atlantic coast, which
stretches to the north and west of Lisbon, is of surprising beauty; here the
landscape swiftly changes from high, sweeping cliffs to beaches of white sand,
backed by lagoons. Let us not forget that here, at Cabo da Roca, is Europe's
westernmost point.
This is a region of
enchanting coastal villages or towns such as Peniche and Nazare, where the
brightly-coloured fising boats still ply their trade. Further inland, at
Alcobaca, Tomar and Batalha, are to be found the ancient monasteries
and convents of the
religious orders, which are part of UNESCO's global heritage. They stand as
witnesses to Portugal's rich historical and cultural traditions. These are
lands that were won back from the Moors by the first king
of Portugal, Afonso
Henriques. And the memory of that era lives on in the ancient castles that loom
above Leiria, Tomar, Obidos or Santarem
Our journey to this exotic country continues in my next blog also as I take you to Porto E Norte de Portugal region and its fascinating legends......
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