Lisbon: White city charms
Lisbon is an established favourite with holidaymakers, and Stewart Lloyd-Jones took a trip there to check out the Portuguese capital's delights.
- By Stewart Lloyd-Jones
- Published in the Courier : 05.08.11
- Published online : 06.08.11 @ 02.48pm
Lisbon is built on seven hills on the north shore of the river Tagus just as it transforms into a wide estuary.
From a distance, the city's red-roofed buildings seem to jostle for position while each window reaches out for a view over the wide sweep of the always-busy river.
The sun's reflection from a thousand panes of glass spreads light into every corner, earning Lisbon its nickname - the white city (a cidade branca).
As capitals go, Lisbon is fairly compact, with most of the older districts concentrated into a one-mile radius of its main square, Rossio.
While this might suggest it ought to be easy to explore on foot, you would do well to note that although the mosaic pavements typical of Portugal may be attractive to look at, they can be hard on the feet . . . and then there are the seven hills.
For the poorly-shod or the less energetic, Lisbon has an excellent and cheap public transport network that squeezes its way into even the most apparently inaccessible of locations.
No stay in Lisbon could be complete without a trip on one of the city's lovingly-maintained, bright yellow Edwardian-era trams.
The most popular of these is the number 28, a regular lifeline route connecting the hilltop Graca district, overlooking the impressive St George's Castle, with the rest of the city.
03.44pm - 26.08.2011 Mary Goudie - Lisbon, Portugal Report This
The 28 tram trundles past my house & I can look out to the river from my roof terrace. I've loved Lisbon since I moved here over 30 years ago & I love showing my tour guests this city I now know like the back of my hand don't miss the real Lisbon http://www.your-lisbon-guide.com
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