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Lisbon City Guide
Lisbon, or Lisboa in Portuguese, is the capital and the largest city of Portugal.  It is located at an Atlantic coastline in the western portion of Portugal where the River Tajo widens as it goes into the Atlantic Ocean.  Lisbon occupies a land area of 84.8 km², making it the smallest capital in Europe.The city had its beginnings during the 6th century BC with the Phoenicians whom are thought to have founded the city.  In the 2nd century BC, Rome came to conquer the city.  Julius Cesar made it into a municipium, giving it the name Felicitas Julia.  The Visigoths came to control Lisbon in the 5th century AD until the Moors came in 716.  They established control until 1147 when Alfonso Henriques recaptured the city with the aid of the Crusaders.  By the early 16th century, Lisbon gained more power and importance as it became a central port for ships carrying goods and riches from its trade and colonies.     Following its golden age, Lisbon experienced a number of tumulus events until the 1974 Revolution and paved for the establishment of democracy in Portugal.  With the aid of the European Union, Lisbon continued in its growth and importance as the economic, financial, and political center of Portugal.  It has become a bustling cosmopolitan beset with infrastructure and opportunities for anyone. 

 

Residential Places in Lisbon

 

Lisbon provides a variety of settings in its residential neighborhoods.  For instance, the Alfama district and Bairro Alto, the city’s oldest districts,   have medieval apartments along its narrow and winding medieval streets.  Benfica, a large residential area situated north of the city, have housing units put up in the 60’s and 70’s. The little neighborhood of Lapa has rows of old villas and apartments from the 17th and 18th century.  The residences there are a statement of luxury as it houses the diplomatic community and most wealthy families in Lisbon.  Another large residential neighborhood in Lisbon is the area between the Metro stations of Saldanha and Marques de Pombal. Apartments and housing units are found in this area amidst commercial establishments.  For upscale residential neighborhoods, Parque Nacoes has the most expensive residences in the city.  It was the venue of Expo’98 World Exhibition and saw the rising of the International Fair complex, Vasco da Gama shopping complex, hotels, office buildings, and residences.  

  

Hospitals and Universities of Lisbon

 

Lisbon has a number of private and public tertiary educational institutions.  The University of Lisbon is the most prestigious and oldest among the government funded universities.  It was established at the fall of the monarchy in 1911 through the unification of existing institutions.  These institutions were the Royal Medical school of Lisbon, The Polytechnicum, and the Letters Higher Studies.  Today, the university has the faculties of Law,Letters, Science, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology and Education.  The technical University of Lisbon is also formed through the conglomeration of existing schools to form its present institutes of Economics and Business Administration, Social and Political Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Human Kinetics, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, and Architecture. The other government funded universities in Lisbon are the New University of Lisbon and the Higher Institute of Business and Labour Sciences.  Some private universities include the Autonomous University of Lisbon, Catholic university of Portugal, Lusíada University, Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies, Moderna University, Institut of Visual Art, Design and Marketing, and the Piaget Institute.

 

Healthcare Facilities 

 

Portugal has a fairly good healthcare system.  It provides a public health system allowing for the subsidy of most medical procedures.  EU residents in Portugal can avail of basic healthcare, such as free medicines and doctor’s appointments, thru the European Union reciprocal health agreements.  Contributors to the social security system can avail of the full range of healthcare provided by the system.  EU residents are also entitled to receive medical cards that provide free medical treatment from local health centers.  This is acquired by presenting a residence permit and a social security system card to the health center. Public and private hospitals are easily accessible in urban areas, like Lisbon, with   doctors well versed in English.  The hospitals in Lisbon are Hospitais Civis de Lisboa, Hospital de Santa Maria, Hospital Pulido Valente, and National Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil.   

  

Commercial Establishments in Lisbon

 

Lisbon has a list of its shopping malls, the largest of which is Centro Colombo located beside the Colegio Militar/Luz metro station. One of Lisbon’s interesting shopping spot is Centro Commercial Vasco da Gama found at the Parque das Nações.  Its design and location near the Tajo River is intended to remind its shoppers of its namesake and his exploits overseas.  Other shopping malls in Lisbon are Carlos Alberta da Mota Pinto, Armazen do Chiado, and Amoreiras Shopping Centre.  Markets may be an alternative to shopping malls, particularly the famous market at Lisbon—the Feira da Ladra.  Almost anything can be found and bought in this open-air flee market that resembles the ones found in Paris and Madrid. Of course, a variety of shops are also found lining up the streets in Lisbon.  Some streets are known for the shops on its street and the commodities they sell.  Baixa, stretching from Praça do Comércio to the Restauradores, is considered the best shopping district in the city.  Rua Augusta is a frequent tourist destination with its roster of tourist shops and European stores.   

  

Dining Establishments 

Many restaurants are located at Lisbon’s city center and at the nightlife districts of Bairro Alto and Doca de Alcântara. Most restaurants serve Spanish-Portuguese cuisine, but a few serves international and Mediterranean cuisine.  Some restaurants found in the city center are the fine-dining Café Nobre at the Marina Expo, Clara in Campo dos Mártires da Pátria for an elegant dining experience by the piano bar or at the terrace,   and António Clara on Avenida da República where the establishment is situated in a villa previously home to the prominent architect, Miguel Ventura Terra. Establishments in Bairro Alto include the Brazilian restaurant Comida de Santo on Calçado Engenheiro Miguel Pais, Tasquinha d'Adelaide on Rua do Patrocinio which is famed for the regional specialties of Trás-os-Montes, and Consenso on Rua da Academia das Ciencias which is frequented by most high-ranking officials in Portugal.   While Doca de Alcântara has 31 de Armada on Praça de Armada which is aptly named as it sits in front of the Portuguese Navy Headquarters and Café Alcântara on Rua Maria Luisa Holstein which is a favorite of many Brazilians, British, and Americans.    The Doca de Alcântara, Doca de Santo Amaro, Byro Alto, raffish Santa Apolonia, Ponte 25 de Abril, and Rua da Atalaia are prime destinations for a night out in Lisbon.   Some famed establishments in these areas are the all-time favorite fado clubs Adega Machado, Parreirinha da Alfama, and Luso, the chic Cinqo Lounge which has a line of fantastic cocktails, Procópio Bar which is a long-time favorite of politicians, journalists, and foreign actors, and the unconventional clubs of Frágil,  Memorial Bar and Portas Largas frequented by gays and lesbians. 

Service Establishments of Lisbon

One of Lisbon’s versatile and largest groups of companies is Energias de Portugal (EDP).  Its primary focus is the generation and distribution of electricity to customers all over Portugal.  EDP is also engaged in other business, among which are gas distribution and telecommunications.  It has its head office at Praça Marquês de Pombal. 

Telecommunications 

 

Portugal Telecom is the largest telecommunication company in Portugal.  It provides a number of services through its subsidiaries.  PT Comunicações provides for fixed line services and internet connection via ADSL.  Mobile network connection is provided by (PT PRO. While PT multimedia provides cable TV, satellite broadcasting, and cable based broad band connection.  Portugal Telecom has its head office located along Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo. Other telecommunication companies in Lisbon include CLIXGEST which is a Portuguese internet service provider through dial-up and ADSL.  It’s a subsidiary of Sonae and has its office on Rua do Viriato in Lisbon.  Vodafone Portugal, on the other hand, is a telecom company which provides mobile network services.  It is a subsidiary of a UK based phone wireless carrier, the Vodafone Group.  It has its head office in Parque das Nações, Avenida D. João II.  

Security 

 

As Lisbon is a large urban area, the Public Security Police is the police force which looks after its law enforcement and safety.  Rural areas and towns is the jurisdiction of the Republican National Guard. 

  

Embassies in Lisbon 

Many countries have their embassies located in Lisbon.  Among these countries are Australia,  Canada, and Japan  along Avenida da Liberdade, Bulgaria at Rua do Sacramento, Croatia at R. D. Lourenço de Almeida, the Czech Republic at Rua Pero de Alenquer, Denmark at Rua Castilho, France along Calçada Marquês de Abrantes, Germany in Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, Greece at Rua do Alto Do Duque, Iraq at Rua Arriaga, Ireland at Rua da Imprenzá Estrela, Italy at Largo Conde Pombeiro,  Latvia along Avenida Miguel Bombarda, Netherlands along Avenida Infante Santo, Russia at Rua Visconde de Santarem, Spain at Rua Salitre, Sweden at Rua Miguel Lupi, Switzerland at Tv. Patrocínio,  Thailand at Rua de Alcolena,  Turkey along Avenida Descobertas, United Kingdom at Rua de São Bernardo, and the United States of America along Avenida das Forças Armadas.  Some consulates are also located in Lisbon.  These include the Consulate of Nicaragua at Vivenda Abreu and the Consulate of Singapore at Rua dos Frangueiros.  
 
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