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Historical Lisbon
Triumphal Arch of Rua Augusta
The Triumphal Arch of Rua Augusta, or Arco da Rua Augusta, as it is better known, marks the entrance into the Baixa from Terreiro do Paço and offers a breathtaking 360º view over the Baixa Pombalina from its viewpoint.
The city's great triumphal arch was designed in the time of the Marquês de Pombal, after the earthquake of 1755, but was only completed in 1875.
At the top of the arch, after climbing two steep flights of stairs, you get a fabulous view of the city and observe the imposing sculpture representing Gloria, crowning Genius and Valor, up close. Further down, the personifications of the Tagus and Douro rivers flank four heroes of Portugal: Viriato, Vasco da Gama, Marquês de Pombal and D. Nuno Álvares Pereira.
Wonder at the Torre de Belém
If there is just one landmark you visit when touring through the Portuguese capital, make it this one.
Soaring high above the seafront of the Lisbon quays, this great tower displays a veritable fusion of architectural styles from the Mudejar to the Moorish, the Gothic to the Romanesque.
It has stood watch over the mouth of the Tagus River since its construction under the patronage of Saint John back in the 16th century.
Since then, it has risen to become perhaps the most iconic feature of the city, famed as the last sight adventurers like the prodigal Vasco da Gama would have seen as they drifted out into the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Find your inner explorer at the Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Now something of a historical monument in its own right, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos marks the shore of the Tagus Estuary with its grand architecture and beige stone.
It’s been here since the early 1960s and is an ornate testimony to the successes of Portuguese exploration during the Age of Discovery.
You can reach the towering landmark by strolling along the waterside of Santa Maria de Belém.
Once you spot it, be sure to pick out the legendary figures of Vasco da Gama (an explorer of India and Arabia) and Prince Henry the Navigator (an adventurer of the Great Sand Sea).
Trace glorious history in the Monastery of Jerónimos
Just a glance at the ornate spires and grand carvings of the great Monastery of Jerónimos should be enough to deduce the raison d’être for this massive landmark which is nestled close to the banks of the Tagus River.
It was built to mark Portugal’s most glorious age which was called ‘The Age of Exploration’. The fusion of architectural designs, known as the Manueline style, stands as testimony to the cultures encountered by Lisbon’s explorers, while the money used to build the structure came from Portugal’s international trade in cloves, cumin and exotic spices.
Conquer the bulwarks of St. George’s Castle
St George’s Castle is unquestionably the most visible landmark of Lisbon’s historic center.
Standing tall and firm above the streets of the old Alfama District, the great citadel was first built more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans.
Since then, it has been developed by subsequent rulers of the city, from the Berbers to the Reconquista knights.
Today it has mighty palisades and crenulated towers to admire, along with an encircling dry moat and other anti-siege features.
Pass beneath the large gate here and notice the Portuguese royal seal, marking the country’s monarchic strength.
Discover the Lisbon Cathedral
With a history that blends with that of the city, the Cathedral of Lisbon is one of the most important religious buildings in Portugal and one of the oldest monuments in Lisbon.
Built under the orders of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques, where a mosque once stood, the Cathedral still retains its character of a medieval fortress. Remodeled several times over time, it brings together Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque influences.
Among some of its main riches are the sink where Santo António was baptized, the Baroque nativity scene signed by Machado de Castro, the Gothic cloister and the ark with the relics of São Vicente.
The Museu Tesouro da Sé makes available to the visitor the artistic heritage of the Patriarchal Cathedral of Lisbon.
Marvel at the Aqueduto das Águas Livres
Another of the great visual landmarks of Lisbon is the Aqueduto das Águas Livres.
This eye-popping stretch of stone arches and Italianesque architecture was first created in the middle of the 18th century.
It was conceived to relieve Lisbon’s perpetual summertime water shortages, and was built to fit in seamlessly with the Gothic revivalism of the city proper.
Be sure to check out the section of aqueduct which rolls directly over the rooftops of the Amoreiras district, and then make a beeline for the Water Museum, which chronicles the development of this masterpiece.