Lisboa the Start

Assorted city views in Lisboa, the capital of Portugal

Our recent Portugal adventure began in its capital city, Lisbon called Lisboa, which is is the Portuguese name derived from the ancient name Olisipo, and attributed to the Phoenician words Alis Ubbo (pleasant little port or enchanting port). Lisboa is not only one of the oldest cities in the world, it's the second-oldest European capital city (after Athens) and predates capitals like Rome, Paris and London by a few centuries. 

An aerial view as the plane approached Portugal after overnight flight

We spent 3 days in Lisbon and surrounding areas. The weather was very cooperative aside from some rain in Lisbon. This post will present historical highlights as well as photos of the delicious foods. 

39 Degraus Cine-Gastro-Bar, named for Hitckock's, The 39 steps, has 39 steps

After our overnight flight from Boston and settling into a hotel, lunch came next. We found a very unique restaurant, the 39 Degraus Cine-Gastro-Bar is a restaurant located above a cinema. It presents outdoor films in summer months. Degraus is Portuguese for steps and the name refers to the Alfred Hitchcock spy-thriller film, The 39 Steps. The restaurant features a lobby area display of movie posters, vintage cinema cameras, theater seats, film cans and photographs. To reach the restaurant, you either walk up a staircase of 39 steps or take an elevator. 

Rainy day walking tour of Lisboa

Interpretative Center of the History of Cod with fish art masterpieces

Our large group of 43 fellow travelers went on a short city walking tour which included a stop at the Interpretative Center of the History of Cod (bacalhau). This fish is is a national staple and represents an important role in the country's cultural heritage and cuisine. Portugal is the world's largest consumer of cod, about 20% of the global catch. The fish art gallery of famous masterpieces was a highlight here. 

Metropolitano de Lisboa (Lisbon Metro)

Son after, we had a ticket to ride the subway to explore sights farther away from downtown Lisbon. The Metropolitano de Lisboa (Lisbon Metro) opened in December 1959 after a 4-year construction period and was the first rapid transit system in Portugal. The system's four lines total about 28 miles with 56 stations and four lines: Blue (Seagull), Yellow (Sunflower), Green (Caravela) Red (Orient). It's considered one of the best-kept and cleanest metros in Europe, comparable to Paris' subway system. The Belém neighborhood of Lisboa is home to several historic sites and our group visited (or viewed) ones shown below.

Torre de Belém (Belém Tower or Bethlehem Tower)

The Torre de Belém (Belém Tower or Bethlehem Tower) also known as the Torre de São Vicente (Tower of Saint Vincent) sits near the mouth of the Tagus River. This 16th-century fortification was built between 1514 and 1520 to defend Lisbon and symbolizes Portugal's maritime and colonial power in early modern Europe. Years ago it was transformed into a lighthouse, then a customs center. Built during the height of the Portuguese Renaissance, the tower is a prominent example of Portuguese Manueline style with other architectural styles, like the minarets inspired by Moorish architecture. The structure is composed of a bastion and a 100-foot, four-story tower. Since 1983, the tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now, only outside views are possible as it's closed for renovations until Spring 2026

In the above photo, the plane sculpture near the Tower of Belém is known as the Monument to the First Aerial Crossing of the South Atlantic. It's a stainless steel replica of a Fairey III biplane used by Portuguese aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral to commemorate their 1922 first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic, a historic journey that connected Portugal to Brazil. 

Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries)

The dramatic looking Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries) is a concrete slab poised vertically along the bank of the Tagus River. The monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. It's located near the site that ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient.

The monument's design resembles the prow of a caravel, a small, fast Portuguese sailing ship of the 15th–17th centuries. On either side are ramps that join at the river's edge, with the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator in the lead (more about him later in this post). On either side along the ramp, are 16 figures (33 total) representing figures from the Portuguese Age of Discovery. These included monarchs, explorers, cartographers, artists, scientists, missionaries and is designed to show movement towards the front.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery)

The very impressive Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery) is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome in the parish of Belém. Construction of the monastery and church began in January 1501 and was completed 100 years later. It was designed in a manner known as Manueline, a rich ornate architectural style with complex sculptural themes that include maritime elements and objects discovered during naval expeditions, carved in limestone. Religious orders were dissolved after the 1820 Liberal Revolution. The monastery sat abandoned for years until its revival as a tourist site after being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Earlier, in 1907, it was classified as a National Monument. Inside the monastery are the tombs of prominent figures from the Age of Discovery, Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões and is the burial place for King Manuel I and his family. It's considered one of the most visited heritage complexes in Portugal; however, our group didn't tour the interior due to long wait lines.

Statue of Prince Henry

Since it's been mentioned earlier, a little more about Portugal's Age of Discovery. This was a period of extensive maritime exploration durng the 15th to 16th centuries which included colonization, and global trade, funded in large part by Prince Henry the Navigator. Henry was dubbed "the Navigator" as he was recognized for sponsoring maritime voyages, despite not being an explorer. According to our guide, Henry not only didn't like being on the sea, he rarely went on voyages and never went on long sea-going expeditions. Instead, his passion was for organizing and financing explorations . 

Portugal explorers were the first to explore Africa's coast, circumvent the Sahara, and round the Cape of Good Hope under Vasco da Gama, leading to significant global trade networks, colonization, and the introduction of the Atlantic slave trade. Portugal built a powerful maritime empire by establishing trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its dominance waned due to competition from other European nations.

Pastel de Nata is a delicious egg-custard tart (just ask Grenville)

The must-eat treat in Belém is the original egg tart, Pastel de Nata, produced by the Pastéis de Belém bakery. A Pastel de Nata is a famous Portuguese egg custard tart pastry with a flaky, layered crust and a creamy, caramelized filling. It originated in the Jerónimos Monastery sometime before the 18th century. Monks and nuns used large quantities of egg whites to starch their clothes. This left a surplus of egg yolks. It was common for monasteries and convents to use the leftover egg yolks, to make cakes and pastries, resulting in the creation of sweet pastry recipes. If you should visit Portugal this treat should not be missed.

Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa Lift) 

One of the most unique sights in downtown Lisboa is the Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa Lift) which is the most famous elevator in the city. This iconic neo-Gothic wrought-iron lift connects the Baixa district with the higher Largo do Carmo shortening the steep climb. The lift was ompleted in 1902 with similarities to the Eiffel Tower and was powered by steam before a 1907 conversion to electricity and originally was a public transport solution and is now a major tourist attraction.  The structure features neo-Gothic arches, and the interior of the wooden carriages is decorated with brass and wood. It was declared a national monument in 2002.

There are other notable historical and lifts in the city, such as the Ascensor da Bica and the Elevador da Glória. However, due to a September 2025 crash that killed 16, all of the city's funiculars have been stopped. A final report is due in 2026 and expected to include a final assessment of the safety of the system.

We experienced too much on tour to describe in a single post and this one is already quite long. Our adventures will be continued after the holiday.