Lisbon, a city full of charm
May 18th, 2009 by admin
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is a famous financial centre. Lisbon region is Portugal’s richest area and its per capita’s average GDP is more than Europe’s. It contributes to 37 percent of the GDP of Portugal. It is the country’s political centre too. It is the westernmost capital city of Europe and is at the country’s west side at the coast of Atlantic Ocean where the Tagus river flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Lisbon’s average annual sunshine hours are about 2900 to 3300. It has an overall mild climate compared to other places of Europe. The Average summer day temperature is 27 degrees and in the winter it is 11 degrees. Sometimes the temperature reaches 36 degrees C in summer and even 2 degrees C during winter. The yearly rainfall amount is about 1110 mm.
Numerous satellite cities surround it. Nearly a million people travel to Lisbon from its outskirts. For good night life, people visit Estoril and Cascais. Travellers often rent a car in Lisbon to visit different places since they get good deals with rental vehicles these days. Mafra and Sintra have historical sites, landscapes and palaces. Some well-known museums of Lisbon are - National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga), Museum of Tile Mosaics - Portuguese-style (Museu do Azulejo), Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (Museu Calouste Gulbenkian)-it has modern and ancient arts. Oceanário de Lisboa (Lisbon Oceanarium) is the second largest throughout the world.
Bairro Alto is in central Lisbon. It is an entertainment, shopping and residential area and can easily be reached by car. Lisbon’s youth enjoy their night life here. It is home to dedicated bars and clubs for Reggae, Hip Hop, Goth, Metal etc. It is also home to writers and artists. It has several international and local restaurants. Fashion shops that are located here are open even in the night. If you want to visit the famous garden terrace offering a good view of the city, first locate the principal commercial streets like Rua da Atalaia or Rua do Norte since it is easy to find it from these streets.
Chiado has many theatres and it is near Bairro Alto. It also has bookshops and non-modern cafes. It is one of the world’s famous places according to a company which conducted a study. It scores high in the customer service quality that if offers and its charm. There are boutiques and interior design shops too in this area.
Lisbon is spread across the hills that face River Tagus. At the tops of these hills are ‘miradouros’ (viewpoints). There you can find places for just sitting and enjoying the view or ordering snacks. One such miradouro is St. George’s castle. St. George’s castle is visible from all parts of the city. It has its origins in the sixth century. Moors, Visigoths and Romans have fortified it. It housed the Moorish royals till Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal captured it. Later, it was dedicated to the saint. King Afonso’s statue is found near the gate. It houses a restaurant and a multimedia exhibit called Olissiponia. Most of it got destroyed over time but 18 towers and wall extensions remain. From the towers, the view of the city is enthralling.
You will find valuable information on the websites of European firms that offer cheap car hire in Lisbon if you’re considering to book car rental in Lisbon.