From Spain we are moving on to Portugal and the capital city of Lisbon. A compact city which despite its hills is very walkable, but you can also get onto one of the historic trams which is a common mode of transport for Lisbonites. The no. 28 is the best known, but there are others.
And don’t miss the Glória funicular which leads to the São Pedro de Alcântara Miradouro overlook above Lisbon or the Santa Justa elevator designed by Ponsard, a disciple of the great master of iron works, Gustave Eiffel, more than a hundred years ago.
I spent a few days exploring, mainly walking around the various districts of Alfama, Bairro-Alto, Baixa-Chiado and Rossio and admiring the views from the various viewpoints around the city.
But do not miss a visit out to Belém where you will find two unique monuments: Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém which are World Heritage Sites. This historical and scenic district, along the River Tagus, is about 3 miles (5 km) west of downtown Lisbon. Getting there by the 15E tram (which goes to the tower) proved difficult from the train station Cais Sodré, as by the time it reached this stop it was full. Patience paid off though and just when we were considering catching a bus, one came along with standing room.
There was already a queue to get into the monastery and with time being short we opted to just look from the exterior and instead visited the nearby Maritime Museum which is a World of Discoveries. It reflects the importance of the experience and knowledge that the pioneering Portuguese navigators brought to the world. Great if you are fascinated by the Portuguese explorers (as I am).
The Museum of Contemporary Art is worth a look too before crossing over to the Jardim da Praça do Império (Empire Square), built for the Portuguese World Exhibition (1940) which commemorated the 800th anniversary of the independence of Portugal and the 300th anniversary of the Restoration.
Because of a main road and railway lines you need to use an underpass to get to the area along the waterfront which is lovely.
Here you find the extraordinary Monument to the Discoveries / Padrão dos Descobrimentos which was first erected in 1940 in a temporary form, as part of the Portuguese World Exhibition, built with perishable materials. The 171 ft (50 m) tall monument was reconstructed in 1960 to remember the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry the Navigator’s death. You can go up to the top but again be prepared to queue.
The figures includes explorers like Vasco da Gama and Magellan, monks, cartographers, kings, writers, navigators, and missionaries among many other professions. At the base of the monument is a large mosaic with a world map showing where the Portuguese explorers landed and important dates during their expeditions.
And there is a lovely walkway alongside the River Tagus to the Belém Tower,
Of course our last stop was to the popular Pastéis de Belém patisserie which is the original home of the delicious Pasteis de Nata or Pasteis de Belém (custard tarts). Good coffee too.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Portugal has long been on my wish list. Hopefully we’ll get there one day.
It’s worth the wait.
Loved visiting Lisbon until I got a 24-hour stomach bug. The transport was handy after that, though we did find this an easy city to wander around. Lovely post to read. Thanks, Jude.
Lots to love about the city.
Your recount is so detailed Jude, it’s wonderful. I will have to change my title to my selection of postcards. I’m glad our format is different, or else everyone will think I’m copying you😂
Some posts will have fewer photos and words, some will be like this one for places I just didn’t get around to blogging about.
Sounds good, Jude.
It is a lovely city, Jude. Thanks for showcasing it so beautifully. The inside of the monastery is worth queuing or booking online for, and the tile museum is outstanding. We’re overdue a visit, I guess. Maybe for Christmas this year, but I’m already starting to fill the calendar. Happy Sunday!
I remember your post about the monastery. We were only in Lisbon for 3 days, conference visit, so this half day was the only time we had together before OH had to go to the meet and greet!
Ah, a blast from the very distant past for me. I visited it on a school tip – a very long time ago now! I do remember seeing the Belem Tower and the monument to Henry the Navigator. (And photographing them with my little Kodak Instamatic.) Enjoyable to see your lovely tour of it!
You obviously had better school trips than me! I went to a camp in the middle of a forest in Germany. Only culture was a day trip to Cologne.
You’ve brought back memories from the summer of 1966, which I spent in Lisbon.
Great memories of my own visits to Lisbon and Belém 🙂 It’s one of my favourite European cities. I’m impressed that you got a photo of the Map of Discoveries without any people – when I’ve been there it always has a scattering of tourists standing on their home country to be photographed! And ooh, I’d love a Pasteis de Belém rightnow!
I can be very patient when I need to be 😇
I never got to Lisbon. Maybe one day…
Good luck with the storm, Jude.. The wind is arriving in Beetley now, and it sounds fierce.
Best wishes, Pete. x
No windier than normal here, so far. Around 60 kph
Lisbon is still on my ‘must visit’ list. You present an appetising case for it.
Oh, yes, do go if you can. It’s a lovely city. Combine it with a visit to Jo’s.
Sounds like a plan!
I would really love to visit Lisbon- your pictures of the city are so beautiful 🙂
You should if you can, it is one of Europe’s loveliest cities.