Sitting along the Atlantic coast is the heart of Portugal,
Lisbon. Long known as one of Europe's most creative capitals and infamous for its 'Lisbon Nights', this is a city rich in both history and culture. With many iconic monuments and landmarks, some of which can be found on
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly the
Tower of Belém. Lisbon is insatiably picturesque and could be considered one of Europe's most romantic capitals.
Did you know Lisbon is one of the
oldest cities in the world? And the oldest in Western Europe? It predates other modern capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by centuries, even though its capital status has never been granted or officially confirmed. Portugal's capital, Lisbon, was formed through constitutional convention, meaning it is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state.
Recognised as an alpha-level global city by the
Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group due to its importance in media, entertainment, arts, international trade, finance, tourism and education, Lisbon is the only Portuguese city other than Porto to be identified as a global city. Quite deservedly it has been awarded numerous international distinctions as a world-leading destination. While it's lovely backstreets, leafy squares, cosy cafés and bright yellow trams lend a touch of olde worlde charm, Lisbon is a youthful city with a cosmopolitan feel. Particularly the area around
Parque das Nações, developed from the 1998 World Expo and home to modern residences, a shopping centre, an Oceanarium and the longest bridge in Europe -
The Vasco Gama Bridge, with a total length of 12.3 kilometres. It's also recently become a start up hotspot and the host of
WebSummit, attracting more than 60,000 digital professionals yearly for the event whilst paving a way forward for the cities interest in supporting innovative technology.
Just outside the capital, a slower pace can be found in the affluent areas of
Cascais and
Estoril, the preferred holiday destination of the royalty and nobility over the centuries, thanks to their sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife. Alongside the charming resorts of Estoril and Cascais, and the beautiful town of
Sintra, this part of the country is home to the beating heart of Portugal: Lisbon.
The ever growing popular
Porto can be found approximately 300km north of Lisbon, the second biggest city in Portugal after Lisbon. It is famous for multiple reasons but one that stands out the most is the
Port Wine, produced exclusively in the Douro Valley. Although some people may have heard of or know of, the acclaimed author J.K.Rowling, who was said to have taken
inspiration from her time living in the city to produce her Harry Potter novels, which would later become a worldwide success.
