The Lisbon region using its sports and cultural diversity is a perfect holiday spot for va-
cationers seeking variety. Whether it is concerts, theatre, museums, nightlife, history, gastronomy
or outdoor leisure sports like golf and surfing - the Lisbon region leaves no wish unfulfilled.

At the mouth from the Tagus River ("Rio Tejo") and presumably founded with the
Phoenicians around 1200 B.C. like a trading post, Lisbon fascinates the customers with its rich
cultural and historical heritage and is always worth a weekend city break. In their eventful
history it's got witnessed many invaders like the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Alans,
Vandals, Suebi, Visigoths and Moors. In 1147, the 400 years long moorish domination of
Lisbon was ended when crusaders led by Alfonso I of Portugal reconquered Lisbon during
the Christian Reconquista.

All rulers left their cultural imprints about the city, thereby making Lisbon a fantastic and
unique combination of probably the most different cultural and architectural influences with Romanesque,
Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and Traditional Portuguese architecture. During the so-called
"Portuguese Chronilogical age of Discovery" relating to the 15th and 17th century Lisbon became strategi-
cally significant as place to start for that Portuguese exploration of Africa, India, tiongkok
and Brazil. The legendary Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama left Lisbon in 1497 to disco-
ver the sea approach to India.

Although Lisbon was largely destroyed with a disastrous earthquake in 1755 and completely
rebuilt in contemporary architectural style afterwards, many historical monuments have
remained untouched with that nature catastrophe and therefore are proof of the cultural and historical
diversity with this seaport. Among these historical sites of great interest you discover Lisbon Castle/
Castle of Sao Jorge ("Castelo de Sao Jorge") built in a citadel-like style and Lisbon Cathe-
dral ("Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa" or "Se de Lisboa") built-in the 12th and 13th century
in Late Romanesque style, simply to mention a few. The Belem Tower ("Torre de Belem")
using its Portuguese Late Gothic, Manueline and Renessaince Style and the Jeronimos
Monastery ("Mosteiro dos Jeronimos") with its Manueline, Plateresco, Renaissance and
Gothic style were built in the 16th century and declared World Heritage Sites by the
UNESCO in 1983.



At the outset of the 19th century Lisbon was invaded and pillaged through the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1910 the very first Portuguese Republic was declared. In 1998 Lisbon hosted the World Exhibition Expo ?98.

Art lovers will enjoy the different museums in Lisbon like the "Museo do Azulejo" (Museum
of Portuguese-style Tile Mosaics), the "Oceanario de Lisboa" (Lisbon Oceanarium) as well as the
"Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga" (National Museum of Ancient Art). Opera lovers will appre-
ciate the rich cultural agenda with the "Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos". Tourists will likely love
various cafes and restaurants and the numerous shopping possibilities such as the Vasco
da Gama Shopping Mall and Amoreiras Local mall. Don?t miss a fado music performance
from the Alfama, Lisbon?s oldest quarter.

People transport system in Lisbon is incredibly well-developed and allows easy and quick acces
to the surrounding Lisbon region with Sintra, the Estoril Coast along with the Setubal peninsula.
Sintra as well as the Estoril Coast come in the Ribatejo region north from the Tagus estuary
(hence the name "Ribatejo" meaning "riba do Tejo" ("on, or beyond, the banks in the
Tagus")). The Estoril Coast with its beaches and holiday resorts offers a large number of
leisure time activities including tennis, wandering, swimming or sailing which is your best option
for beach holidays. The prime density of courses at the Estoril Coast also causes it to be a pa-
radise for players. Surfers will favour surfing hotspots such as Carcavelos and Ericeira.

Another daytrip destination very easy to reach from Lisbon is Sintra. Its historic monuments such
because the Nineteenth century Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional de Pena), the 9th and 10th century
Castle in the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) as well as the 15th and 16th century Sintra National Palace
(Palacio Nacional de Sintra) and the Sintra-Cascais Park will always be worth visiting.
Sintra was declared a World Heritage Site through the UNESCO in 1995.

The Setubal peninsula (otherwise known as "Costa Azul" ("Blue Coast")) is found in the Alentejo region
south of the Tagus estuary (and so the name "Alentejo" this means "alem do Tejo" ("beyond
the Tagus")). It is legendary for the Arrabida National Park. The customer is going to be impressed featuring its
unique Mediterranean vegetation untouched by touristic development current unspoilt
wildlife and will expect to see storks, flamingos and dolphins, flamingos. Dolphin watching
is often a major tourist attraction. The nature protection area invites the traveller to numerous leisure
time activities including river cruises, walking, cycling, riding, heat ballooning,
diving and golf.

For more details about Lisbon tours you can check the best web portal.