The Lisbon region having its sports and cultural diversity is a great holiday place 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.

Found at the mouth from the Tagus River ("Rio Tejo") and presumably founded with the
Phoenicians around 1200 B.C. being a trading post, Lisbon fascinates visitors featuring its rich
cultural and historical heritage and it is always worth a weekend city break. In its eventful
history it has 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 for the city, thereby making Lisbon an exilerating and
unique mix of the most different cultural and architectural influences with Romanesque,
Gothic, Manueline, Baroque and Traditional Portuguese architecture. In the so-called
"Portuguese Ages of Discovery" between the 15th and 17th century Lisbon became strategi-
cally crucial as starting place to the Portuguese exploration of Africa, India, china and taiwan
and Brazil. The legendary Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama left Lisbon in 1497 to disco-
ver the water route to India.

Although Lisbon was largely destroyed by the disastrous earthquake in 1755 and completely
rebuilt in contemporary architectural style afterwards, many historical monuments have
remained untouched from this nature catastrophe and are proof the cultural and historical
diversity of the seaport. Of these historical sites of interest you see 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") internal the 12th and 13th century
in Late Romanesque style, in order to mention several. The Belem Tower ("Torre de Belem")
with its Portuguese Late Gothic, Manueline and Renessaince Style and also the Jeronimos
Monastery ("Mosteiro dos Jeronimos") featuring its Manueline, Plateresco, Renaissance and
Gothic style were integrated the 16th century and declared World Heritage Sites with the
UNESCO in 1983.



At the outset of the Nineteenth century Lisbon was invaded and pillaged by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1910 the 1st Portuguese Republic was declared. In 1998 Lisbon hosted the globe Exhibition Expo ?98.

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

The general public transport system in Lisbon is incredibly well-developed and allows simple and fast acces
for the surrounding Lisbon region with Sintra, the Estoril Coast along with the Setubal peninsula.
Sintra along with the Estoril Coast come in the Ribatejo region north of the Tagus estuary
(and so the name "Ribatejo" meaning "riba do Tejo" ("on, or beyond, the banks in the
Tagus")). The Estoril Coast featuring its beaches and holiday resorts provides a large various
pleasurable activities like tennis, wandering, swimming or sailing which is your best option
for beach holidays. The high density of courses with the Estoril Coast also helps it be a pa-
radise for players. Surfers will favour surfing hotspots including Carcavelos and Ericeira.

Another daytrip destination an easy task to reach from Lisbon is Sintra. Its historic monuments such
because the 19th century Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional de Pena), the 9th and 10th century
Castle from the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) and also the 15th and 16th century Sintra National Palace
(Palacio Nacional de Sintra) and also the Sintra-Cascais National Park will almost always be worth visiting.
Sintra was declared a World Heritage Site from the UNESCO in 1995.

The Setubal peninsula (also referred to as "Costa Azul" ("Blue Coast")) is situated in the Alentejo region
south with the Tagus estuary (hence the name "Alentejo" meaning "alem do Tejo" ("beyond
the Tagus")). It really is legendary for the Arrabida National Park. The visitor will be impressed featuring its
unique Mediterranean vegetation untouched by touristic development current unspoilt
wildlife and may anticipate seeing storks, flamingos and dolphins, flamingos. Dolphin watching
can be a major tourist attraction. The protection area invites the traveller to several leisure
time activities including river cruises, walking, cycling, horseback riding, heat ballooning,
diving and golf.

More information about what to do in Lisbon go this webpage.