Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal and is also its capital. Located at the mouth of the Tagus River (Río Tagus), apart from being the country’s capital, it is also the capital of the District of Lisbon, and is the main hub of the Greater Lisbon area. The city has almost 564,477 inhabitants (2001), but its metropolitan area is home to almost 3 million people, a quarter of the country’s entire population. Lisbon is the richest city in Portugal, with a per capita GDP which exceeds the European average. It has been the capital city since it was conquered by the Moors in 1147. It is a city with over 20 centuries of history. Its walkways through “rural Portugal” are unique in Europe. Many of its buildings are decorated with blue and white tiles. The city is in a continual process of growth; this is evidenced by the presence on its outskirts of skyscrapers and some of the largest shopping centres in Europe. In its narrow streets and in the oldest districts of Lisbon - Alfama and Bairro Alto – tourists can enjoy traditional Fado music, played and sung in many small restaurants.

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- Recommended visit: the Elevador de Santa Justa is a romantic name used to describe the lift that allows visitors to view the city of Lisbon from its highest point. Visitors may be forgiven for forming the mistaken belief that since the structure resembles the Eiffel Tower it must have been built by the same person. There is, nevertheless, a grain of truth in this assumption. The Elevador was drawn up Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of Gustave Eiffel’s. It began its operations for the first time in 1902. Made entirely of iron, it is a veritable delight to look at. A lift carries visitors to the lookout point at the top, where they will find a café and a very pretty panoramic view over the city of Lisbon. In the distance the remains of the Carmelite convent, destroyed by fire, are discernible. The monument integrates seamlessly with the era’s style; even its tip does not break form.

-Theme Parks: The Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) was designed as an initiative against pollution and overexploitation of natural resources. At that time, the creators of Expo '98 realised that at the same site they could also build a large aquarium. Once it was constructed, its function was to carry on the message of Expo '98 while, at the same time supporting and contributing to the cultural and educational heritage of Portugal. Thus the Oceanário de Lisbon came into being, aimed at studying the ocean and encouraging its conservation. More Factoids...