|
|
Index:
PALACES
1-Palaces (Belem) 2-Palaces (Pointed Stones palace) 3-Palaces (Ajuda royal palace) 4-Palaces (City Council)
5-Palaces (Parliament) 6-Palaces (other palaces) 7-Bullring
PALACES
1-Palaces (Belem) Belem is an 18-century royal palace, which is today the official residence of the President.
2-Palaces (Pointed Stones palace) The pointed stones palace was built in the sixteen century for a son of a vice-king
of India. The idea of the decoration reminds us the same style used in palaces like the shells palace in Spain and the
diamonds palace in Italy. It's curious to mention that there are six doors for one manor house.
3-Palaces (Ajuda royal palace) The statue of king Charles, one of the last kings of Portugal, is in front of the best
royal palace we have in Lisbon, from the beginning of the 19 century, built after all the terrible earthquakes of Lisbon.
It's a palace with a neoclassical facade, as it was fashionable all over Europe, and near the entrance there is a fine
collection of statues made by the school of artists who came to work here. Although their voluptuousness tells about
life inside the walls, they are still too austere, compared to the coziness of the interior. The interior is appropriate to a
period when royal families used to spend much of their time inside their dwellings. It's a jumble of furniture of different
styles and countries, most of them gifts from several monarchs of Europe. Paintings and portraits of the royal family
match with Spanish and Portuguese tapestries, French, and Italian chandeliers, Chinese and German porcelain,
Portuguese and French furniture, Egyptian, Portuguese and Italian marble and it all ends in a fantastic dinning room.
4-Palaces (City Council) The town hall of Lisbon, built in the second half of the 19 century, was a witness of important
events of the Portuguese history, like demonstrations of the republican revolution. Its facade in neoclassic style has an
elegant frontispiece with the coat of arms of Lisbon. We always see there the flag of Lisbon, showing the boat with two
ravens, a symbol of Saint Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon.
5-Palaces (Parliament) It was built in the end of the 19-century, on the place of a former convent of the 17-century,
which was enlarged in the beginning of the 19-century to house the Parliament of Portugal. It has an imposing
neoclassic facade and is watched over by two guards, keeping deputies safe inside. They keep their job like 2 lions,
eager to defend the Constitution. This is the place where deputies meet since 1834 and is one of the most imposing
buildings of Lisbon, not far from the center.
6-Palaces (other palaces) We can see a lot of other interesting little palaces, manor houses, mansions, spread all
over the city. Most of them date from the 18 and 19 centuries, as the previous ones were destroyed by the strongest
earthquake in Portugal, the one of 1755. They were built for the aristocracy of Portugal in the outskirts of Lisbon, and
they are now integrated in the 21st century of Lisbon. There's an old song describing Lisbon as an antique and
aristocratric town, so full of charm and beauty, accounting only for the many ancient buildings which survived time and
earthquakes as well as the many single family homes, some of them located in the busy and central parts of the city.
7-Bullring The bullfight ring dates from the end of the 19-century. Bullfighting was a main sport for the aristocracy in
the past and the Portuguese bullfight with its special characteristics, like bullfighting on horse back and tackling the bull
by hand is a must for strong spirited people.
|
Portugal tours
Tourism & Luxury Vacations in Portugal with a Portuguese Tour Operator and Travel Agency
Hotels, deluxe accommodation, conventions, restaurants, shows, multilingual graduated tour guides, tour buses, luxury coaches,
limousines, multilingual guide/drivers, cruises, boat tours, jeep safaris. Cultural, historical, religious and wine itineraries.
Day sightseeing tours | Deluxe private tours | Historical & cultural excursions | Student trips | Religious & pilgrimage | Business trips
Adventure, wine, romantic tours | Escorted luxury coach trips | Vacation packages | Last minute travel deals | Conference rooms
contact us: ad@lisboasightseeing.com
|
|
|
