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| Downtown Lisbon |
Portugal, located in the very southwestern tip of Europe is, in fact, quite a small piece of land. (It measures just 92,391 square kilometers.) Eighty-four percent of Portugal is Catholic, and this nation was one of the most influential in the world in terms of spreading Catholicism.
Since the airport in Lisbon is located in the center of the city, visitors can reach their destinations shortly after they arrive. There are many trams that run through Lisbon. One of them is the Number 28, which runs by many of the tourist sites in the city and is a favored means of transportation for first-time visitors.
Despite Portugal's relatively small population, Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages in the world. There are just under 200 million people who speak Portuguese: In South America, there is Brazil, and in Africa there are nations such as Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, and of course in China, Portuguese is spoken in Macau. In fact, Portuguese is ranked the sixth most spoken language in the world by the European Union.
Portuguese history is particularly marked by the exploration that took place in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was during these centuries, due to the seafaring and colonizing done by the Portuguese, that Portugal experienced its golden age. In fact, even nowadays in Portugal, you can see signs of the wealth that date back to those days. The seafarers who came out of Portugal are still known and remembered throughout the world; Bartholomew Dias, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are just a few examples.
Some say that there are more than 3,000 Arabic-rooted words in Portuguese. Words like "al-Garve," "al-Fame" and "al-Kantara" -- in other words, mostly everything preceded by "al" -- comes from Arabic. Muslims entered Iberia in the year 711 and stayed for exactly eight centuries. And despite the fact that many years have passed since the Muslims left, you can still see the influence of this presence everywhere. The tiled buildings and Arabic words sprinkled through the language are just some examples. Even so, almost none of the structures built during the time of the Umayyad caliphate of al-Andalus are still left standing in the city. There is not, for example, a single mosque left from that period in Lisbon.
Visitors to Lisbon are treated to the natural beauty of the Rio Tejo ("Tagus" in English) that starts in Portugal's neighbor, Spain, and runs through Portugal, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal's western coastline with the Atlantic Ocean stretches for 832 kilometers.
One of the most important points in Portugal is the Cabo da Roca. This is the European continent's westernmost point. West from here is the Atlantic. It is also a wonderful point to look out upon the magnificent marine view, facing the strong winds that blow off the ocean.
Like İstanbul, Lisbon sits atop seven different hills. You can look out on this city of 2.7 million from the highest point in the city, from the Sao Jorge tower, and get a memorable bird's eye view. Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since 1260. In Portuguese, the city is called "Lisboa."
One of the first things that might attract your attention in Lisbon is the giant statue of Christ. It is reminiscent of the famous one in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The one in Lisbon stands on a hill that overlooks the city, and is 22 meters high. You can reach the terrace to view this statue by elevator, and after you get to the top, you have a wonderful view of the city.
The central boulevard in Lisbon is the Avenida de Liberdade. This is the most famous boulevard in Lisbon and is lined by trees on both sides. You can find hotels, administrative buildings and world-famous stores all along this road.
Walking through the center of Lisbon, you will likely also notice an interesting, historic elevator. The construction on this 45-meter-high elevator -- called Santa Justa -- began in 1900, and took two years to complete. It is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Lisbon because of the city views you see when you head up the elevator. In addition to the gorgeous views you get of the city grid when you go up the elevator, you also get to tour through the narrow, historic streets of Lisbon afterwards, for the elevator deposits its passengers at one of the highest neighborhoods in Lisbon. In fact, it was for the inhabitants of this steep neighborhood that this elevator was originally constructed. And the people who live here still use this elevator for that purpose, to get back to their homes.
"Fado" is a kind of music that is strongly associated with Portugal. You can hear fado live all over Lisbon, and one of the most famous places to go enjoy the strains of this kind of music is Luzo. According to fado musician Filipe Acasio, who has been playing for 29 years, fado is more than music, it is a way of life. Some say the word fado comes from the Latin word "fatum," or fate. There is pain and melancholy expressed in fado, which often expresses those who have been lost, and the sorrow and longing felt for them. Some say it's a kind of music that came about from long months spent at sea. Others say it was music sung in memory of those at journey out at sea by their loved ones on the land. But whatever the reason, Fado is a music which keeps the past alive today. At many places where fado is sung, five or six singers will take to the stage in one evening. And generally these singers will sing around three or four fado songs each before leaving the stage to their counterparts. You can find a fado bar on almost every corner of Lisbon.
Make sure that while you are in Lisbon, you don't leave without eating some of the delicious fish dishes offered in this fantastic city. From sardine to red mullet, from tongue fish to codfish, you can find everything here. This bounty comes from being located just on the edge of the Atlantic.
Finish up your meal with a slice of Belém cake. This is a famous item in Portuguese cuisine, and can be found everywhere.
With its historic cities, its atmosphere combining the past with the present and its delicious cuisine and warm people, Portugal is a country well worth visiting.
[TRAVEL TIPS]
Visa: Portuguese requires visas from Turkish citizens. Visas cost YTL 105 and can be obtained from the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara. No visas are required for citizens of the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK or other EU countries.How to go: Turkish Airlines (THY) offers regular flights to Lisbon from İstanbul.
THY charges 325 euros, inclusive of taxes.
Departures: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from İstanbul
Departs: 10:25 Arrives: 13:15
Returns: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to İstanbul
Departs: 14:10 Arrives: 20:40
Where to stay: You will have no problem finding clean, wonderful hotels to accommodate any kind of budget.
Cuisine: We recommend any one of the delicious fish meals.
Best time to go: In the summer, Portugal is hot, while in the winter, it can be chilly in the north. So we recommend a visit during spring. And since these are not the crowded months of the high season, hotels will be cheaper, too.
[QUICK FACTS]
Capital: LisbonOfficial language: Portuguese
Government: Republic; parliamentary democracy
President: Anibal Cavaco Silva
Prime Minister: Jose Socrates
Area: 92,391 square kilometers
Population: 10,676,910*
GDP (PPP): $232.3 billion**
Religions: Roman Catholic (84.5 percent), other Christian (2.2 percent), other (0.3 percent), unknown (9 percent), none (3.9 percent)
*July 2008 estimate **2007 estimate
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