The aquarium was designed by American architect Peter Chermayeff and has five principal tanks recreating various habitats typical of the coastal areas of the Arctic, Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This giant study centre dedicated to marine lif..

Seen from the outside, these 18C buildings give no real indication of the Cistercian architectural jewels that lie within. The façade was rebuilt in the Baroque style and the portal and rose window are all that remain of the original façade. You will..

A programme of restoration has reinvested this church with the nobility and sobriety associated with Cistercian buildings. This church is one of the largest and tallest of its kind. Note the immense nave and the transept which houses the tombs (14C) ..

This monastic complex is impressive. Visitors will be immediately struck by the simple lines of the 14C claustro do Silencio (the cloister of silence), whose thin double columns elegantly support three arches surmounted by a rose window. Visits to ..

This fortress, punctuated with towers and crenellations stands in a rocky island covered with trees and cacti, in the middle of the Tagus in which it is reflected... It was erected in 1171 by Gualdim Pais, Master of the Order of Knights Templar on th..

This convent of nuns of the order of St Clare, was founded in 1459 by Ferdinand, duke of Viseu, father of King Manuel. The elegant balustrade which crowns the church and the cloister resembles that of Batalha Monastery. The convent now accommodates t..

The finest square in Lisbon is where the royal palace destroyed by the earthquake once stood, hence its name, the Terreiro do Paço (Palace Terrace). It is lined by classical buildings with yellow façades resting on galleries with arcades and is an ex..

With its alleys ( becos ) cut by steps, Alfama has preserved the layout it had before the earthquake and renovation has not spoiled the original character of this quarter with an Arabic name: al-hama means fountain and refers to the hot springs in ..

Built in the late 12C, shortly after the city had been captured by Alfonso Henriques, the cathedral (like those in Oporto, Coimbra and Evora) was also a formidable fortress. It has been frequently remodelled; the third chapel contains the 14C Gothic..

Situated in the former palace of the Counts of Azurara (17C), the museum tells the story of everyday life in Lisbon in the 17 and 18C through a series of small, intimate rooms, decorated with azulejos and frescoes. The rooms have Portuguese and Ind..

The castle, the heart of the city, is perched on a hillside. It was built by the Visigoths in the 5C, enlarged by the Moors in the 9C and modified in the reign of Alfonso Henriques. It was used as a royal residence from the 14 to the 16C. The castle'..

With a view taking in the castle of São Jorge, the Mouraria district and the lower town, this is one of Lisbon’s finest viewpoints. The nearby chapel dates from 1796 although its origins can be traced back to 1147, the year of Lisbon's reconquest.

The museum, located in the 16C convent of Madre de Deus , shows how the panels of tiles were made and their development. The oldest azulejos are displayed on the walls of the great cloister and the small Manueline cloister: note the panoramic view..

The giant statue of Christ the King, a slightly smaller replica of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, was erected in 1959 in thanks to God for sparing Portugal during the Second World War. From the pedestal supporting the 28m statue..

The Monument to the Discoveries is an invitation to visit this museum of Portugal's maritime past with its impressive exhibition of a variety of model ships used for many different purposes: Asian vessels, 18 and 19C yachts, merchant navy steam shi..

The Carriage Museum , founded by Queen Amelia in 1904, has a splendid collection of carriages, the oldest of which is the magnificently painted four-wheeler brought to Portugal by Philip II of Spain in the late 16C. Other notable examples include th..

The centre, built in 1983 by architect Leslie Martin, has an interesting spacious design incorporating plants, thus creating the impression of a screen of greenery. It houses modern works of art by Portuguese artists from 1910 to the present day, inc..

Covering 26ha, Laranjeiras Park is both a zoo and public garden. The lower part includes the rose garden; there are enclosures for nearly 2 500 animals, many of which are exotic species. Note that the dolphinarium can only be visited during shows. A ..

The heart of monumental Manueline Lisbon, Belém overlooks the Tagus, and is now home to the Belém Cultural Centre . This is a pleasant, airy district with villas and gardens, set on a hillside dominating the river. It has strong links with Portugues..

This large garden, laid out in 1852, is full of exotic species (palm trees, dragon trees, etc.) Visitors can listen to music in the open air in front of the bandstand, go for a walk around the lakes or pause for a drink at one of the numerous drink s..