Lisbon, Portugal – the Edge to Europe
Lisbon, Portugal sits on the edge of Europe. This coastline was the furthest west ancient European civilizations extended, and the staging ground for some of the world’s greatest explorers. My short experience in Portugal gave me a peek into this history as far back as the Neolithic age. It was a wondrous experience.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, boasts a layered history embraced by eight hills. It served as our base for four days in Portugal. We experienced the highlights of the city and more, though it still has lots more to do. Lisbon has been an important city in recorded history as far back as the Phoenicians, though Neolithic monuments can be found in the nearby countryside.
The city has been built layer on layer over the top of previous civilizations’ remains or destruction left by earthquakes. This means a rich smorgasbord of architecture covers the city. It also means that some of the historic places are reconstructed while others are original. I also love the mosaic cobblestone walkways. They reminded me of Macau.
Lisbon Portugal Temple
One Lisbon highlight for me, the Lisbon Portugal Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shines like a beacon in its neighborhood. Unlike all other Latter-day Saint temples I’ve visited in the world, no fence separates the Lisbon temple grounds from the public space around it. It is an open, beautifully landscaped park. I love visiting the temple. On my travels, I try to get to a temple as much as I can because of the peace and connection to heaven I feel there. Sometimes, I can only see it from the outside because my time in a city coincides with an annual closing for deep cleaning or a day or time that the temple is not open. However, I can still feel God’s love for me even then.
We stayed in a hostel a few hundred meters from the temple and could see it out our room’s window. Even though this was a perfect location to stay for visiting the temple, it was a little bit of a journey to get into town. We took Uber rides and the subway.
Modern Architecture
The city’s architectural record includes more than historic beauties. One of the closest train and subway stations to where we were staying, Lisbon Oriente, was crowned by a magnificent piece of art. The pavilion is the landmark and heart of its neighborhood. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have any pictures:(
Just down the river front from Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery stands a large modern complex, which made the perfect place to watch the sunset.
The Sights
While in Lisbon, we visited Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery with its archaeological museum. We found the Roman theater and rode the Santa Justa Elevator. The Carmo Convent, now a museum, mesmerized, and Praca de Comercio impressed. Additionally, we took a day trip to UNESCO World Heritage towns of Evora and Sintra. All of these adventures will be detailed in coming posts.
One feature that makes this city so wonderful are the sunrises and sunsets. With the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Tagas River cutting through with its massive harbor, find a lookout on one of those eight hills and drink in the beauty and culture of this magnificent city. Lisbon, Portugal is a place to which I would love to return and spend more time.
