Magnificent Lisbon

I share with Portugal a long lasting love story. I especially adore Lisbon, "the city of seven hills", and come here often. Lisbon is a beautiful and vibrant city that easily mixtures traditions and heritage with striking modernism. It has fantastic climate and amazing coastlines. And of course the Portuguese, with their sense of hospitality and warmth, make it really special...

One of the things I love most is to watch the sun set over the Tagus River from Padrão dos Descobrimentos, from where I can also admire the 25th of April Bridge and Cristo Rei. I always spend one day in Belém neighbourhood so I can visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and walk in the Jardim Botânico Tropical to take beautiful pictures... and of course pick delicious Pastéis de Belém (crispy pastry nests filled with custard cream).

Among other things, I enjoy walking from Parque Eduardo VII, through Praça do Comércio during peak hours. Window-shopping in Principe Real where from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara I have spectacular views over the Tagus River. Get books from Bertrand Chiado. Go for a seafood meal downtown. Wander in the narrow streets of Alfama neighbourhood and, while there, contemplate the charming sights of Lisbon from Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

Last but not least, going for tea/coffee in my favourite Pastry shop Pastelaria Versailles in Saldanha, I like the refinement of this centenary place and their finest pastries. My list as you can see is endless!

Why visit Lisbon? Because there is Fernando Pessoa, continuous source of inspiration and poetry (his bronze statue sits outside the Café A Brasileira and his House Museum in Campo de Ourique).

Lisbon offers sublime suburbs to explore: Sintra, Cascais, Costa da Caparica and the Cabo da Roca!

Lisbon has Fado in Alfama and trendy shops in Chiado! Lisbon has Pastel de Belém and the most beautiful monuments. Lisbon has the Tagus - without it and without its seven hills it would not be what it is, a wonderful city.

And I'm not mistaken in saying that true love is the way I love Lisbon. Land of 'Alfacinhas' (so named are its citizens). They say this is due to the lettuce that they once planted in their hills.

Belém, Lapa, Chiado, Alfama and so many other wonderful places make this city look like a poem in motion - certainly a poem written by the greatest of all Portuguese poets, Camões.