Lisbon

Lisbon (/ˈlɪzbən/; Portuguese: Lisboa; [liʒˈboɐ] ( listen))[4] is the capital and the largest city

of Portugal, with an estimated population of 505,526[1] within its administrative limits in an area of
100.05 km2.[5] Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits with a
population of around 2.0 million people, being the 10th-most populous urban area in
the European Union.[3] About 2.8 million people live in the Lisbon metropolitan area, which
represents approximately 27% of the country's population.[2] It is mainland Europe's westernmost
capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian
Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. The westernmost portions of its metro
area, the Portuguese Riviera, form the westernmost point of Continental Europe, culminating
at Cabo da Roca.
Lisbon is recognised as an alpha-level global city because of its importance in finance,
commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism.[6] Lisbon is one
of two Portuguese cities (alongside Porto) to be recognised as a global city.[7][8] It is one of the
major economic centres on the continent, with a growing financial sector and one of the
largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast.[9] Additionally, Humberto Delgado
Airport served 29 million passengers in 2018, being the busiest airport in Portugal, the 3rd
busiest in the Iberian Peninsula and the 20th busiest in Europe.[10] The motorway network and
the high-speed rail system of Alfa Pendular links the main cities of Portugal to Lisbon.[11] The city
is the 9th-most-visited city in Southern Europe,
after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Athens, Venice, Madrid and Florence with 3,539,400
tourists in 2018.[12] The Lisbon region has a higher GDP PPP per capita than any other region in
Portugal. Its GDP amounts to US$96.3 billion and thus $32,434 per capita.[13][14] The city occupies
the 40th place of highest gross earnings in the world.[15] Most of the headquarters of multinational
corporations in Portugal are located in the Lisbon area.[16] It is also the political centre of the
country, as its seat of government and residence of the head of state.
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the second-oldest European capital city
(after Athens), predating other modern European capitals by centuries. Julius Caesar made it
a municipium called Felicitas Julia,[17] adding to the name Olissipo. After the fall of the Roman
Empire it was ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century; later it was captured by
the Moors in the 8th century. In 1147 Afonso Henriques conquered the city and since then it has
been the political, economic and cultural center of Portugal.

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
o 2.1Origins
o 2.2Roman era
o 2.3Middle Ages
o 2.4Early Modern
o 2.5Modern era
o 2.6Contemporary
 3Geography
o 3.1Physical geography
o 3.2Climate
o 3.3Civil parishes
o 3.4Neighborhoods
 3.4.1Alcântara
 3.4.2Alfama
  3.4.3Mouraria
 3.4.4Bairro Alto
 3.4.5Baixa
 3.4.6Beato
 3.4.7Belém
 3.4.8Chiado
 3.4.9Parque das Nações
 4Politics
o 4.1Local election results 1976–2017
 5Culture
 6Demographics
 7Economy
 8Transport
o 8.1Metro
o 8.2Trams
o 8.3Trains
o 8.4Buses
o 8.5Bridges and ferries
o 8.6Air travel
o 8.7Public transportation statistics
 9Education
o 9.1International schools
o 9.2Higher education
o 9.3Libraries
 10Sports
o 10.1Football
o 10.2Other sports
 11International relations
o 11.1Union of Luso-Afro-Americo-Asiatic Capital Cities
o 11.2Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities
o 11.3Cooperation agreements
 12See also
 13References
 14Bibliography
 15External links

Etymology
Lisbon's name may have been derived from Proto-Celtic or Celtic Olisippo, Lissoppo, or a similar
name which other visiting peoples like the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans adapted
accordingly, such as the pre-Roman appellation for the Tagus River, Lisso or Lucio. Classical
authors writing in Latin and Greek, including Strabo, Solinus, and Martianus Capella,[18][19] referred
to popular legends that the city of Lisbon was founded by the mythical hero Ulysses (Odysseus).
[20][21]
 Lisbon's name was written Ulyssippo in Latin by the geographer Pomponius Mela, a native
of Hispania. It was later referred to as "Olisippo" by Pliny the Elder and by the Greeks
as Olissipo (Ὀλισσιπών) or Olissipona (Ὀλισσιπόνα).[22][23]
Another claim repeated in non-academic literature is that the name of Lisbon could be traced
back to Phoenician times, referring to a supposedly Phoenician term Alis-Ubo, meaning "safe
harbour".[24] Although modern archaeological excavations show a Phoenician presence at this
location since 1200 BC,[25] this folk etymology has no historical credibility.
Lisbon's name is commonly abbreviated as "LX" or "Lx", originating in an antiquated spelling of
Lisbon as ‘‘Lixbõa’’.[26] While the old spelling has since been completely dropped from usage and
goes against modern language standards, the abbreviation is still commonly used.

History
Main articles: History of Lisbon and Timeline of Lisbon

Origins

Phoenician archaeological dig in a cloister of the Lisbon Cathedral.

During the Neolithic period, the region was inhabited by Pre-Celtic tribes, who built religious and
funerary monuments, megaliths, dolmens and menhirs, which still survive in areas on the
periphery of Lisbon.[27] The Indo-European Celts invaded in the 1st millennium BC, mixing with
the Pre-Indo-European population, thus giving rise to Celtic-speaking local tribes such as the
Cempsi.
Although the first fortifications on Lisbon's Castelo hill are known to be no older than the 2nd
century BC, recent archaeological finds have shown that Iron Age people occupied the site from
the 8th to 6th centuries BC.[28][29][30] This indigenous settlement maintained commercial relations
with the Phoenicians, which would account for the recent findings of Phoenician pottery and
other material objects. Archaeological excavations made near the Castle of São Jorge (Castelo
de São Jorge) and Lisbon Cathedral indicate a Phoenician presence at this location since 1200
BC,[25] and it can be stated with confidence that a Phoenician trading post stood on a site[31][32] now
the centre of the present city, on the southern slope of Castle hill.[33] The sheltered harbour in
the Tagus River estuary was an ideal spot for an Iberian settlement and would have provided a
secure harbour for unloading and provisioning Phoenician ships.[34] The Tagus settlement was an
important centre of commercial trade with the inland tribes, providing an outlet for the valuable
metals, salt and salted-fish they collected, and for the sale of the Lusitanian horses renowned in
antiquity.
According to a persistent legend, the location was named for the mythical Ulysses, who founded
the city when he sailed westward to the ends of the known world.[35]

Roman era

Part of the Cerca Velha (Old Wall), originally built by the Romans.[36]

Following the defeat of Hannibal in 202 BC during the Punic wars, the Romans determined to
deprive Carthage of its most valuable possession: Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula). The defeat
of Carthaginian forces by Scipio Africanus in Eastern Hispania allowed the pacification of the
west, led by Consul Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus. Decimus obtained the alliance
of Olissipo (which sent men to fight alongside the Roman Legions against the northwestern
Celtic tribes) by integrating it into the empire, as the Municipium Cives Romanorum Felicitas
Julia. Local authorities were granted self-rule over a territory that extended 50 kilometres (31
miles); exempt from taxes, its citizens were given the privileges of Roman citizenship,[17] and it
was then integrated with the Roman province of Lusitania (whose capital was Emerita Augusta).
Lusitanian raids and rebellions during Roman occupation required the construction of a wall
around the settlement. During Augustus' reign, the Romans also built a great theatre; the
Cassian Baths (underneath Rua da Prata); temples to Jupiter, Diana, Cybele, Tethys and
Idea Phrygiae (an uncommon cult from Asia Minor), in addition to temples to the Emperor; a
large necropolis under Praça da Figueira; a large forum and other buildings such
as insulae (multi-storied apartment buildings) in the area between Castle Hill and the historic city
core. Many of these ruins were first unearthed during the mid-18th century (when the recent
discovery of Pompeii made Roman archaeology fashionable among Europe's upper classes).
The city prospered as piracy was eliminated and technological advances were introduced,
consequently Felicitas Julia became a center of trade with the Roman provinces
of Britannia (particularly Cornwall) and the Rhine. Economically strong, Olissipo was known for
its garum (a fish sauce highly prized by the elites of the empire and exported in amphorae to
Rome), wine, salt, and horse-breeding, while Roman culture permeated the hinterland. The city
was connected by a broad road to Western Hispania's two other large cities, Bracara Augusta in
the province of Tarraconensis (Portuguese Braga), and Emerita Augusta, the capital of Lusitania.
The city was ruled by an oligarchical council dominated by two families, the Julii and the Cassiae,
although regional authority was administered by the Roman Governor of Emerita or directly by
Emperor Tiberius. Among the majority of Latin speakers lived a large minority of Greek traders
and slaves.
Olissipo, like most great cities in the Western Empire, was a center for the dissemination of
Christianity. Its first attested Bishop was Potamius (c. 356), and there were
several martyrs during the period of persecution of the Christians: Verissimus, Maxima, and
Julia are the most significant examples. By the time of the Fall of Rome, Olissipo had become a
notable Christian center.

São Jorge Castle and the surrounding neighborhoods of Castelo, Mouraria, and Alfama.

Middle Ages
Following the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire there were barbarian invasions;
between 409 and 429 the city was occupied successively by Sarmatians, Alans and Vandals.
The Germanic Suebi, who established a kingdom in Gallaecia (modern Galicia and northern
Portugal), with its capital in Bracara Augusta, also controlled the region of Lisbon until 585. In
585, the Suebi Kingdom was integrated into the Germanic Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo, which
comprised all of the Iberian Peninsula: Lisbon was then called Ulishbona.
King Afonso Henriques reconquered the city from the Almoravid Empire at the 1147 Siege of Lisbon.

On 6 August 711, Lisbon was taken by Muslim forces. These conquerors, who were
mostly Berbers and Arabs from North Africa and the Middle East, built many mosques and
houses, rebuilt the city wall (known as the Cerca Moura) and established administrative control,
while permitting the diverse population
(Muwallad, Mozarabs, Berbers, Arabs, Jews, Zanj and Saqaliba) to maintain their socio-cultural
lifestyles. Mozarabic was the native language spoken by most of the Christian population
although Arabic was widely known as spoken by all religious communities. Islam was the official
religion practised by the Arabs, Berbers, Zanj, Saqaliba and Muwallad (muwalladun).
The Muslim influence is still visible in the Alfama district, an old quarter of Lisbon that survived
the 1755 Lisbon earthquake: many place-names are derived from Arabic and the Alfama (the
oldest existing district of Lisbon) was derived from the Arabic "al-hamma".
For a brief time Lisbon was an independent Muslim kingdom known as the Taifa of
Lisbon (1022–1094), before being conquered by the larger Taifa of Badajoz.
In 1108 Lisbon was raided and occupied by Norwegian crusaders led by Sigurd I on their way to
the Holy Land as part of the Norwegian Crusade and occupied by crusader forces for three
years.[37] It was taken by the Moorish Almoravids in 1111.

The 1384 Siege of Lisbon in Froissart's Chronicles.

In 1147, as part of the Reconquista, crusader knights led by Afonso I of Portugal besieged and

reconquered Lisbon. The city, with around 154,000 residents at the time, was returned to
Christian rule. The reconquest of Portugal and re-establishment of Christianity is one of the most
significant events in Lisbon's history, described in the chronicle Expugnatione Lyxbonensi, which
describes, among other incidents, how the local bishop was killed by the crusaders and the city's
residents prayed to the Virgin Mary as it happened. Some of the Muslim residents converted to
Roman Catholicism and most of those who did not convert fled to other parts of the Islamic
world, primarily Muslim Spain and North Africa. All mosques were either completely destroyed or
converted into churches. As a result of the end of Muslim rule, spoken Arabic quickly lost its
place in the everyday life of the city and disappeared altogether.
With its central location, Lisbon became the capital city of the new Portuguese territory in 1255.
The first Portuguese university was founded in Lisbon in 1290 by King Denis I; for many years
the Studium Generale (General Study) was transferred intermittently to Coimbra, where it was
installed permanently in the 16th century as the University of Coimbra.
In 1384, the city was besieged by King Juan I of Castille, as a part of the ongoing 1383–1385
Crisis. The result of the siege was a victory for the Portuguese led by Nuno Álvares Pereira.
During the last centuries of the Middle Ages, the city expanded substantially and became an
important trading post with both Northern European and Mediterranean cities.

Early Modern

The oldest known panorama of Lisbon (1500–1510) from the Crónica de Dom Afonso Henriques by Duarte
Galvão

Most of the Portuguese expeditions of the Age of Discovery left Lisbon during the period from the
end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century, including Vasco da Gama's
expedition to India in 1498. In 1506, 3,000 Jews were massacred in Lisbon.[38] The 16th century
was Lisbon's golden era: the city was the European hub of commerce between Africa, India,
the Far East and later, Brazil, and acquired great riches by exploiting the trade in spices, slaves,
sugar, textiles and other goods. This period saw the rise of the exuberant Manueline style in
architecture, which left its mark in many 16th-century monuments (including Lisbon's Belém
Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, which were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites). A
description of Lisbon in the 16th century was written by Damião de Góis and published in 1554.[39]

King Manuel I ordered Jerónimos Monastery to be built in Belém, to serve Portuguese discoverers.

Ribeira Palace and the Terreiro do Paço depicted in 1662 by Dirk Stoop.

The succession crisis of 1580, initiated a sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal and
Spain under the Spanish Habsburgs.[40][41] This is referred to as the "Philippine Dominion"
(Domínio Filipino), since all three Spanish kings during that period were called Philip (Filipe). In
1589 Lisbon was the target of an incursion by the English Armada led by Francis Drake,
while Queen Elizabeth supported a Portuguese pretender in Antonio, Prior of Crato, but support
for Crato was lacking and the expedition was a failure. The Portuguese Restoration War, which
began with a coup d'état organised by the nobility and bourgeoisie in Lisbon and executed on 1
December 1640, restored Portuguese independence. The period from 1640 to 1668 was marked
by periodic skirmishes between Portugal and Spain, as well as short episodes of more serious
warfare until the Treaty of Lisbon was signed in 1668.
In the early 18th century, gold from Brazil allowed King John V to sponsor the building of
several Baroque churches and theatres in the city. Prior to the 18th century, Lisbon had
experienced several significant earthquakes – eight in the 14th century, five in the 16th century
(including the 1531 earthquake that destroyed 1,500 houses and the 1597 earthquake in which
three streets vanished), and three in the 17th century.
On 1 November 1755, the city was destroyed by another devastating earthquake, which killed an
estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Lisbon residents[42] of a population estimated at between 200,000 and
275,000,[43][44] and destroyed 85 percent of the city's structures.[45] Among several important
buildings of the city, the Ribeira Palace and the Hospital Real de Todos os Santos were lost. In
coastal areas, such as Peniche, situated about 80 km (50 mi) north of Lisbon, many people were
killed by the following tsunami.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake devastated Lisbon with an estimated magnitude between 8.5 and 9.0.

By 1755, Lisbon was one of the largest cities in Europe; the catastrophic event shocked the
whole of Europe and left a deep impression on its collective psyche. Voltaire wrote a long
poem, Poême sur le désastre de Lisbonne, shortly after the quake, and mentioned it in his 1759
novel Candide (indeed, many argue that this critique of optimism was inspired by that
earthquake). Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. also mentions it in his 1857 poem, The Deacon's
Masterpiece, or The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay.
After the 1755 earthquake, the city was rebuilt largely according to the plans of Prime
Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquis of Pombal; the lower town began to
be known as the Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline central district). Instead of rebuilding the medieval
town, Pombal decided to demolish what remained after the earthquake and rebuild the city
centre in accordance with principles of modern urban design. It was reconstructed in an open
rectangular plan with two great squares: the Praça do Rossio and the Praça do Comércio. The
first, the central commercial district, is the traditional gathering place of the city and the location
of the older cafés, theatres and restaurants; the second became the city's main access to the
River Tagus and point of departure and arrival for seagoing vessels, adorned by a triumphal arch
(1873) and monument to King Joseph I.

Modern era

The Proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910.

In the first years of the 19th century, Portugal was invaded by the troops of Napoléon Bonaparte,
forcing Queen Maria I and Prince-Regent John (future John VI) to flee temporarily to Brazil. By
the time the new King returned to Lisbon, many of the buildings and properties were pillaged,
sacked or destroyed by the invaders.
During the 19th century, the Liberal movement introduced new changes into the urban
landscape. The principal areas were in the Baixa and along the Chiado district, where shops,
tobacconists shops, cafés, bookstores, clubs and theatres proliferated. The development of
industry and commerce determined the growth of the city, seeing the transformation of
the Passeio Público, a Pombaline era park, into the Avenida da Liberdade, as the city grew
farther from the Tagus.
Lisbon was the site of the regicide of Carlos I of Portugal in 1908, an event which culminated two
years later in the establishment of the First Republic.

The Palace of Ajuda was built as a residence for the King of Portugal following the 1755 Lisbon

Earthquake.

Queen Maria II National Theatre was built in 1842.

The city refounded its university in 1911 after centuries of inactivity in Lisbon, incorporating
reformed former colleges and other non-university higher education schools of the city (such as
the Escola Politécnica – now Faculdade de Ciências). Today there are two public universities in
the city (University of Lisbon and New University of Lisbon), a public university institute (ISCTE -
Lisbon University Institute) and a polytechnic institute (IPL – Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa).
During World War II, Lisbon was one of the very few neutral, open European Atlantic ports, a
major gateway for refugees to the U.S. and a haven for spies. More than 100,000 refugees were
able to flee Nazi Germany via Lisbon.[46]
During the Estado Novo regime (1926–1974), Lisbon was expanded at the cost of other districts
within the country, resulting in nationalist and monumental projects. New residential and public
developments were constructed; the zone of Belém was modified for the 1940 Portuguese
Exhibition, while along the periphery new districts appeared to house the growing population.
The inauguration of the bridge over the Tagus allowed rapid connection between both sides of
the river.
Lisbon was the site of three revolutions in the 20th century. The first, the 5 October 1910
revolution, brought an end to the Portuguese monarchy and established the highly unstable and
corrupt Portuguese First Republic. The 6 June 1926 revolution would see the end of that first
republic and firmly establish the Estado Novo, or the Portuguese Second Republic, as the ruling
regime.

Contemporary
The Treaty of Lisbon, which forms the constitutional basis of the European Union, was signed at
the Jerónimos Monastery in 2007.

The Carnation Revolution, which took place on 25 April 1974, ended the right-wing Estado
Novo regime and reformed the country to become as it is today, the Portuguese Third Republic.
In the 1990s, many of the districts were renovated and projects in the historic quarters were
established to modernise those areas, for instance, architectural and patrimonial buildings were
renovated, the northern margin of the Tagus was re-purposed for leisure and residential use,
the Vasco da Gama Bridge was constructed and the eastern part of the municipality was re-
purposed for Expo '98 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's sea voyage
to India, a voyage that would bring immense riches to Lisbon and cause many of Lisbon's
landmarks to be built.
In 1988, a fire in the historical district of Chiado saw the destruction of many 18th-
century Pombaline style buildings. A series of restoration works has brought the area back to its
former self and made it a high-scale shopping district.
The Lisbon Agenda was a European Union agreement on measures to revitalise the EU
economy, signed in Lisbon in March 2000. In October 2007 Lisbon hosted the 2007 EU Summit,
where an agreement was reached regarding a new EU governance model. The resulting Treaty
of Lisbon was signed on 13 December 2007 and came into force on 1 December 2009.
Lisbon has been the site for many international events and programmes. In 1994, Lisbon was
the European Capital of Culture. On 3 November 2005, Lisbon hosted the MTV European Music
Awards. On 7 July 2007, Lisbon held the ceremony of the "New 7 Wonders Of The
World"[47] election, in the Luz Stadium, with live transmission for millions of people all over the
world. Every two years, Lisbon hosts the Rock in Rio Lisboa Music Festival, one of the largest in
the world. Lisbon hosted the NATO summit (19–20 November 2010), a summit meeting that is
regarded as a periodic opportunity for Heads of State and Heads of Government of NATO
member states to evaluate and provide strategic direction for Alliance activities.[48] The city hosts
the Web Summit and is the head office for the Group of Seven Plus (G7+). In 2018 it hosted
the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time as well as the Michelin Gala.[49] On 11 July 2018,
the Aga Khan officially chose the Henrique de Mendonça Palace, located on Rua Marquês de
Fronteira, as the Divan, or seat, of the global Nizari Muslim Imamate.[50][51]

Geography
Map of the 24 freguesias (administrative divisions of the city) of Lisbon grouped by zone:
  Historic Center
  Western Lisbon
  Central Lisbon
  Eastern Lisbon
  Northern Lisbon

Physical geography

View of the Lisbon metropolitan area, with the Portuguese Riviera to the west of Lisbon and the Setúbal
Peninsula south of the Tagus River.

Lisbon is located at 38°42′49.75″N 9°8′21.79″W, situated at the mouth of the Tagus River and is

the westernmost capital of a mainland European country.
The westernmost part of Lisbon is occupied by the Monsanto Forest Park, a 10 km2 (4 sq mi)
urban park, one of the largest in Europe, and occupying 10% of the municipality.
The city occupies an area of 100.05 km2 (39 sq mi), and its city boundaries, unlike those of most
major cities, coincide with those of the municipality.[52] The rest of the urbanised area of the
Lisbon urban area, known generically as Greater Lisbon (Portuguese: Grande Lisboa) includes
several administratively defined cities and municipalities, in the north bank of the Tagus River.
The larger Lisbon metropolitan area includes the Setúbal Peninsula to the south.
Climate
Main article: Climate of Lisbon
Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa)[53] with mild, rainy winters and warm to hot,
dry summers. The average annual temperature is 17.4 °C (63.3 °F), 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) during the
day and 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) at night.
In the coldest month – January – the highest temperature during the day typically ranges from 11
to 19 °C (52 to 66 °F), the lowest temperature at night ranges from 3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F) and
the average sea temperature is 16 °C (61 °F).[54] In the warmest month – August – the highest
temperature during the day typically ranges from 25 to 32 °C (77 to 90 °F), the lowest
temperature at night ranges from 14 to 20 °C (57 to 68 °F) and the average sea temperature is
around 20 °C (68 °F).[54]
Among European capitals, Lisbon ranks among those with the warmest winters and has the
mildest winter nights out of any major European city, with an average of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in the
coldest month, and 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) in the warmest month. The coldest temperature ever
recorded in Lisbon was −1.2 °C (30 °F) in February 1956. The highest temperature ever
recorded in Lisbon was 44.0 °C (111.2 °F) on 4 August 2018.[55]
The city has around 2,806 hours of sunshine per year, averaging 4.6 hours of sunshine per day
in December and 11.4 hours of sunshine per day in July, though when disregarding the duration
of the day August is actually the sunniest, with over 80% chance of direct sunlight hitting the
ground.[56]
Lisbon has around 750 mm (30 in) of precipitation per year. November and December are the
wettest months, accounting for a third of the total annual precipitation. July and August are the
driest.[57]

hideClimate data for Lisbon (altitude: 77 m.a.s.l., ~1km from sea,  locatio

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Au

22.6 24.8 29.4 32.2 34.8 41.5 40.6 44
Record high °C (°F)
(72.7) (76.6) (84.9) (90.0) (94.6) (106.7) (105.1) (111
14.8 16.2 18.8 19.8 22.1 25.7 27.9 28
Average high °C (°F)
(58.6) (61.2) (65.8) (67.6) (71.8) (78.3) (82.2) (82.
11.6 12.7 14.9 15.9 18.0 21.2 23.1 23
Daily mean °C (°F)
(52.9) (54.9) (58.8) (60.6) (64.4) (70.2) (73.6) (74.
8.3 9.1 11.0 11.9 13.9 16.6 18.2 18
Average low °C (°F)
(46.9) (48.4) (51.8) (53.4) (57.0) (61.9) (64.8) (65.
1.0 −1.2 0.2 5.5 6.8 10.4 14.1 14
Record low °C (°F)
(33.8) (29.8) (32.4) (41.9) (44.2) (50.7) (57.4) (58.
99.9 84.9 53.2 68.1 53.6 15.9 4.2 6.2
Average rainfall mm (inches)
(3.93) (3.34) (2.09) (2.68) (2.11) (0.63) (0.17) (0.2
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 15.0 15.0 13.0 12.0 8.0 5.0 2.0 2.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 142.6 156.6 207.7 234.0 291.4 303.0 353.4 344
Source: Instituto de Meteorologia,[57] Hong Kong Observatory[58] for data of avg. precipitation

Civil parishes
The municipality of Lisbon included 53 freguesias (civil parishes) until November 2012. A new
law ("Lei n.º 56/2012") reduced the number of freguesias to the following 24:[59]
 Ajuda
 Alcântara
 Alvalade
 Areeiro
 Arroios
 Avenidas Novas
 Beato
 Belém
 Benfica
 Campo de Ourique
 Campolide
 Carnide
 Estrela
 Lumiar
 Marvila
 Misericórdia
 Olivais
 Parque das Nações
 Penha de França
 Santa Clara
 Santa Maria Maior
 Santo António
 São Domingos de Benfica
 São Vicente
Neighborhoods

Partial view of Lisbon's waterfront districts from the Tagus River.

Locally, Lisbon's inhabitants may commonly refer to the spaces of Lisbon in terms of
historic Bairros de Lisboa (neighbourhoods). These communities have no clearly defined
boundaries and represent distinctive quarters of the city that have in common a historical culture,
similar living standards, and identifiable architectural landmarks, as exemplified by the Bairro
Alto, Alfama, Chiado, and so forth.
Alcântara

Alcântara from the Port of Lisbon.

Main article: Alcântara
Although today it is quite central, it was once a mere suburb of Lisbon, comprising mostly farms
and country estates of the nobility with their palaces. In the 16th century, there was a brook there
which the nobles used to promenade in their boats. During the late 19th century, Alcântara
became a popular industrial area, with many small factories and warehouses.
In the early 1990s, Alcântara began to attract youth because of the number of pubs and
discothèques. This was mainly due to its outer area of mostly commercial buildings, which acted
as barriers to the noise-generating nightlife (which acted as a buffer to the residential
communities surrounding it). In the meantime, some of these areas began to become gentrified,
attracting loft developments and new flats, which have profited from its river views and central
location.
The riverfront of Alcântara is known for its nightclubs and bars. The area is commonly known
as docas (docks), since most of the clubs and bars are housed in converted dock warehouses.
Alfama
Main article: Alfama

Alfama, with the churches of S. Vicente de Fora, S. Engrácia, and S. Estêvão, and the Tagus river behind.

The oldest district of Lisbon, it spreads down the southern slope from the Castle of São Jorge to
the River Tagus. Its name, derived from the Arabic Al-hamma, means fountains or baths. During
the Islamic invasion of Iberia, the Alfama constituted the largest part of the city, extending west to
the Baixa neighbourhood. Increasingly, the Alfama became inhabited by fishermen and the poor:
its fame as a poor neighbourhood continues to this day. While the 1755 Lisbon
earthquake caused considerable damage throughout the capital, the Alfama survived with little
damage, thanks to its compact labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares.

View from the São Jorge Castle, including the Praça do Comércio on the waterfront

It is a historical quarter of mixed-use buildings occupied by Fado bars, restaurants, and homes

with small shops downstairs. Modernising trends have invigorated the district: old houses have
been re-purposed or remodeled, while new buildings have been constructed. Fado, the typically
Portuguese style of melancholy music, is common (but not obligatory) in the restaurants of the
district.
Mouraria
The Mouraria, or Moorish quarter, is one of the most traditional neighbourhoods of Lisbon,
[60]
 although most of its old buildings were demolished by the Estado Novo between the 1930s
and the 1970s.[61] It takes its name from the fact that after the reconquest of Lisbon, the Muslims
who remained were confined to this part of the city.[62] In turn, the Jews were confined to three
neighbourhoods called "Judiarias"[63]
Bairro Alto
Main article: Bairro Alto
Duke of Cadaval Square, bordering Bairro Alto and the Baixa Pombalina.

Bairro Alto (literally the upper quarter in Portuguese) is an area of central Lisbon that functions as
a residential, shopping and entertainment district; it is the center of the Portuguese capital's
nightlife, attracting hipster youth and members of various music subcultures. Lisbon's Punk, Gay,
Metal, Goth, Hip Hop and Reggae scenes all find a home in the Bairro with its many clubs and
bars that cater to them. The crowds in the Bairro Alto are a multicultural mix of people
representing a broad cross-section of modern Portuguese society, many of them being
entertainment seekers and devotees of various music genres outside the mainstream, Fado,
Portugal's national music, still survives in the midst of the new nightlife.
Baixa
Main article: Baixa Pombalina
The heart of the city is the Baixa or city centre; the Pombaline Baixa is an elegant district,
primarily constructed after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, taking its name from its
benefactor, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, who was the minister
of Joseph I of Portugal (1750–1777) and a key figure during the Portuguese Enlightenment.
Following the 1755 disaster, Pombal took the lead in rebuilding Lisbon, imposing strict conditions
and guidelines on the construction of the city, and transforming the organic street plan that
characterised the district before the earthquake into its current grid pattern. As a result, the
Pombaline Baixa is one of the first examples of earthquake-resistant construction. Architectural
models were tested by having troops march around them to simulate an earthquake. Notable
features of Pombaline structures include the Pombaline cage, a symmetrical wood-lattice
framework aimed at distributing earthquake forces, and inter-terrace walls that were built higher
than roof timbers to inhibit the spread of fires.

Praça do Comércio, with the Rua Augusta Arch, in the Lisbon Baixa.

Beato

Facade of Teatro Ibérico, in Beato

The parish of Beato stands out for the new cultural dynamics it has been experiencing in recent
years. The manufacturing districts and the industrial facilities by the riverside docks are the place
of choice for contemporary art galleries, iconic bars, and gourmet restaurants that simmer in the
streets. This reality has not gone unnoticed by the national press, and Visão,[64] TimeOut,[65] or
Jornal de Negócios[66] have already made notice of this parish that hides treasures such as
the National Museum of the Azulejo or the Palacio do Grilo.
Belém
Main article: Belém
Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their
voyages of discovery. In particular, it is the place from which Vasco da Gama departed
for India in 1497 and Pedro Álvares Cabral departed for Brazil in 1499. It is also a former royal
residence and features the 17th – 18th-century Belém Palace, a former royal residence now
occupied by the President of Portugal, and the Ajuda Palace, begun in 1802 but never
completed.
Perhaps Belém's most famous feature is its tower, Torre de Belém, whose image is much used
by Lisbon's tourist board. The tower was built as a fortified lighthouse late in the reign of Dom
Manuel l (1515–1520) to guard the entrance to the port. It stood on a little island in right side of
the Tagus, surrounded by water. Belém's other major historical building is the Mosteiro dos
Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), which the Torre de Belém was built partly to defend. Belém's
most notable modern feature is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries)
built for the Portuguese World Fair in 1940. In the heart of Belém is the Praça do Império:
gardens centred upon a large fountain, laid out during World War II. To the west of the gardens
lies the Centro Cultural de Belém. Belém is one of the most visited Lisbon districts. Here is
located the Estádio do Restelo, house of Belenenses.

View of Jerónimos Monastery and Praça do Império (Empire Square) from the top of the Padrão dos
Descobrimentos in Belém.
Chiado
Main article: Chiado

Monument to Luís de Camões, considered the greatest poet of the Portuguese language, in Chiado.

The Chiado is a traditional shopping area that mixes old and modern commercial establishments,
concentrated specially in the Rua do Carmo and the Rua Garrett. Locals as well as tourists visit
the Chiado to buy books, clothing and pottery as well as to have a cup of coffee. The most
famous café of Chiado is A Brasileira, famous for having had poet Fernando Pessoa among its
customers. The Chiado is also an important cultural area, with several museums and theatres,
including the opera. Several buildings of the Chiado were destroyed in a fire in 1988, an event
that deeply shocked the country. Thanks to a renovation project that lasted more than 10 years,
coordinated by celebrated architect Siza Vieira, the affected area has now virtually recovered.
The ornate, late 18th-century Estrela Basilica is the main attraction of this district. The church
with its large dome is located on a hill in what was at the time the western part of Lisbon and can
be seen from great distances. The style is similar to that of the Mafra National Palace, late
baroque and neoclassical. The façade has twin bell towers and includes statues of saints and
some allegorical figures. São Bento Palace, the seat of the Portuguese parliament and the
official residences of the Prime Minister of Portugal and the President of the Assembly of the
Republic of Portugal, are in this district. Also in this district is Estrela Park, a favorite with
families. There are exotic plants and trees, a duck pond, various sculptures, a children's
playground, and many cultural events going on through the year, including outdoor cinema,
markets, and music festivals.
Parque das Nações
Main article: Parque das Nações

The Parque das Nações district was initially built for the Lisbon World Expo.

Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) is the newest district in Lisbon; it emerged from an urban
renewal program to host the 1998 World Exhibition of Lisbon, also known as Expo'98. The area
suffered massive changes giving Parque das Nações a futuristic look. A long lasting legacy of
the same, the area has become another commercial and higher-end residential area for the city.
Central in the area is the Gare do Oriente (Orient railway station), one of the main transport hubs
of Lisbon for trains, buses, taxis, and the metro. Its glass and steel columns are inspired by
Gothic architecture, lending the whole structure a visual fascination (especially in sunlight or
when illuminated at night). It was designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava from Valencia,
Spain. The Parque das Nações is across the street.
The area is pedestrian-friendly with new buildings, restaurants, gardens, the Casino Lisbon, the
FIL building (International Exhibition and Fair), the Camões Theatre and the Oceanário de
Lisboa (Lisbon Oceanarium), which is the second largest in the world. The district's Altice
Arena has become Lisbon's "jack-of-all-trades" performance arena. Seating 20,000, it has staged
events from concerts to basketball tournaments.

Politics

Lisbon City Hall, ceremonial seat of the Lisbon's municipal government.

Current composition of Lisbon city council:
  PS (8)
  CDS-PP (4)
  PSD (2)
  CDU (2)
  BE (1)

See also: List of mayors of Lisbon and Lisbon politics (in German)

Fernando Medina is the current and 77th Mayor of Lisbon.

Local election results 1976–2017

Summary of local elections for Lisbon city hall, 1976–2017

Electi PC PS PS CD PP UD AP A CD B C H PA Ot In Turno
on P D S M P U D U E R R N h v ut
year

20. 35. 15. 19. 0.4 - - - - - - - - 6. 2. 66.5

1976
7 5 2 0 5 6

- 23. - - - 2.2 25. 46. - - - - - 0. 2. 75.6

1979
4 1 7 7 0

- 27. - - - 0.8 26. 41. - - - - - 1. 2. 72.2

1982
0 7 3 4 9

- 18. 44. - 5.1 1.5 27. - - - - - - 0. 2. 58.7

1985
0 8 5 7 5

- 49. 42.1 - - - w.P - - - - 5. 3. 54.8

1989
1 S 2 7
 - 56. 26. 7.8 - - - - w.P - - - - 5. 3. 53.5
1993
7 4 S 8 5

- 51. 39.3 - - - - w.P - - - - 4. 4. 48.3

1997
9 S 5 3

- 41. 42. 7.6 w.P - - - w.P 3. - - - 1. 3. 55.0

2001
7 0 SD S 8 8 1

2005