Lisbon by night- Alfama, Madragoa, Rossio Square, Belem, 25th of April Bridge, Praca dos Restauradores, Sao Jorge Castle, MAAT,Avenidas Novas, Holiday Inn Continental
At night many of the old churches, monuments and other buildings are illuminated by night. So are the two long bridges, Ponte Vasco da Gama and Ponte 25 de Abril. Sao Jorge Castle is overlooking the city, illuminated at night. The old districts Alfama and Bairro Alto, and the city center around Praca Comercio are popular places to dwell at night. But as soon as you leave the immediate city center, in Estrela for example that is more residential in its character is completely abandoned in the evenings. In Alfama, there is a viewpoint at Santa Luzia, where you can see all the city lights. It is also nice as, like we did, take the historical tram along the hills of Alfama after dark. At the top of the Christ Statue (Cristo Rei), next to the 25th of April Bridge in Almada on the other side of River Tajo, you have amazing view of the whole city. The statue itself with its pedestal is illuminated. It was consecrated in 1959, and was inspired by the more famous one in Rio de Janeiro. In Parque de las Nacoes, the tallest highrises, like Torre Vasco da Gama and Torres São Vicente/Gabriel, are illuminated at night. The riverfront in the Western district of Belém is beautiful after dark, and the Monument of the Discoveries and Torre de Belém are illuminated after dark. Lisbon has a vibrant nightclubs with lots of live venues, clubs and pubs. It is popular to listen to traditional fado music in special clubs and restaurants. For example Altice Arena, Belém Cultural Center and the club MusicBox and some of the stadiumas are popular live venues for rock concerts. ALFAMA: SAO JORGE CASTLE: CENTRAL PARTS: BELÉM and the 25th of April Bridge: MADRAGOA and Madragoa Apartments: HOLIDAY INN LISBON CONTINENTAL, Avenidas Novas: Holiday Inn Continental, the 2nd hotel where we stayed, is a 4-star postmodern highrise building, situated in the modern Avenidas Novas district, with elegant avenues and imposing new and old buildings. The hotel has 15 floors and a curved glass facade. The hotel was modern with nice views from the room, and the staff was eager to help. The double room was large, had marble bathroom and decorated in yellow and earth colours. The breakfast was fantastic. The lobby is modern but somewhat impersonal, with grey and brown colours, except for the erotic statues that are placed here end there. The hotel is is adjancent to the 15-storey postmodern 1989 guitar shaped highrise building Antiga sede do BNU. |