Lisbon, the city of seven hills
Lisbon, Portugal's vibrant capital, unfurls with captivating beauty between steep hills and the banks of the River Tagus. The city harmoniously blends its rich historical past with a vibrant contemporary cultural scene. The cobbled streets of the Alfama district transport visitors into a medieval maze of colourful houses and melancholy Fado. The miradouros, or viewpoints, offer breathtaking panoramas of the city's red-tiled roofs and dazzling domes. Lisbon also seduces visitors with its artistic azulejos, emblematic trams and delicious cuisine infused with Atlantic flavours. This constantly evolving city amazes with its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
10 fun facts about Lisbon
🏙️ The Santa Justa lift: This 19th-century metal lift not only offers spectacular panoramic views from its top.
↗️ Lisbon's cobblestones: Lisbon's streets are uniquely paved with mosaic patterns of black and white stone. These geometric designs are not only decorative, but also serve to guide visitors through the city's narrow streets.
📖 The oldest bookshop in the world: The Bertrand bookshop, founded in 1732, is officially recognised as the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the world.
🙊 The secret staircases of Bairro Alto: This lively district of Lisbon reveals hidden staircases and unexpected alleyways. Visitors can venture into this urban labyrinth to discover bars, boutiques and architectural surprises.
🧭 The Tower of Belém and the "non-functional" compass: The iconic Tower of Belém has a compass inside that, ironically, doesn't actually work.
🧑🤝🧑 Lisbon's narrowest street: Rua do Barão is often considered the narrowest street in the city, with some places where two people can barely pass each other. It's a fun navigational challenge for locals and visitors alike.
🍽️ A secret recipe: Only 5 people know the recipe for Belém's pastéis, so the house's manufacturing secrets remain closely guarded. The recipe for the pastéis is never written down, and the 5 people who know it are obliged to memorise it. What's more, those who have the recipe are required never to fly or drive together and never to order the same dish in a restaurant.
🤕 An almost dead city: In 1755, an earthquake and tsunami destroyed almost all of Lisbon.
🏃 The tower "would have moved": Today, the Torre de Belém stands on the banks of the Tagus, but it wasn't always that way. Built in the early 16th century (between 1515 and 1521), it was located in the middle of the Tagus because its role was to be a fortress to guard the entrance to the port of Lisbon. With the earthquake of 1755, the bed of the Tagus was modified following the tsunami caused by the disaster. As a result, the 35-metre, 4-storey tower ended up on the banks of the Tagus as we know it today.
🗿 A copy of Christ: The Cristo Rei in Lisbon is a copy of the Christ in Rio de Janeir
Play in Lisbon
Would you like to discover even more anecdotes, fun facts, surprising facts or simply find out a little more about the history of Lisbon? Then get on board with Coddy!
With our Lisbon exploration games, you can play and visit the city at the same time, (Re)Discovering your surroundings while solving fun puzzles with your team!
