Want to know the secret of a successful trip toLisbon? The point is not in the cost of your tickets, the level of comfort of hotel rooms; and even the amazing attractions of Lisbon here is not the most important thing. The success of your journey, first of all, depends on you. You just need to love the Portuguese capital. Sincerely, naively, without the slightest shade of pretense. So, as if you fall in love for the first time and do not see any flaws in your lover. Then, and only then, the city will reveal its most secret secrets to you, in cozy cafes there will always be a free table, and the famous port will reveal to you all the tints of the taste of this sweet, like love, drink, like you are a real sommelier. Lisbon will not let you be sad, will lift the mood with bright yellow trams and mottled walls of old houses, beautifully decorated mosaic azulezhu.
Life Against the Elements
Spread out on seventeen hills in the mouththe city of Tejo, because of its geographical location, as if passing the prize, was then the prey of the Phoenicians, the coveted trophy of the ancient Romans, or the treasure obtained in the bloody duel by the Moors. And Lisbon absorbed all the shades of alien culture and architecture, skilfully inscribing them into the overall picture of their appearance. Unfortunately, most of the sights, related to the beginning of the history of the city, were destroyed by a strong earthquake, tsunami and fire in the year 1750. And if it were not for the Prime Minister, Marquis Pombal, you could hardly see at least half of these unique testimonies of the richest history of Lisbon. Several parts of the city were almost unaffected by the disaster, and it is with them that they begin their acquaintance with Lisbon. 
Up and down obliquely
Endless staircases, observation platforms, withwhich offers a unique view, cable cars and, of course, the famous Lisbon trams. Canary yellow, at first glance, raising the mood. And if you want to see all the sights of Lisbon, then you should buy a ticket for one of the tram routes, and it is best to buy a ticket with the opportunity to ride on any route throughout the day. But first all the same it is worth to climb one of the viewing platforms and look at the city from above to see it as it appeared before Vasco da Gama's eyes. From such a height, Lisbon does not suppress its greatness, it spreads at your feet, offering to begin a journey through its cobbled streets.
Legends of Alfama
The area of Alfama in the past completely belonged toMoors, in the inheritance from which were left hunched, but not lost their beauty houses. The exterior walls are fully decorated with azulege. It seems that you are walking along the streets along the real canvases. Intricate mosaic drawings and paintings, shady cafes, old shops, souvenirs made of ceramics. And what kind of view over the river! It seems that the horizon dissolves in the blue waters. I want to cut one of the gaps between the houses and take them home as souvenirs. By the way, a legend is connected with the Tagus, telling about one of the main attractions of the Alfama district. The unsuspecting architect Tertzi built a magnificent church, a sample of the architectural art of Portugal, in the early seventeenth century. And they would give the church a name in accordance with the wishes of the then Pope, if it were not for a miracle. To the bank of the river Tejo, a boat was hammered - without oars, without rowers, only a pair of black ravens sat on the nose of this strange gift of the river. And at the bottom of the boat rested the body of Saint Vincent, brutally tortured by the Arabs. As soon as the boat landed on the shore, the crows flew from it and sat on the roof of the Lisbon Cathedral. After the crows had built a nest on the roof, the church authorities took this fact as a sign and gave the church built the name of San Vincent de For.
Sequel in Portuguese
The Portuguese have great respect for theirstories. Almost all the attractions of Lisbon, which appeared after the devastating disaster, is an attempt to restore the lost works of architects and architects of the past. In the famous National Pantheon of Portugal are kept shrines associated with the name of Saint Great Martyr. But the construction of the church did not go as smoothly as the believers wanted. Juan Antunish, the great architect of that time, began the construction of the church in the year 1662. As a result of the beautiful pink marble was to appear a masterpiece of Portuguese baroque. But Joanne Fifth quickly lost interest in the church and decided instead to build the city of kings, thus perpetuating his name in history. The construction of the church then stopped, then resumed. And this torment lasted for three centuries. The magnificent church of St. Egrassia became a kind of long-lasting building in Portuguese, completed only in the twentieth century. Above, the church resembles a Greek cross, shimmering with all shades of pink in the sun.
Bethlehem and geography?
Under the loud clatter of tram wheels, we reachedthe next pearl in the crown of Lisbon - the Jeronimos monastery. It is located on the outskirts of Lisbon, Santa Maria de Bethlehem. This monastery became the symbol of the greatest geographical discoveries of Portugal. It was founded in the fifteenth century by Henry the Navigator. It was within his walls that Vasco da Gama stood on his knees for the night, praying before his journey. And since the way to India was opened, the monastery was attributed mystical properties. By royal decree, in gratitude for the successful journey, all proceeds from the sale of Indian spices were invested in additional buildings of the monastery, the construction of which continued until the nineteenth century. And if in most of the buildings in Europe, completed over time, the change of architectural styles depended on fashion, then in Lisbon, even the long-lasting long-lasting ones were built in the same architectural style. 
Plea in stone
Go past the church of the Basilica de Estrela would becrime. The white marble walls and the legend associated with the name of the most mysterious Queen Mary the First make this church a symbol of the woman's violent entreaty to God. The childless queen prayed in her prayers about the ordinary woman's happiness-the birth of her son. And as a vow she promised to build a church for the glory of God. Mary's prayers were heard, and she gave birth to a son. Immediately after his birth, the construction of the Basilica de Estrela began. But a few years later a smallpox epidemic broke out in Portugal, and the only royal son died. The unhappy mother went insane. But the basilica stands in Lisbon as evidence of what a woman is capable of for the sake of happiness to be a mother.
Useful with pleasant
What's good about Lisbon is that it's possibleto combine business with pleasure. To see the sights of Lisbon and shop in small shops, conveniently located on both sides of narrow streets. Here you can indulge your passion for shopping, focusing only on the size of your wallet. By the way, most of the goods in Portugal are produced only for the domestic market. And at the same time they are all of very high quality. Export to this country of the European Union manufactured products is prohibited, so that all local goods can be bought only in Portugal and nowhere else. Lisbon is half an hour's drive from the nearest beach. So, tired of a rich and informative journey through the city, you can jump into a cozy taxi and wave on the Atlantic coast, changing the historical beauty to the beach pleasures of Costa de Caparica. So you will have a rest in the only European capital where there is no fuss and noise, where the only payment for your love will be an incomparable pleasure from a short, but bright, journey.
