25 Interesting Facts About Lisbon Portugal That No One Tells You

Last Updated on May 29, 2024 by Soumya

25 Interesting Facts about Lisbon Portugal

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Yes, you heard me right. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Honestly, Lisbon is ancient. Archaeological evidence suggests the city has been inhabited since prehistoric ages.

Historical records date the city’s history to 205 BCE when the Romans first invaded it. One of the fun facts about Lisbon is that the Romans called it Olissipo then.

Lisbon is one of Europe’s oldest capitals, too, second only to Athens.

📖 Related Read: 20+ Medieval Towns in Europe That You’ll Love Visiting

Lisbon was completely destroyed in the earthquake of 1755.

Well! Almost!

The 1755 Earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, wreaked havoc on the city. It was followed by a series of fires and a tsunami.

Lisbon’s commercial center, Praça do Comércio, was completely destroyed. The Royal Ribeira Palace and many adjoining monuments/regions were also damaged.

You can still see the earthquake’s devastating effects at the Carmo Convent, which stands tall without a roof. It is a haunting reminder of what happened on that fateful day.

Lisbon’s beautiful Pombaline Downtown was a result of the earthquake.

The beautiful, yellow Pombaline buildings that you see at the Commercial Square today were built after the earthquake.

Yes, the entire Pombaline Downtown or Baixa Pombalina, a famed attraction in Lisbon, was reconstructed after being razed to the ground.

These were no ordinary buildings. They were among the earliest earthquake-resistant constructions in Europe.

It is quite interesting how earthquake tests were done in those times. Small wooden models were built. Then, troops were asked to march around these models in order to simulate an earthquake. Quite ingenious, I would say!

📖 Related Read: 10 Beautiful Places to Visit in Lisbon

The famous Rossio Square has a gory history!

Lisbon’s Rossio Square has been a meeting place for people for centuries. It has hosted and housed intellectuals and the common man for ages.

Yet, there is also a dark side to Rossio, which is among the lesser-known facts about Lisbon.

The Inquisition of Lisbon was installed at the Palace of Estaus on the north side of Rossio Square. Consequently, Rossio became the spot for various public executions, including the first auto-da-fé!

In Lisbon, you are literally walking on a carpet of stone.

Black and white, patterned stones adorn the sidewalks and public squares all over Lisbon.

Also known as Portuguese pavements, these public pieces of art have existed since the 15th century. In fact, you can see many versions in erstwhile Portuguese colonies, from Brazil to Macau.

There is also a special paving school in Lisbon dedicated to the art. It is called Escola dos Calceteiros.

The pavements impart a charm to Lisbon like nothing else does. It is almost like constantly walking on a beautiful carpet of stones adorned with faces, flowers, patterns, and waves.

However, these pavements can be very slippery, so be careful, especially if you are wearing high heels.

There is an entire museum dedicated to Azulejos.

Yes, that is right.

I am sure you have seen many Portuguese blue tiles or azulejos at every stop on your Portugal itinerary.

The National Tile Museum in Lisbon allows visitors to dig deeper into the history and evolution of azulejos.

Set up in a multistoried old convent, a little further away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Lisbon, The Museum of Azulejos can keep you captivated for hours.

On the top floor, there is a huge blue and white tile panel that gives you an idea of how Lisbon looked before the 1755 Earthquake.

Lisbon has one of the most eclectic collections of museums.

Yes, that’s right.

Lisbon is one of the few European cities with a truly eclectic collection of museums. The collection is not just confined to art and archaeology but spans much wider.

Tiles, Coaches, Fado, Design, Costumes, Ethnology, News – Lisbon has museums for everything. And I am not even talking of all the ancient and contemporary art museums, palaces, and archaeology storehouses that dot the city.

If you love museums, then you have to come to Lisbon.

📖 Related Read: Try this Portugal virtual tour to get a sneak peek into some of these amazing museums.

Lisbon has a vibrant street art scene.

Lisbon’s street art is nothing short of extraordinary.

A stroll through the historic neighborhoods of Lisbon immediately reveals how big an open art museum it is – full of street murals and graffiti!

The city also has a special museum dedicated to commissioning and showcasing innovative street art – The Underdogs Gallery.

✦ Pro Tip: The best way to experience Lisbon’s vibrant street art scene is by taking a guided tour through the narrow alleys and discovering old and new pieces.

Lisbon has some really long bridges.

Vasco da Gama Bridge, which opened in 1998, is 7.6 miles (12 km) long. It is the longest bridge in the European Union and the second longest in Europe.

25th April Bridge, another major Lisbon landmark, is also pretty long. In fact, this is the longest suspension bridge in Europe.

This bridge resembles the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco and is a great place for getting beautiful Lisbon pictures. The resemblance is because it was designed by the American Bridge Company, the same firm that designed Golden Gate.

The yellow trams have a strong American connection!

Lisbon’s American connection does not end with the 25th April Bridge. The picturesque yellow trams of Lisbon have also been inspired by the trams of the USA.

As a matter of fact, they were called Carros Americanos for a very long time.

Did you know that the first trams in Lisbon were pulled by horses?

Lisbon’s symbol is a raven.

If you look at Lisbon Coat of Arms, you can see two ravens guiding a ship in the sea. They represent the ravens that accompanied the remains of the patron saint, Saint Vincent of Saragossa, during his journey from Sagres to Lisbon.

Another queer fact about Lisbon – there was a cult for ravens in the city for a long time. They even inhabited a section of Sao Jorge’s Castle, one of the most fascinating Lisbon attractions.

And I thought ravens were a thing only at the Tower of London!

You can walk on an aqueduct in Lisbon.

You can walk and explore this relatively lesser-known hidden gem in Lisbon, the Aguas Livre Aqueduct in Alcântara Valley.

Far away from the prying eyes of tour groups lies this massive 19 km-long aqueduct from the 18th century. It survived the 1755 earthquake and is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site today.

This place is not just great to dig into some Lisbonian history but also gives you some stunning views of Lisbon. Isn’t that a great thing to know about Lisbon?

✦ Pro Tip: Looking for more wonderful views of Lisbon? Check out our post on the 10 Best Lisbon Viewpoints.

Lisbon is home to one of the most expensive chapels in the world.

Sao Roque Church, with its heavily gilded interior, has been deemed the world’s most expensive chapel. It is located right here in Lisbon.

Considered one of the most outstanding examples of European art, Sao Roque Church features elaborate chapels adorned with gold Baroque architecture. The paintings and ceiling are exquisite and absolutely deserve the honor of a masterpiece.

Lisbon locals are called Alfacinhas.

It is not uncommon for the people of Lisbon to be referred to as Lisboetas officially. But more commonly (informally), they are called Alfacinhas. And there is an interesting story behind that name.

Alface refers to lettuce, which grew abundantly on the hills of Lisbon. Lisboetas often ate lettuce and used it for other purposes, such as medicine, thus earning the name Alfacinhas for themselves.

Canned fish is Lisbon’s most popular souvenir.

I know this is strange. I mean, who gets canned fish for souvenirs? But canned fish is one of the best gifts from Lisbon, Portugal.

Tins of sardines, tuna, anchovies, and mackerel are available. They are packed airtight in colorful boxes and make amazing gifts.

What originally started as an easy and cheap source of protein in times of adversity and scarcity has now become one of Portugal’s famous food icons. Canned fish can also be found in restaurants if you wish to eat some during your Lisbon trip.

Ginjinha is Lisbon’s favorite drink.

Ginjinha is a sweet liqueur made from soaking Ginja berries in alcohol and sugar. It is a favorite Portuguese drink in Lisbon and Obidos.

And even though you have heard so much about the Port Wine of Porto, know that Lisbon has its own favorite! One of those interesting Lisbon facts that you should not miss.

✦ Pro Tip: Read our Lisbon foodie guide to know more about Lisbon’s famous foods.

There’s a full-blown Roman city under the streets of Lisbon.

Now, isn’t that interesting? Under the city center of Lisbon lie numerous Roman galleries, complete with upper-class homes, factories, and swimming pools.

These galleries are open to tourists only a few times a year. They usually announce this on their website or Facebook page.

Lisbon’s Metro is an extraordinary museum of Portuguese tile art.

If you are a budget traveler like me and love to use the metro to commute within the city of Lisbon, then you are in for a surprise.

The walls of Lisbon’s metro stations are clad in vibrantly colored azulejos depicting stories and remarkable events from Portuguese history.

Great examples include the “Arrival” panel at Restauradores, sketches at Alto dos Moinhos, and the blue dome at the Parque station.

Touring these underground metro stations is almost like walking through several rooms and phases of a Portuguese tile museum. It is one of the best things to do in Lisbon on a rainy day, I would say, and definitely a must-know thing about Lisbon.

📖 Related Read: Find more amazing things to do in Lisbon here.

Lisbon has not always been the capital of Portugal.

Among the many interesting facts about Lisbon is that the city hasn’t always been the capital of Portugal. In fact, other Portuguese heritage towns have occupied this position at various times.

Guimaraes was Portugal’s first capital in the 12th century, followed by Coimbra in the second half of the 12th and early 13th centuries.

Lisbon was once “The City of Spies”.

Spying flourished in the Portuguese capital during World War II. Portugal’s neutrality and its strategic location as the main point of entry and exit into Europe facilitated espionage.

One of the most interesting facts about Lisbon is actually connected with the city’s spying history.

Ian Flemming, the British Writer who created the series James Bond, was a real-life spy stationed in Lisbon for the British Secret Service.

It was at the Estoril Casino on the Portuguese Riviera that he was inspired to write his first book, Casino Royale. Now, isn’t that fascinating?

Fado originated at the crossroads of culture.

Lisbon is the birthplace of Fado, a traditional form of Portuguese singing. It is profoundly melancholic and is the apt representation of the Portuguese word “saudade,” which means longing for someone.

There are many theories about how Fado originated, but most point to the intermingling of cultures and nationalities.

Some believe that Fado originated in the music of Brazilian slaves. It was brought to Lisbon by sailors returning from their long journeys to South America.

Some say it came from the songs of the Moors, who continued to stay near Lisbon even after the Christian take-over. That could explain the melancholy and longing in Fado’s songs.

Fado was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.

Belem Tower was a state prison for a long time.

Belem Tower was constructed in the early 16th century as part of Lisbon’s river defense system, complete with cannons.

However, it was used as a state prison longer than as a defense bulwark. It also served as a customs port, telegraph office, and lighthouse!

There is a rhino at Belem Tower.

Well, not literally. But the exterior of the Belem Tower in Lisbon features a sculpture of an Indian rhino.

The animal was unheard of in these parts of the world. So, it is quite strange how it came to figure on one of Portugal’s famous landmarks.

The story is quite interesting. The rhino traveled to Portugal from India as a diplomatic gift. It saw many owners and finally met with a tragic end. But it went on to inspire several sculptures and paintings across Europe.

The rhino is quite inconspicuous, and you will have to know about it to look for it—something I did not do and still regret.

If you are visiting Belem from Lisbon, which I am sure you will, do not forget to spot this exotic animal.

✦ Pro Tip: Read our Lisbon to Belem travel guide to plan your trip here efficiently.

The recipe for Pasteis de Nata is Top Secret!

Well, we all love the famous Portuguese dessert, Pasteis de Nata, don’t we? It is one of my favorites.

If you are visiting Belem when in Lisbon, then you have to taste these delicate Portuguese tarts that once originated at the Jeronimos Monastery in Belem.

Today, they are available at a cafeteria right next to the monastery. This café is called Pasteis de Belem, and the owners got the original recipe from the monks of Jeronimos quite early in the process. They have been keeping it top secret ever since.

Only the shop’s owners and trusted chefs know of it. And these people never travel together lest they lose the recipe to one mishap.

Lisbon has the world’s largest saltwater oceanarium.

Oceanario de Lisbon is the world’s largest saltwater aquarium. It is a must-have on your itinerary if you are traveling to Portugal with kids.

The aquarium is huge and features four marine habitats as well as temperate, tropical, and cold waters. You can see birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and various plants and algae.

Temporary exhibitions like Forests Under Water make the oceanarium even more attractive.

Experience more of Lisbon and Nearby Read our posts on Best Things to Do in Lisbon | From the most popular attractions in Lisbon and the best hidden gems to stunning viewpoints and the charming alleys of Alfama, explore Lisbon with our perfect bucket lists. Lisbon Food | Wondering what to eat in Lisbon? Check out our epic Lisbon food guide, or try the best Portuguese desserts. Perfect Lisbon Itineraries | Explore Portugal’s capital with our perfect 2-day in Lisbon itinerary. If you’re visiting for a short time, then our 24-hour Lisbon itinerary is sure to help you. Lisbon Day Trips | Spend some more time around Lisbon with these epic Lisbon day trips.

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