Festas de Lisboa ’12 - Arraiais

June is the month of the “Festas de Lisboa” and it is also the time of the year where the activity of the associations of each district reaches its peak. The “Arraiais Populares” are the highlight of what the several associations offer to Lisbon.

With the theme of popular saints, the associations of the city organize, in the public spaces of their neighborhoods and communities, gatherings between real local people and their visitors and tourists.

Popular music, “Fado Castiço”, the grilled sardines, grilled chorizo and vegetable soup “Caldo Verde” are always present in these festivities, ex-libris of the city. The party settles in Lisbon's neighborhoods and invites you to experience Lisbon.

Winner!!!

For the 3rd year in a row!

Festas de Lisboa ’12 - Opening Show

The show “Firebirds” establishes the start of the “Festas de Lisboa'12” with the recreation of an air race made by six daring pilots and their bizarre flying machines. This street theater performance is accompanied live by the French band Fanfare le Snob.

Created by Titanick Theatre, this show was inspired by the innate characteristic of humanity to overcome its limitations and the constant search for new targets and challenges.

In the race, the flying machines would draw a route through the city center, accompanied by a team in land and joined by the French musicians Fanfare Le Snob. The pilots, in their flight attempts, are followed by a flame of fire and explosions, intensifying the suspense and tension and  together with The figure of Dark Angel, an actor in the race, will help disturbing the competing pilots.

“Firebirds” is a wild struggle for the pilots to get to the finish line well positioned and also with a good classification. In a tribute to the Portuguese heritage,  Fado Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the values associated with the Portuguese legacy, the final of the show will be marked by the performance of Frei Fado D'El Rei, who will play a Fado song with lyrics written by “valter hugo mãe” and this will end the race.

Festas de Lisboa '12

In the year where change has become synonymous of everyday life, the “Festas” are on the doorstep of Lisbon and at the speed of light. On the horizon one message: Live this magical and unique moment, not like the last, but simply as the first.

As in the fantastic tales, we suggest you let yourself be carried over an immense and diverse universe. Also as in the fantastic tales there are also unknown paths, unsounded corners, messages to be deciphered and voices that, from a remote place, invite us to look far beyond the tangible.

Like in the fantastic tales there are amazing beings, created by the imagination, that reveal themselves in a journey of thirty full and happy days  to discover, to reinterpret, to look again and to admire Lisbon.

Discover the many destinations of these Festas de Lisboa'12 through the cinema, the theater, the street, the human voice, the river and the dance, broadening horizons, reaching still and always other sights, this year in which, anticipating the official celebrations, these parties will embrace unequivocally the first signs of a year where, once more, both sides of the Atlantic will be united.

EURO 2012

The month of the European Football is right at the door.

We had our European Championship in 2004 when 10 stadiums were built and renovated specially for the occasion, two in Lisbon, “Alvalade XXI“ and “Estádio da Luz”, where the big final took place between Portugal and Greece and where Greece was declared the winner.

The event occurred without incidents and it was considered by UEFA the best and most well organized Euro ever. This year the Championship is in Poland and Ukraine and that’s why Lisbon will be calmer than usual, giving the ones that are not football fans the chance to visit the city without finding the Museums and the Monuments as crowded and confusing as it is in high season.

This doesn’t mean that the football fans can’t come to Lisbon. All matches will be broadcasted across the city in Bars, Restaurants even in some Squares, or if you prefer I’m sure you will be able to watch them at your hotel, in a more quiet and “controlled” environment.

Our guests will be able to watch the matches in the confort of their rooms or in the Bar, where all will be broadcasted live and in a large “Full HD" TV, while enjoying a beer, a glass of wine or one of the many Cocktails served by our Bartenders and as some of the matches are at 17h you have the chance to taste some of our Snacks.



Euro 2012 is also played in Lisbon!

Lisbon by foot

There’s no better way to know Lisbon, than knowing it by foot, and with such a nice weather as we have now, is unforgiving not to do it.

Here you have 5 tips, by Visit Lisboa, that will help cover the historical part of Lisbon:

Baixa / Chiado

Old Lisbon’s charm

Start by climbing the “Elevador de Santa Justa”, reaching the ruins of the “Convento do Carmo”, destroyed by the earthquake of 1755 and the only example of the Gothic architecture that remains in Lisbon.

Bairro Alto / Cais do Sodré

At the top of the “Elevator da Gloria” is the garden and belvedere “S. Pedro de Alcântara” and, up the street D. Pedro V, with many antique shops is the garden “Príncipe Real”, under which is the water reservoir of the Patriarcal, from 1864, open to visitors from 2nd to Saturday.

Estrela/ Prazeres / Alcântara / Docas

Start your tour at the “Jardim da Estrela” and its iron bandstand. In front of the garden is the “Basilica da Estrela”, in Late Baroque and Neoclassical columns and four statues representing Faith, Liberality, Worship and Gratitude.

Mouraria / Castelo de São Jorge / Alfama

The walk begins near the Metro station Martim Moniz, in “Rua do Capelão”. Follow the “Rua da Mouraria” until the “Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Saúde”, with beautiful tiles and carved altar, which can be visited in the afternoon and during mass services.

400 Reviews on TripAdvisor

This week, we have reached the fine number of 400 reviews on TripAdvisor.

TripAdvisor claims itself as the world’s largest social travel network with over 100 million travelers having used it, and in our opinion it is so. Its influence on travelers’ choices keeps growing and growing. That’s why we dedicate so much time to it, by replying to each review and following some of our customers’ suggestions.

The tools, as we wrote on TripAdvisor, for better or for worse, are still there and they have been increasing.

It is in your hand to be a part of the community.