Lisbon can’t seem to make up its mind. Tradition and innovation clash spectacularly in Portugal’s capital city, amid medieval and modern architecture, the dueling urban and coastal energies—even the ups and downs of its famous hills. But here, inconsistency is a virtue: You never know what you’re going to find.
Look up and you'll see the clothing lines that stripe the city streets in every direction. Photo by William DeSena.
The Padrão dos Descobrimentos, or Monument to the Discoveries, sits on the northern bank of the Tagus River. It was built for the Portuguese World Exhibition in 1940, and represented Portuguese exploration. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Looking to the future in Lisbon. Photo by William DeSena.
Exploring the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT). Photo by William DeSena.
One of the city's most iconic buildings, the Church of Santa Engrácia. Photo by William DeSena.
In Lisbon, new discoveries are waiting around every corner. Photo by William DeSena.
Blending in with the scenery. Photo by William DeSena.
Tentatively scoping out the streets of Alfama. Photo by William DeSena.
A 20-minute drive outside the city center, the Parque das Nações offers a taste of modern Lisbon. A ride on Telecabine Lisboa will take you 30 meters up, with panoramic views of the park. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Colorful houses near Santa Engrácia. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Formerly called “Liberty Park,” the 26-hectares green space that makes up Eduardo VII Park features dramatic hedges and views of Lisbon and the Tagus River. It's a large scale feat in a city of quaint corners. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Built between 1514 and 1520 as part of the Tagus estuary defence system, the Torre de Belém is top site in Lisbon. After you visit, be sure to grab lunch and an egg tart at Pastéis de Belém. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
The 25 de Abril Bridge is the 32nd largest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 2,277 meters. Built in 1966, it connects Lisbon to Almada across the Tagus river. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Views of Lisbon. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Blue skies and sunny—a typical Iberian forecast. Photo by William DeSena.
A quick trip to Cascais, a coastal town just west of Lisbon with sandy beaches and a picture-perfect Marina. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
Inside the Parque das Nações, the Pavilhão de Portugal was designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira and constructed for the 1998 World Expo. It is considered an engineering masterpiece. Photo by Vanessa Granda.
A traditional, quiet lane in the Alfama neighborhood, where old Lisbon is kept alive amid the winding streets and weatherworn house. Photo by Will DeSena.
