5 less known Lisbon neighborhoods to explore
Forget for a moment the Lisbon tour guides and discover the most overlooked parts of the city. Venture through narrow and quieter streets and discover fine museums, art galleries in abandoned warehouses or palaces hiding Ming porcelain collections.
Besides the lovely Campo de Ourique and Mouraria neighborhoods, where we already take you to discover the real Lisbon through its off the beaten and eaten path, we recommend you these five for you to visit and explore:
Madragoa
The neighbourhood:
Still little touristy, this popular neighbourhood near Tagus river mix the traditional with the contemporary. In the past, the proximity to the river attracted individuals linked to maritime activities such as fishing and varinas (women who sell fish), which gave life to the neighbourhood.
What to do:
French Embassy, former Palace of Santos – became a residence since the XV and XVI centuries. Don’t miss the Music Room, with striking mirrors and furniture, or the House of Porcelain and its pyramid-shaped roof that dazzles anyone thanks to the valuable collection of porcelain Ming, with 261 dishes, many of them rare, from XVI and XVII centuries.
Museum of Puppetry – With a collection consisting of more than a thousand pieces, this is a chance to watch puppets of all kinds of manipulation techniques and masks from different cultures and different parts of the world.
Where to eat:
MÔ Petiscaria – A small restaurant where you can taste good seafood done in the “algarve style”, and many other snacks from this region on the south of Portugal.
Alcântara
The neighbourhood:
The Arabic name derives from al-qantara, meaning bridge, used to cross a river at this location. In recent years it has become an attraction because of the installation of LX Factory, a centre for young entrepreneurs companies, which revitalized an area somewhat forgotten.
What to do:
LX Factory – Melting pot of small businesses of young entrepreneurs, it has become one of the most creative areas of the city. It has restaurants, cafes, shops and one of the most beautiful bookstores in the city – Ler Devagar – and graffiti around the walls of buildings.
Carris Museum – If you are fan of old trams that run up and down the hills of Lisbon you cannot fail to pay a visit to Carris Museum to know the history of these city transport.
Where to eat:
Alcantara 50 – Gourmet tavern where you can taste the typical Portuguese dishes – fish from the garden or cod açorda in a typical environment, but at the same time refined.
Arroios
The parish:
The extensive parish of Arroios, resulting from the junction of the old parishes of Anjos, Pena and São Jorge de Arroios, includes Santana Hill, one of the most neglected areas of the city, but whose revitalization plans can make it in ‘the next big thing’.
What to do:
Viuva Lamego Factory – One of the attractions of Lisbon are the covered facades with tiles full of colours, which lend a colourful characteristic to the city. If you are fan of tiles you cannot miss the building lined with tiles in Largo do Intendente, where once were located the old factories founded in 1849 and witch creates unique pieces using traditional methods. Enter in the building to find out the wonderful world of Portuguese brands of everything sold by Vida Portuguesa, the shop that came to give a renewed existence to this historical building.
Where to eat:
Cerqueira – This is one of those restaurants where you go whenever you feel homesick of tradicional food. The room is modest, but the friendliness of Mr. Cerqueira and fair prices justify itself an adventure around Santana Hill. Try the octopus rice and dobrada à portuguesa.
Marvila
The neighbourhood:
One of the most forgotten and less touristy areas of the city is calling the attention of young artists by gigantic abandoned warehouses. Lower incomes have caught the attention of architects, designers and producers that promise to make this area one Brooklyn Lisbon.
What to do:
Convent of St. Francis of Xabregas / Convent of Santa Maria de Jesus – Founded in 1456, under the ruins of the old Palace of Xabregas, delivered to the Franciscan friars, and became known as the Convent of St. Francis of Xabregas. The extinction of the religious orders dictated his profanity, losing the valuable furniture, which was followed various occupations, coming to serve as barracks army, textile factory or warehouse tobacco. In 1980, a theatre company – Teatro Ibérico – was installed in the old baroque church.
Fábrica Braço de Prata – Nobody knows very well what is this factory or what will happen in here, but is one of the most creative cultural centres of the city. Abandoned building became an art gallery / concert hall / movie studio / art workshop where anything can happen. It has dining rooms, bar and bookstore.
Where to eat:
Entra Restaurant – Come in and sit down at the table, we do the rest. This is the motto of a Portuguese restaurant with a touch of sophistication, with daily specials, handpicked in the local market. Ideal for snacking some squids or drink a beer in the evening.
Campolide
The neighbourhood:
In the Middle Age it was the land of good wine and good farmland. In 1980, the neighbourhood was marked by the construction of Amoreiras Towers, a complex of buildings designed by architect Tomás Taveira who brought a shopping center to the city center.
What to do:
Aqueduto das Águas Livres – Is one of Lisbon post cards. This water distribution system in the city can be visited from its entry in Campolide, and you can visit the stone arches that dominates the valley of Alcantara. The aqueduct begins in Belas, Sintra and withstood the 1755 earthquake.
Where to eat:
The Valenciana – Famous for charcoal grills and barbecue chicken, is a good option for those who want to taste traditional Portuguese flavours.
