COLOURFULWORLD

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Portugal - Lisbon V - the best lookouts

Portas do Sol lookout

From St George's Castle we made our way down to the riverfront going past another lookout - Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun lookout). 
With one of the best views over Lisbon and the Tagus River, this balcony-like lookout has a couple of outdoor restaurants at street level and just below, that just spell relaxation.
The statue of St Vincent, Lisbon's patron saint, holding a boat with two ravens, the symbols of Lisbon stands in the middle of the lookout.

The church visible in this photo is St Vincent Monastery inaugurated in 1629. It was damaged in the earthquake of 1755 and restored in 1855. Here lay the bodies of all Portuguese kings from 1640 to 1910.



Portas do Sol lookout, St Vincent statue and St Vincent Monastery
Restaurant with a view at Portas do Sol lookout


Santa Luzia Lookout

Just a few steps away is another lookout - Miradouro de Santa Luzia (St Luzia Lookout), next to the St Luzia church,  covered in the typical Portuguese blue tiles.



Tile panels from the St Luzia church




Lisbon's oldest building - the Cathedral

Walking  down again, we go past Lisbon's Cathedral built by Portugal's first king in 1150 on the site of a former mosque, whose ruins have been recently been  found during excavations.
The remains of St Vincent (Lisbon's patron saint) in a casket, along with other sacred objects are kept in this church.



St Anthony's Lisbon Museum

Just around the corner next to another Church is the St. Anthony Lisbon Museum, with a statue of the saint in front of it.



25th April Bridge

Time to go home and we drive past the "25th of April bridge" that joins Lisbon to Almada on the other side of the Tagus river. Built by American bridge company who also constructed the San Francisco bridge, hence the similarities.
On the other side of the bridge is the nearly 80mt high statue of Christ the King, whose design was based on the statue of "Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.














Christ the King statue in Almada, the other side of the Tagus River

Hope you enjoyed the lookouts I've showed you, but for the most beautiful views over Lisbon from the best lookouts click on this link for some great photos.

10 comments:

  1. Those tile-murals really are so beautiful. I remember when I was at a farmer in France they had a very simple decor with that blue, too.
    The cathedral is very impressive also. The bridge really reminded me of the one in San Francisco. Impressive, again, that statue.
    Beautiful town!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tiles are quite beautiful. I agree the bridge does resemble the San Francisco one. Thanks Iris.

      Delete
  2. Dearest Sami,
    Too bad you had such a cloudy day... But it was great for re-visiting beautiful Lisbon again with you!
    Love those oh so typical Portuguese blue tiles!
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luckily it didn't rain Mariette, just cloudy.
      Thank you, have a lovely week.

      Delete
  3. I like that Santa Luzia lookout with the blue and white tiles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Marianne, I think the tiles make it look special and old.

      Delete
  4. I'm enjoying Lisbon through your eyes very much Sami, it's such a beautiful city. The old blue and white tiled features are so special, must have been wonderful to see them in person!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Grace, blue and white tiles are everywhere, as well as other combinations, they are quite beautiful. In some places they are quite old...

      Delete
  5. If I win the lotto I'm buying a house or apartment in Cottesloe Sami 😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, you with a sea view and I with a river view. Not a bad plan...

      Delete

I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment.