Knowra Lisbon Lisbon Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and largest city, on the Atlantic coast where the Tagus River meets the sea. Its hills, historic center, and maritime setting shape its urban character.
Belém Tower : A fortified tower built in the early sixteenth century on the Tagus waterfront in Lisbon. Its riverside position recalls the maritime expansion that helped shape Lisbon.
1755 Lisbon earthquake : A major earthquake and tsunami that devastated Lisbon on 1 November 1755. The disaster destroyed much of the city and prompted its planned reconstruction.
Tagus : The longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, flowing westward through Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. Its broad estuary gives Lisbon a sheltered harbor and access to the Atlantic.
Fado : A Portuguese urban song tradition marked by expressive singing and themes of longing, fate, and memory. Lisbon is a central home of fado, especially in historic neighborhoods such as Alfama.
Jerónimos Monastery : A monastery in Belém, Lisbon, built in the Manueline style and associated with Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. Its architecture and history embody Lisbon’s connections to overseas exploration.
Marquis of Pombal : Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the Portuguese statesman who led Lisbon’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. His rebuilding program gave central Lisbon its characteristic grid and architecture.
Tagus Estuary : The wide tidal mouth of the Tagus River in Portugal, opening into the Atlantic near Lisbon. The estuary shapes the city’s waterfront, port, and cross-river connections.
Pastel de nata : A Portuguese custard tart baked in a crisp pastry shell and often dusted with cinnamon. The tart is closely associated with Lisbon’s cafés and pastry shops.
Alfama : One of Lisbon’s oldest districts, known for steep lanes and dense historic housing. Its hillside street pattern preserves a distinct older urban fabric.
Portuguese Empire : A global empire established by Portugal from the fifteenth century and lasting, in changing forms, until 1999. Lisbon served as its political center and principal European port.
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