If you are visiting Lisbon as a tourist, a businessman or a visitor passing through, you will be enchanted with the city of wonderful climate, and a history and culture that will captivate you. So do allow for spending some time there. There is plenty to see and do.
Try and find a hotel in Lisbon city center, as this will give you instant access to the hub of the city. The transport system is excellent, so, for sightseeing the most interesting tourist attractions will be easy to reach.
If you are like most visitors to Lisbon, you will soon be struck by its location right on the mouth of the Tagus River. This is where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. This is indeed the reason for the existence of Lisbon in the first place.
The wide river mouth provided the right sort of sheltered harbor that the ancient Phoenicians needed. This seafaring nation used it as a base to trade with the mysterious outer islands of the Atlantic that supplied them with tin.
They, as a civilization moving from the bronze age to the iron age, understood the need for metals. Today we know that these outer islands were actually the Islands of Scilly, and Cornwall in the south of the British Isles. In a sense, the natural harbor of the River Tagus must have been almost on the outer edge of the world for them.
It is possible that the Indo-European Celts, who were among the earliest inhabitants of Portugal, were among the first settlers in Britain and originated the Celtic - Cornish population there.
As far as the origin of the name ‘Lisbon’ is concerned, there are various possibilities. It is believed that the River, named ‘Tagus’ by the Romans was previously called ‘Lisso’ or ‘Lucio’. The trading station on its banks was called ‘Allis Ubo’ meaning ‘safe harbor’ in Phoenician.
An Hispanian geographer (resident of the Iberian Peninsular) in Roman times called the settlement Ulyssippo. Roman and Greek scholars called it Olissippo. It is believed that there was a link between the name and the mythical hero, Ulysses.
The Romans granted the area self rule in return for the people’s support in one of their expeditions. It was renamed ‘Felicitas Julia’. It became part of the area of Hispania called ‘Lusitania’.
The people at this time were mostly Latin speakers, with a lot of Greek also spoken.
Olissipo became known for its fish sauce, wine, salt and famous horses that were in demand all over the known world. These horses were sought after right back in Phoenician times.
They are still sought after today as competition horses, for their extreme beauty, extravagant, firey movement and wonderfully good natured temperaments. They are closely related to Andalusian horses of Spain.
After much persecution by pagan religions, the city eventually became one of the first Christian cities in Europe.
When it was conquered by the Moors in 711AD, along with the rest of the Iberian Peninsular, the new Muslim rulers had a tolerant attitude towards other religions in the area. Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived side by side.
The city was called ‘al-Isbunah’ and Arabic and Mosarabic were spoken by many citizens.
In 1114 AD crusaders conquered the city and the dominance of Christianity was re-established. Muslims were forcibly made Roman Catholic or expelled, and mosques were transformed into churches.
In 1255AD Lisbon became the capital city of Portugal. Towards the end of the middle ages, in the Age of Discovery, Portugal, with Lisbon as the starting point, initiated some of the world’s major voyages of discovery.
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