CitySiesta Blog

The 2009 edition of the World Travel Awards recently took place on October 17th and all the winners were reveiled during a regional ceremony at the luxurious Marriot Praia D’El Rey. These awards include top destinations, hotels, airlines and travel.

This year there were thousands of votes by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies in over 160 countries.

Baixa Disctrict and Castelo de Sao Jorge

One of the lucky winners was the city of Lisbon, chosen as Europe’s Leading Destination. The Portuguese city also won as Best City Break and Leading Cruise Destination. On the same note, Portugal was awarded for Best Golf Resort to Marriott Praia D’El Rei in Obidos and Best Boutique Resort to Algarve’s Vila Joya.

If you want to find more information on Lisbon and Portugal you can check out these useful websites:

Portugal Business Directory. We are listed under Lodging Vacation Rentals category
Visit Lisboa
Go Lisbon

The district of Alfama is one of the oldest districts of Lisbon, together with Bairro Alto and Chiado. This neighborhood is known for being the only area that survived the earthquake that ocurred in 1755. Its narrow streets and shaded terraces mostly appreciated by exhausted tourists during summer time create a magical and enchanting atmostphere. The fantastic views of the portuguese city are just picture-perfect.

Barrio Alfama in Lisbon

The unique architecture in the area blends Roman and Moorish styles. Alfama has its roots in the Arabic Al-Hama, meaning springs or fountains. It was built on a rock-hill, and it was once the home of an upper-class Moorish society. Today, the working-class has ‘reclaimed’ the city and it’s packed with small grocery shops and restaurants.

If you pursue any of the narrow streets that run downhill from the right of the Sé, you will find Campo das Cebolas (Field of Onions), full of souvenir shops where the main attraction is bizarre Casa dos Bicos, a 16th century house built by a rich merchant, Afonso Albuquerque. Today it hosts the Cultural Department of the City Council and is not currently open for visitors.

Near the top of Alfama is Castelo de São Jorge. Built by the Visigoths in the 5th century and enlarged by the Moors in the 9th century, the Castle demonstrates the early history of the city, while offering to its visitors an excellent panoramic view of Lisbon and Tagus River.

If you are looking for a good source of information, visit Portugal’s official tourism guide.

So now that you’ve learned a little bit of the town’s history, get ready for an unforgettable vacation Lisbon style!