If you have Lisbon on your cruise itinerary you’re in for a treat. Hugging the estuary of the Tagus River, just inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal’s capital has one of the most memorable locations of any port of call. But even if you don’t arrive by ship — and, like most travellers, arrive by plane, car or train — you should certainly do one of the Tagus sightseeing cruises.
Usually lasting an hour or two, they’re a terrific way to savour the city’s natural setting and to take in some of its major landmarks while delving into Lisbon’s long and compelling history by listening to an audio guide or live commentary. People have been living here since neolithic times, and after becoming a settlement for ancient Celts and a trading post for Phoenician sailors from the eastern Mediterranean, Lisbon (or Olissipo, as it was once known) fell under the grip of the Roman Empire. Like Rome, Lisbon is famed for its hills, and throughout the cruise, whether you’re sat down inside or wandering the open-top deck of your vessel, the city’s undulating skyline will enchant, from its hilltop castle — built by the medieval Moors from North Africa and expanded by Portuguese kings — to its waves of colourfully-painted houses, apartments, churches and palaces, many of which were constructed after the great earthquake that levelled swathes of Lisbon in 1755.
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. Some of the city’s most ico.