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Lisbon

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal.

It sits on the northern shore of the River Tagus. This city is part of mainland Europe. It is the westernmost capital on the continent.

Lisboa freguesias 2012
Lisboa freguesias 2012

Other capital cities like Reykjavík and Dublin sit on islands. Lisbon is the only capital along the Atlantic coast. The metro area reaches out to the Portuguese Riviera. This area includes Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.

Many different people have lived in Lisbon over many years.

Escavações no Claustro da Sé de Lisboa
Escavações no Claustro da Sé de Lisboa

First, pre-Celtic tribes lived in the region. Later, the Phoenicians may have built a trading post there around 1000 BC. Some old legends say the hero Ulysses founded the city. The Romans later took control of the area. They named it Felicitas Julia and built many things. They built a large theatre and many temples for gods like Jupiter.

CercaMouraTorreAlfama (cropped)
CercaMouraTorreAlfama (cropped)

History changed many times after the Roman Empire fell.

Siege of Lisbon - Muslim surrender
Siege of Lisbon - Muslim surrender

Germanic tribes like the Visigoths ruled the city for a time. In the 8th century, the Moors captured the city. They built mosques and new city walls. The Alfama district is a very old part of the city. Many of its names come from the Arabic language. In 1147, Afonso Henriques conquered the city. By 1255, Lisbon replaced Coimbra as the capital of Portugal.

Siege of Lisbon 1384
Siege of Lisbon 1384

Today, Lisbon is a very large and busy place.

Lisboa - Portugal (204238418)
Lisboa - Portugal (204238418)

About 575,739 people live within the city limits. The wider metropolitan area is much larger. It has about 3,028,000 people living there. This makes it one of the biggest urban areas in the European Union. The city is a major center for money and trade. It is also famous for fashion, arts, and tourism.

Lisbon population pyramid
Lisbon population pyramid

Lisbon is a very important global city. It is known for many things like media and education. Many big companies keep their main offices in the Lisbon area. The city hosts the Portuguese government and the Supreme Court. It is also a place for diplomacy. Ambassadors from 86 different countries live in the city.

Lisboa, Ayuntamiento
Lisboa, Ayuntamiento

This makes Lisbon a vital hub for the whole country. It is a place where history and modern life meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (38)
File:Escavações no Claustro da Sé de Lisboa.jpg
Escavações no Claustro da Sé de Lisboa.jpg
File:CercaMouraTorreAlfama (cropped).JPG
CercaMouraTorreAlfama (cropped).JPG
File:Siege of Lisbon - Muslim surrender.jpg
Siege of Lisbon - Muslim surrender.jpg
File:Siege of Lisbon 1384.JPG
Siege of Lisbon 1384.JPG
File:Lisboa 1500-1510.jpg
Lisboa 1500-1510.jpg
File:Vista dos Jeronomis por Filipe Lobo (2).jpg
Vista dos Jeronomis por Filipe Lobo (2).jpg
File:Terreiro do Paço em 1662.jpg
Terreiro do Paço em 1662.jpg
File:Lisbon, the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.JPG
Lisbon, the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.JPG
File:Proclamação República Portuguesa.jpg
Proclamação República Portuguesa.jpg
File:33286-Padrão dos Descobrimentos (36569390292).jpg
33286-Padrão dos Descobrimentos (36569390292).jpg
File:Parque das Nações - Lisboa (Portugal).jpg
Parque das Nações - Lisboa (Portugal).jpg
File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (08) edited.jpg
Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (08) edited.jpg

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