Rio de Janeiro has its statue of Christ the Redeemer and San Francisco has its Golden Gate bridge. Lisbon has both of those and plenty more things that you will find nowhere else. Looking at a serial killer's head in a jar? Not only can you do that in Lisbon, we believe there are not many other places where such an unusual attraction is available. But the city has plenty of other unique attributes, dear reader. We count at least 15 things you can only do in Lisbon.
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First go to the Terreiro do Paço and gaze at the statue of Portuguese King D. José I. Then go to the Casa dos Gessos ("house of plaster") and see the cast used to mould the monument, and those of other city icons.
In 1830 D. Carlota opened her Doll Hospital - where she would fix and heal children's most precious toys, allowing kids to recover their companions. You can't bring your doll any more, but memories remain of a different time in Lisbon. This museum is not only for kids - adults can (and should) also come and travel in time.
If you feel like having a Sole Colbert, if you're yearning for a Chicken Brochette, or if you want to eat a Miscelânia or a Monterosa, and it is three o'clock in the morning, then there is only one place to go: Galeto. Designed by architects Victor Palla and Bento de Almeida, its calling card is an imposing 150-seat counter. The menu offers 170 different options, but its owner highlights the Steak Tartar ("if you like tartars"), the Gaúcho-style Churrasco and the Grilled Cod. The hamburger was picked by Time Out as one of the city's top ten.
Located near the castle, its name is "Jardim das Pichas Murchas", and it really means "Limp Dick Garden". It is a favourite of Portuguese-speaking tourists.
How many places are there where you can take afternoon tea or a late-night hot chocolate surrounded by chandeliers, carved wooden display cases and stained glass? This 1922 gem has a huge selection of cakes, meringues and pastries. You can have lunch or dinner here too: the desserts are fantastic.
Only in Lisbon would you find such a thing. Fortunately.
Gambrinus is a city classic known for washing its own tablecloths and uniforms - but no, you can't take your dirty laundry there. What you can do is sit at the counter and have one of the finest meals in Lisbon. Here are the rules of engagement for ordering at the counter in Gambrinus: 1) always have a croquette with the house mustard; 2) ask for the Gambriuns "tulipa", an excellent beer; 3) do not ignore the toasted almonds; 4) patiently wait for some rye bread toast; 5) eat a steak or tartar roast beef sandwich; 6) watch your coffee being prepared in a vacuum coffee machine - then drink it.
Gambrinus is perfect for dining by yourself. There are so many waiters, you will never feel lonely. You absolutely must try - the croquettes? The steak sandwich? Or maybe the crêpes suzette?
It has been sold all over downtown for years by devious drug dealers in place of the real stuff, and only recently has the police started to do something about it.
At Martinho da Arcada, Lisbon's oldest restaurant, they believe in ghosts. Or in symbolic gestures. Tourist guides describe it as one of the haunts of great Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa; according to local myth, Martinho da Arcada always has a table reserved for the poet (who died in 1935). If you want to share a meal with the artist, quick dishes at affordable prices are served, and their "pastel de nata" is among the city's best.
Located at the British Bar, this clock gives new meaning to "counterclockwise". Inspired by British pubs, this bar was established in 1919, and later became a meeting point for artists. Alan Tanner's award-winning film "In the White City", the story of a sailor who jumps ship in Lisbon, was partly shot here. The bar's most memorable features are a 19th century clock whose hands turn counterclockwise, and its own brand of ginger beer.
Take a careful look at the façade of the Lisbon See and you will find it. Many visitors from the Americas are stunned by how old it is. The Roman-style building is really, really ancient. Construction began around 1147, and was concluded in the early 13th century. This is where, year after year, always in June, young Lisbon couples promise each other eternal love. The Gothic cloister dates back to the 14th century rule of D. Dinis; his successor, Afonso IV, renovated the back of the building. In the early 20th century, a vast restoration tried to returne the See to its original look - the renovated building was grandly reopened in 1940.
It is located in the Duque da Terceira square, and it does not show seconds.
Located in the National Archaeology Museum, it is one of a kind worldwide. The museum was established in 1893 by Dr. José Leite de Vasconcelos. He bequeathed his collection to the Archaeology Museum, located in the Jerónimos Monastery. His legacy and Estácio da Veiga's were the core of the museum, which grew by adding other collections, including those of the Portuguese Royal House and of the old Fine Arts Museum.
The cellar of the Foz Palace used to host the Abadia restaurant, which had a Masonic inspiration (and corresponding clientele). You can visit it by appointment. Foz Palace, or Castelo Melhor Palace, to give it its proper original name, was conceived in the 18th century, and it is nice to imagine what would be like living in this luxurious manor. From the panel room to the effigy gallery, there is a lot to discover in this downtown location, where music recitals, exhibitions, presentations and many other events are held.
In the Museum of Medicine you can find the head of assassin Diogo Alves, where it is kept in formaldehyde. Just as spooky (and unique) is the mask collection in the Capuchos Hospital.
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