The Bairro Alto spreads to the west of the city of Lisbon. This is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. It is full of narrow alleys, houses of the seventeenth century, taverns, restaurants and shops. This area has been transformed due to the large influx of tourists, especially at night because it has a lot of typical Portuguese bars and restaurants. To arrive there take the funicular that goes to Gloria and have a short walk from the Restauradores Square. The small white and yellow wagon climbs to reach the terrace of San Pedro de Alcántara, a beautiful viewpoint.
The Bairro Alto has been for many centuries a rich district. The aristocracy lived here to avoid the most popular areas of the city. Since 1800 the district was opened to other classes of people. Today, however, you will find that this area has been turned into a neighbourhood that is full of artists and creative people. The neighbourhood is dotted with libraries, antique shops and restaurants.
Close to “the electric” stop (cableways and tramways are so-called in Lisbon), there is a museum dedicated to the port and located in a beautiful palace. You should taste the typical Portuguese wine Solar do Porto Velho in Rua São Pedro de Alcantara 45. Another mandatory stop is the Sao Roque church (in Rua de Sao Pedro de Alcantara) dating back to the sixteenth century. Inside it houses a Baroque treasure: the Sao Joao Baptista chapel, a masterpiece by Vanvitelli that was constructed in Rome and then carried to Portugal piece by piece. Completely covered with marble, mosaics, lapis lazuli, amethyst and alabaster, it is a priceless treasure – in the eighteenth century it had a value of one billion old lire.
The Bairro Alto is also the favourite district of the youth to go out at night: Friday and Saturday night it is full of young people who arrive from other parts of the city by tram or by the classic funicular. There are many pubs, jazz locals, cafés and popular restaurants serving delicious food. However, the Bairro Alto district is not a neighbourhood made just for fun. Once the lights are turned off, the morning, as if by magic has once again been turned into the kingdom of tourists.
Tourists appreciate it because it is a beautiful district. These are some places that you shouldn’t miss: San Jorge’s Castle or San Pedros’s viewpoint. It’s as if the Barrio Alto has a double life: by day it is an oasis of peace with the tourists and their cameras as the main protagonists while at night, it is full of young people who come to talk, have a drink and spend a pleasant time.
The Botanical Garden of Lisbon, the largest in Europe is also found in the Bairro Alto. The garden has about 2,500 botanical species from around the world and it began its long history in 1873. There are trees dating back to this time still to be found in these gardens. The garden, with spectacular views over the Tagus River, is divided into three main areas. It is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 and until 20:00 in summer.
But there are other great places to visit, such as the Academia das Ciencias, founded in 1799. Therefore, this district has a great cultural life. It is also known as a journalist’s neighbourhood because it is full of libraries and places frequented by writers. In fact, many libraries are open during the evening.
Come and visit this lovely city. The popular and aristocratic Bairro Alto is waiting for you. Rent apartments in Lisbon, the charm of its narrow streets and the sunlight filtering between them will leave you amazed.
