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LISBON
I visited Lisbon in 1999. Here are some tips on what to do in Lisbon.
Hotel that I stayed in:
HOTEL MUNDIAL ****
Rua de D. Duarte, 4
1100 LISBOA
Tel: (01) 8863101 Fax: (01) 88879129
Walking Tour of Lisbon centre
Start at Rossio (Praca de D. Pedro IV whose statue stands in the middle). This square was famous for old Rolling Motion mosaic paving of which there are only scant remnants around statue and the two fountains. At the north end is the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II.
Proceed to Praca dos Restauradores with its obelisk in the centre and the Palacio Foz (Tourist information Post). From Avenida da LIberdade take elevator to Bairro Alto.
Back to Rossio. Continue south to Rua Augusta and through the Arch enter Praca do Commercio (or Terreiro do Paco). The name means Palace Yard after the magnificent Royal Palace overlooking the Tagus which was destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1755. The open space (300 yds) is surrounded by three arcade 18th century buildings that house Government offices. The top part of Arch leading to Rua Augusta (Arco Triunfal) was completed 80 yrs after original design for the square. The mounted bronze statue of King Joseph I by Machado de Castro gives the square the name of Black Horse Square. The City Hall (Pacos do Concelho) built in 1874 is on the right. Further on lies the old Marine Arsenal (Arsenal da Marinha).
Belem
From Train Station take transport to Alcantara. Look up the hill to the north where there is the old royal Palacio das Necessidades, now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Stop at Belem. The Belem National Palace (Palacio Nacional del Belem), 18th century royal residence, is now the official home of the President of the Republic. Close by is the National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches). There is also the church and monastery of the Hieronimyte friars (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos), dedicated to St Mary of Betlehem (Manueline style). The tombs of Vasco da Gama and Camoes, the great national poet, are in the church. Standing in the river there is the Tower of Belem (Torre de Belem), 16th century by Francisco de Arruda in Manueline style.
You may take the ferry for 30 min journey along the river Tagus to Barreiro.
Alcantara (meaning "the bridge") is the place for pubs and discotheques with a beautiful view of the river and a dock for yachting. You can proceed to Alcantara with same transport that stops at Belem.
St George's Castle is also an interesting place to visit. You can walk up from Alfama or take bus no 37. From there you can get a beautiful view of the Lisbon centre. http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/castle.html
Estoril is a very beautiful beach resort, not very far from Lisbon. Trains about every 20 minutes from Cais do Sodre Railway station. Journey time 30-35 minutes.
The following is a video of my visit.
MADRID
From Lisbon I travelled by night train to Madrid. It departed at 22.00 from S. Apollonia Station and arrived at Madrid Chamartin Station at 08.35 the following day.
Hotel I stayed in:
HOTEL PLAZA MAYOR **
C/Atocha 2,
28012 Madrid
Tel:(91) 3600606 Fax: (91) 3600610
Places to visit:
Plaza D'Espana
Palazzo Real
Puerta del Sol
Plaza Mayor (Tourist Office nearby)
Parque del Ritiro
While in Madrid I suggest a day trip to Toledo or to Segovia.
You can go to Toledo by train from Madrid Atocha Station. The journey takes about 1 hour 15 min.
Segovia can be reached by bus from the Madrid Bus station.
I have visited both places on different occasions. The following video gives an account of my first stay in Madrid and Toledo.
BARCELONA
I travelled to Barcellona from Madrid by train. Departing from Madrid Atocha Station, the train takes around 7 hours and arrives at Barcelona Sants Station.
In Barcelona I was accomodated at:
HOTEL ARAGON ***
Av. C. Aragó 569
08026 - Barcelona
Tel: 245 89 05
Places to visit while in Barcelona
Parc Guell (M Lesseps or Vallcarca) Open 10-19hrs (entr free)
Musical Fountains of Montjuic (PLAZA DE ESPANA)
Sagrada Familia Open 9-18hrs (800 pts)
Ramblas
Modernista Buildings
Parc Ciutadella
Picasso Museum No 15-19, Montcada - Open 10.00-20.00hrs
Aquarium Open 10-21hrs
Barcelona FC Museum & Neu Camp Stadium Open 10-18.30hrs (M Collblanc)
Mount Tibidabo -Take the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat to Avinguda del Tibidabo.
Then Tramvia Blau to Funicular Station and up by Funicular to Tibidabo
Visit the Modernista Buildings
Leave Placa de Catalunya, top right, by the broad Passeig de Gracia. Nos 35, 41 and 43 are the famous Manzana de la Discordia. Manzana means both city-block and apple. Here, buildings by each of the three great Modernista architects, in styles that vary hugely, distinguish this extraordinary block. Domenech i Montaner's Casa Lleo Morera is at no 35; its richly decorated interior is the headquarters of Barcelona's tourist board. Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller, with stepped gables, ceramic decorations and mock-medieval stairway is at no 41. And Gaudi's Casa Batllo, at no 43, has an amazing sinuous roofline.
Return back two blocks, then go left down Carer de la Diputacio', up Pau Claris and cut through pretty Passatge Penmanyer. Continue left up Roger de Lluria. There are pretty Modernista fronts at nos 72, 74 and 80.
Go back a block and left down Carrer D'Arago' to Mercat de Concepcio', up Girona and left down Valencia, right and up Roger de Lluria. Casa Montaner, designed by Domenech i Montaner is on the next corner. Then go right down to Mallorca. Modernista Casa Thomas is here.
Turn left up Girona and left into Aviguda Diagonal. Casa Terrades is on the right, and the Museu de la Musica is left at no 373, a fascinating building. Turn left down Passeig de Gracia. Gaudi's Casa Mila' is at no 92. Right here down smart Provenca, left down Rambla de Catalunya, with a diversion through Balmes and back down Arago'. Fundacio' Tapies is here at no 225. Finish the walk down Rambla de Catalunya.
Visit to Gothic Quarter
Take Metro to Jaume I. Start from Placa del Rei, tucked in round the northern side of the cathedral. As well as the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat, it contains parts of the former royal palace and a noble Gothic hall, the Salo' de Tinell, where Columbus allegedly reported the success of his first voyage to Ferdinand and Isabella. Then to the right to Placa Ramon Berenguer el Gran, with its equestrian statue of Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, which offers fine views of the Roman walls from outside the Barri Gotic. Proceed to Placa Sant Jaume with the Ajuntament (Casa de la Ciutat - Town Hall). Just opposite the little lane of Carrer del Bisbe Irurita passes between the Renaissance facade of the Palau de la Generalitat, home base of an autonomous Catalonia and the Casa dels Canonges. To the left walk through Placa Garriga I Bachs to the picturesque Placa Sant Felip Neri. Then back to Carrer del Bisbe Irurita up through the Portal del Bisbe, its towers going back to the Romans. You find yourself in the Placa Nova, then through the Avinguda Catedral to the Placa de la Seu (the cathedral square). Visit the Cathedral of Barcelona (open 0800-1330:1600-1930).
The following is a video of my stay in Barcelona.
MONTSERRAT
Montserrat is famous for the monastery of the Black Madonna of Montserrat which lies over a mountain. You may go to Montserrat by taking the Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat from Plaza d'Espana. You then proceed up the moutain by cable car.
PORT AVENTURA (Open 10.00-Midnight)
You may go to Port Aventura by train from Barcelona Sants Station. Take train direction to Tarragona and stop at Port Aventura station. Journey time is about 1 hour 10 min. If you intend to go back to Barcelona that same day please be advised to check the trip back because trains are not so frequent and the last train is around 20.41.
Here is a video of my visit to Montserrat and Port Aventura.
