10 Interesting Facts About Lisbon That Will Change the Way You See the City

Lisbon is instantly recognisable: a yellow tram climbing an impossibly steep street, the shine of patterned tiles, the aroma of a pastel de nata and the sound of fado drifting out of a house in Alfama. But behind that postcard image are legends, symbols and historical events that help explain why the Portuguese capital has such a distinctive personality.

In this guide, we bring together 10 interesting facts about Lisbon that go far beyond the usual sightseeing recommendations. You will discover what is really behind the claim that Lisbon is older than Rome, why an earthquake transformed the city’s layout, where the famous Pastéis de Belém come from and what the two ravens on Lisbon’s coat of arms represent. We will also explore Príncipe Real, one of the neighbourhoods most closely associated with LGBTQ+ life in Lisbon.

1. Is Lisbon really older than Rome?

It is one of the most repeated facts about Lisbon: the city is said to be several centuries older than Rome. The claim needs a little context. The Lisbon area was inhabited from very early times and, because of its strategic position on the Tagus, it had commercial contact with Mediterranean peoples, including the Phoenicians, long before Roman expansion.

What is beyond doubt is that Lisbon contains layer upon layer of history. It was the Roman city of Olisipo, later formed part of al-Andalus and eventually became a decisive capital during the age of Portuguese exploration. When you walk through Alfama, around São Jorge Castle or through Baixa, you are not looking at just one Lisbon: you are walking across several versions of the city built on top of one another.

2. The 1755 earthquake changed Lisbon — and European thought

On the morning of 1 November 1755, a major earthquake struck the city. A tsunami and fires followed, destroying much of Lisbon. The disaster did not only transform the urban landscape: it also sparked debates about science, religion and philosophy throughout Enlightenment Europe.

The reconstruction of Baixa, carried out under the government of the Marquis of Pombal, introduced broad straight streets, ordered squares and buildings with an internal timber structure known as the gaiola pombalina, designed to respond better to seismic movement. One of the most striking facts about Lisbon is therefore that its elegant neoclassical centre emerged from one of the worst disasters in the city’s history.

3. Lisbon is home to the world’s oldest bookshop still in operation

In the heart of Chiado stands Livraria Bertrand, founded in 1732. Guinness World Records recognises it as the oldest bookshop still in operation. The original premises were affected by the 1755 earthquake, and the business later moved to Rua Garrett, where it still welcomes readers and travellers today.

Walking through its vaulted rooms is about much more than shopping: it is a chance to discover one of Lisbon’s great cultural secrets. If you like taking home a souvenir with a story behind it, look for an edition by Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago or Sophia de Mello Breyner.

4. The 25 de Abril Bridge looks Californian, but it has a story of its own

Its red colour, tall metal towers and suspended silhouette make many travellers think of the Golden Gate Bridge. The resemblance does not make them twins. Lisbon’s bridge was built by a consortium led by United States Steel and has a closer technical and visual relationship with other major American suspension bridges.

When it opened in 1966, it was called Salazar Bridge. After the Carnation Revolution, it was renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge, commemorating the date that brought the dictatorship to an end in 1974. Its central span is just over a kilometre long, and it connects Lisbon with Almada by road and rail, according to Lisbon’s official tourism information.

5. The City of Seven Hills has lifts that are monuments in their own right

Lisbon is known as the City of Seven Hills, although the number belongs as much to symbolism and tradition as to exact geography. What you will notice immediately is that the slopes are very real. To make them easier to navigate, Lisbon turned everyday transport into part of its heritage: funiculars, lifts and trams climb between neighbourhoods and viewpoints.

The most spectacular example is the Santa Justa Lift, a neo-Gothic tower designed by engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard. He is often described as a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, although it is more accurate to speak of the influence of the iron architecture of the period. Its original purpose was very practical: connecting Baixa with Largo do Carmo. The official tourism website confirms its designer and its original name, Ascensor Ouro-Carmo.

6. Pastéis de Belém have been made from a secret recipe since 1837

Not every pastel de nata is a Pastel de Belém. That name belongs specifically to the pastries made at the historic bakery in Belém, beside the Jerónimos Monastery. The official story explains that after Portuguese convents and monasteries were closed in 1834, someone connected with the monastery began selling the pastries to earn a living. Production at the present premises began in 1837.

The original recipe remains in the hands of the master bakers and is prepared in the so-called “Secret Office”. The best way to try them is still slightly warm, with cinnamon and icing sugar. This is one of those interesting Lisbon facts that makes much more sense after the first bite.

7. Fado began in popular neighbourhoods before becoming world heritage

Today, fado is performed in elegant venues and is one of Portugal’s best-known cultural symbols, but its urban roots are connected with the working-class neighbourhoods of 19th-century Lisbon, particularly Mouraria and Alfama. Taverns, port streets and social gathering places helped shape music that brings together nostalgia, destiny and everyday life.

In 2011, UNESCO added fado to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The famous idea of saudade helps explain its emotional power, although there is no single English translation: it combines longing, absence and desire. Hearing it live is one of the experiences that best connects Lisbon’s past with its present.

8. Lisbon’s azulejos are not just decorative

Ceramic-covered façades turn Lisbon into an open-air gallery. Yet azulejos did not become popular purely because they looked beautiful. They also provided a durable, easy-to-clean surface that helped protect walls from humidity and changes in temperature.

You will find them in churches, stations, palaces, shops and modest homes. Some form large narrative scenes, while others repeat geometric or botanical patterns. The Museu Nacional do Azulejo is an excellent place to understand how they evolved. And while walking through the city, try spotting façades with mismatched tiles: old repairs have created combinations that are completely unique.

9. Two ravens sail on Lisbon’s coat of arms

Lisbon’s emblem shows a boat accompanied by two ravens. The image is linked to the legend of the transfer of the relics of Saint Vincent, Lisbon’s patron saint. According to tradition, two ravens protected the boat during its journey to the city and became permanently associated with his story.

Once you know the legend, you begin to notice the boat and the birds everywhere: in pavements, municipal buildings and pieces of street furniture. It is one of the more discreet curiosities of Lisbon, but also one of the most enjoyable to spot while walking around the city.

10. Príncipe Real brings together gardens, mansions and LGBTQ+ culture

Príncipe Real takes its name from the eldest son of Queen Maria II, who later became King Pedro V. The neighbourhood retains gardens, former mansions, antique shops, restaurants and design stores. At the same time, it has become one of the areas most closely associated with LGBTQ+ social life and nightlife in Lisbon, alongside nearby Bairro Alto.

That mixture sums up the city rather well: tradition and creativity sharing the same street. For more LGBTQ+ travel inspiration, you can explore The Apolo Travel Journal. Rather than searching for a fixed checklist of venues, Príncipe Real is best enjoyed slowly: walk through the neighbourhood, stop in the garden and let the atmosphere shape the rest of your plans.

How to turn these interesting facts about Lisbon into a walking route

These places can be organised into two walks. The first links Baixa, Chiado and Príncipe Real: start among the Pombaline streets, visit Livraria Bertrand, climb towards Largo do Carmo and finish among the gardens and venues of Príncipe Real. The second explores Belém, combining the monastery, the Tagus riverfront, a view of the 25 de Abril Bridge and, of course, a stop for pastries.

For fado, azulejos and the symbol of the ravens, Alfama and Mouraria reward a more observant pace. Do not try to rush through everything: some of the best things about Lisbon appear between one monument and the next, on a façade, in a small square or through an unexpected conversation.

Frequently asked questions about Lisbon