sunnylisbon

Patel de nata, aka, egg tarte is my favorite dessert here in Portugal. Almost all the visitors love it. They line up to enjoy this delicacy at Pasteis de Belem in the Belem district. Whenever I go there, I see a lot of people standing in line even on off-season. Starting March, more and more people come to Portugal to enjoy the delicious Portuguese food. So to enjoy the delicacy, I always go there early in the morning when there is no line. The owner didn't invent the secret recipe. Actually the owner's ancestor bought it from the monastery. You see the statue of Pedro IV on Rossio square, and not many Portuguese seem to like D. Pedro IV. From the history DVD I bought. When he decided to stay in Brazil as an emperor, he asked his brother Miguel to marry his daughter Maria II and take care of her until she became an adult. But Miguel decided to become the king himself. When there was a civil war between Miguel and Pedro IV, monasteries sided with...

Museu Nacional de Arqueologia is the largest archaeology museum in Portugal. It is located in Belem district right next to Jereminos Monastery . Its size is somewhat disappointing however, if you are interested in Roman and Egyptian history you will have a good time like I did. It was started by José Leite de Vasconcelos in 1893 and won an award called "Genio Protector da Colonia Augusta Emerita." Augusta Emerita colony was founded in 25 BC by the Roman Emperor Augusta and don't forget to visit  Museum of Lisbon - Roman Theater to get a thorough picture of Roman presence in Lisbon. Teseo killing Minotaur Know Roman myths?  Then you can appreciate this place a lot more.  In Egyptian wing, you can glimpse at 5000 year-long history through more than 500 pieces, 200 of which were brought from Egypt in 1903 by the last queen of Portugal, Amelia .  One of the most important sections of the museum is a treasure room.  ...

The winter of Lisbon is known for its heavy rains but recently it has been showing off beautiful skies. At the park, near my house It's a blessing to live in this beautiful city, enjoying warm glows of the glorious sun. Personally I love watching skies through my living room windows. Just idling my afternoon, I count myself lucky everyday. views from my living room Strolling along the river is also a good way to enjoy the blue sky. sunny days in Lisbon Sunny skies without a sprinkle of clouds are beautiful but with a little bit here and there, it looks much more intriguing. Everyday makes a different day with skies changing each moment. Nothing is the same at all so it never gets bored. With all the sun in winter, flowers bloom all over the city. on the streets of Lisbon, you can easily spot flowers blooming everywhere. How about coming here and enjoying your days in Lisbon? What do you say?

Were there any metro station nearby, Belem district is the place I would visit everyday. At first I wasn't crazy about it, to be honest. However, the more passionate I got about Portuguese history, the more exciting and even mesmerizing I found it. Among all the must-sees in the Belem district, one of my favorites is the Monument to the Discoveries( Monumento aos Descobrimentos ). To commemorate Henry the Navigator, it was reconstructed after 500 years of his death. The first on the monument is Henry the Navigator.  From the left, there are Henry on top, King Alfonso V and then Vasco Da Gama. Since they stand side by side majestically, some may think they belong to the same period. Not true. King Alfonso V, nephew of Henry, was succeeded by João II , then followed by Manuel I. Vasco Da Gama served Manuel I and the next king João III . Vasco Da Gama, the famous navigator António Manuel da Fonseca - Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedenis in Beeld (1...

National Palace of Belem , the official residence of the Portuguese President , is only open to the public on Saturdays. Palace gardens Cascade Gardens - the sculpture of Hercules  There are five guided tours at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30, and 16:30. These are subject to change due to the presidential schedule, so it's safer to call and book in advance just to make sure. The number is 21-361-49-80. You can't see the inside of the palace on other days. However, should you decide to visit on Sundays, the museum and part of gardens are open and offer free admission to all visitors. The museum houses many precious items from the state figures all over the world.  Personally, the best time to visit the Belem Palace is on the 3rd Sunday of the month. At 11 a.m., the ceremony of changing the guard takes place right in front of the palace. Don't miss it. It's a treat. In London, I was lucky enough to see  the Buckingham Palace's Changi...

National coach museum is one of the most popular museums in Lisbon, drawing hundreds of thousands people every year. Inaugurated by the last queen of Portugal, Queen Amelia, in 1905, it houses some of the oldest coaches in the world and more. portrait of Queen Amelia, princess of France, married to King Carlos I of Portugal Por Museu Nacional dos Coches - http://www.matriznet.dgpc.pt/matriznet/home.aspx I have visited the museum a lot of times  but had no idea it is divided into two parts- Praça Afonso de Albuquerque and Av. da Índia 136, 1300-004 Lisboa .  After researching extensively to write this blog, I still didn't know.  Most info available in English doesn't say anything about two parts.  Only by taking a closer look at the leaflet from the museum did I realize it.  Worth learning Portuguese to appreciate this lovely city better.  original museum- Praça Afonso de Albuquerque Make sure you visit b...

Belem district, situated at the mouth of  the Tagus, has attracted many people with beautiful landmarks such as the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém. Nowadays, young and hip people are heading to Belem to appreciate arts at MAAT(Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) or Museu Coleção Berardo. Diverse museums make the Belem district much more interesting and some of them offer free admissions on certain days. Free entrance info changes from time to time so before you head to your choice of museums, it's safer to check their websites. Wanting to give you the updated and correct info, I personally checked all the websites and visited some of them. Here is the info. (1) Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology Location Website free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of every month (2) Museu Nacional dos Coches (Coach Museum) Location Website free admission for residents on Sundays and holidays (3)  Museu...