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Discover one of the oldest and most charismatic neighbourhoods of Lisbon, Mouraria.<br />
The birthplace of Lisbon’s famous folk music and steeped in fascinating history. Mouraria<br />
is a fast-growing creative hub for eclectic cultural offerings with intimate cobbled streets,<br />
providing a wealth of art galleries, artisan shops, trendy cafes and unique food experiences<br />
such as <strong>com</strong>munity kitchens where local chefs cook and share their food in relaxed, open<br />
spaces. An excellent and tasty way to connect with locals, practice Portuguese and, above<br />
all, share quality food.<br />
Up in the hills of Lisbon is Sintra, a UNESCO<br />
site, with its traditional pastel coloured<br />
castles, including the Castle of Moors and<br />
the National Palace of Pena. Sintra itself is<br />
a stunning mountain town approximately<br />
14 miles from downtown Lisbon, reachable<br />
via bus for a minimal charge. While the<br />
city is a tourist attraction, there are some<br />
secret gems including the incredible<br />
ornate initiation wells at the hauntingly<br />
architectural mishmash mansion of Quinta<br />
da Regaleira. These subterranean towers<br />
reach down 27 metres into the earth and<br />
are accessible via a spiral stone staircase<br />
with fascinating displays of symbols<br />
depicting Alchemy, the Knights Templar<br />
and Rosicrucian.<br />
The ruins of the medieval Carmo Church<br />
and Convent situated in the parish of<br />
Santa Maria Maior provide a glimpse of<br />
the devastating earthquake that rocked<br />
Lisbon in 1755. This was once the largest<br />
church in Lisbon but all that remains today<br />
are the perfectly preserved stone skeletal<br />
arches. What was once the altar now<br />
arches impressively over an archaeological<br />
ruins museum founded in 1964 holding an<br />
extraordinary array of various periods of<br />
Lisbon history including Gothic architecture,<br />
Roman relics and symbols, intricate stone<br />
carvings, a beautiful rose stained window<br />
and some impressive tombs boasting<br />
elaborate carving work, the grandest being<br />
that of King Ferdinand I.<br />
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