About the neighborhood
Neighborhood in Lisbon
The Alfama (Portuguese pronunciation: alˈfɐmɐ) is the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus river. The district includes the freguesias (parishes) of São Miguel, Santo Estêvão, São Vicente de Fora and part of the two streets, "Freguesia da Sé: Rua do Barão" and "Rua São João da Praça". It contains many important historical attractions, as well as an abundance of Fado bars and restaurants.
Etymology
The name Alfama originates from the Arabic al-ḥamma (الحَمّة), meaning "hot springs". The Arabic word comes from the root meaning "to heat" or "to become hot", from which the word hammam (Arabic: حَمَّام, lit.'bath, bathhouse') also derives.
History
The Rua do Barão is one of the streets of the Freguesia da Sé, which begins at the Rua São João da Praça (where once stood the Door of the Alfama) and ends at Rua Augusto Rosa (at the Cathedral's walls). The toponym "Rua do Barão" is because João Fernandes da Silveira, the first Baron of Alvito, minister of Portuguese kings Dom Afonso V and Dom João II, lived here.
During the times of Moorish rule, Alfama constituted the whole of the city, which later spread to the West (Baixa neighbourhood). Alfama became inhabited by the fishermen and the poor, and its condition as the neighbourhood of the poor continues to this day.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not destroy the Alfama, which has remained a labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares. Lately the neighbourhood has been restored with the renovation of old houses and new restaurants where Fado is sometimes played.
Overlooking the Alfama is the medieval Castle of São Jorge, royal residence until the early 16th century with views of the city. In the slopes of Alfama there are other terraces (miradouros) from which to see the city, like the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, near the church of the same name and over remnants of the Moorish city walls, and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun). Near Miradouro of Santa Luzia is located the Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas), a 17th-century mansion.
From 2012, Alfama is part of the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.
Landmarks
Among the churches of the Alfama are Lisbon Cathedral (12th–14th centuries), the oldest of the city and located to the West of the neighbourhood, the Convent of the Grace (Convento da Graça, 18th century), near the Castle, the mannerist Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (late 16th–18th century), where the Kings of the House of Braganza are buried, and the baroque Church of Santa Engrácia (17th century), now converted into a National Pantheon for important Portuguese personalities.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfama (Lisbon).
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lisbon/Alfama.
Palaces Ajuda National Palace
Belém Palace
Bemposta Palace
Burnay Palace
Galveias Palace
Monteiro-Mor Palace
Necessidades Palace
Palace of the Counts of Azambuja
Palace of the Counts of Redondo
Palace of the Dukes of Palmela
Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira
Palacete Mayer
Palacio Belmonte
Panaca Palace
Penafiel Palace
Pestana Palace
Pimenta Palace
Quinta dos Lagares d'El-Rei
São Bento Mansion
São Bento Palace
Sotto Mayor Palace
Verride Palace
Religious buildings Conceição Velha Church
Estrela Basilica
Jerónimos Monastery
Igreja dos Anjos
Igreja da Madalena
Igreja da Memória
Igreja do Menino Deus
National Pantheon
Santo António Church
São Domingos Church
São Roque Church
Santa Luzia Church
Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide Convent
Santo Estêvão Church
Lisbon Cathedral
Lisbon Synagogue
Madre de Deus Convent
Mártires Basilica
Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
Monastery of the Mónicas
St. George's Church
Squares, streets and parks Avenida da Liberdade
Afonso de Albuquerque Square
Bela Vista Park
Edward VII Park
Estufa Fria
Gulbenkian Park
Mário Soares Garden
Marquis of Pombal Square
Monsanto Forest Park
Praça da Figueira
Praça de Entrecampos
Praça de Espanha
Praça do Comércio
Praça do Império
Praça Martim Moniz
Restauradores Square
Rossio Square
Districts and neighborhoods
Estrela
Lisbon Baixa
Misericórdia
Olivais
Parque das Nações
Penha de França
Events Doclisboa
Festival da Canção
Globos de Ouro
Lisboa Games Week
Lisbon Book Fair
Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival
Lisbon Marathon
Lisbon Half Marathon
Lisbon Christmas tree
LPFP Awards
Ludopolis
NOS Alive
Olhares do Mediterrâneo - Cinema no Feminino
Portugal Day
Queer Lisboa International Queer Film Festival
Sophia Awards
Super Bock Super Rock
Web Summit
Culture and entertainment Associação Gaita-de-fole
Banda Sinfónica da Guarda Nacional Republicana
Casino Lisboa
Cinemateca Portuguesa
Coliseu dos Recreios
Cultural Centre of Belém
Estádio da Luz
Estádio da Tapadinha
Estádio do Restelo
Estádio José Alvalade
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Hot Club of Portugal
Lisbon University Stadium
MEO Arena
National Ballet of Portugal
Royal Patriarchal Music Seminary of Lisbon
Metropolitan area
Encyclopedic content adapted from the Wikipedia article on Alfama, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
