Once the seat of the world’s mightiest seafaring power, bewitching Lisbon still maintains its aura of imperial grandeur. Capture a classic photograph of the Torre de Belém, an iconic fortified tower guarding the mouth of the Tagus River, and then ascend to formidable St. George’s Castle, a remarkably intact Roman citadel over 2,000 years old. Marvel at the 15th-century Monastery of Jerónimos, a UNESCO World Heritage site designed in a unique Portuguese Gothic style known as Manueline, which abounds with intricately carved maritime motifs. Inhale fresh mountain air in the nearby town of Sintra, another UNESCO site boasting an eclectic collection of whimsically designed palaces, churches and public buildings. Back in Lisbon, hop aboard tram number 28, whose legendary route takes you along serpentine streets in neighborhoods brimming with character, including the labyrinthine Alfama district. After grabbing a bite crafted with farm-fresh ingredients at the elegant Mercado da Ribeira, head to the lively Bairro Alto district and catch a live performance of fado, a stirring genre of music imbued with a uniquely Portuguese sense of longing.
