| <br>Lisboa, or as commonly known, Lisbon, the | | | | fishing village of Sesimbra in September. </br> |
| capital city of Portugal is a wonderful mix of cultures | | | | <br>Music and Dance festivals are also a part of |
| and traditions inherited over the past twenty centuries. | | | | Lisbon which enchants everyone and Lisbon culture is |
| This beautiful metropolis blends in influences of the | | | | incomplete without the famous Fado. This popular |
| Moorish and Roman invasions in the form of their | | | | music form which means “a common human |
| architectural buildings, museums, music, festivals of | | | | feeling”, is a variety of Fado performed by women |
| worship dedicated to Roman saints and in countless | | | | and encompasses human emotions of love, forgotten |
| other day to day activities.</br> | | | | old times, pain and suffering. Coimbra Fado the other |
| <br>This city built over seven hills, has impressively | | | | variant is said to have been performed by men. This |
| reconstructed itself after the massive earthquake and | | | | culture of Lisbon has thought to be inherited from |
| tsunami of 1755, which had reduced it to rubble. A | | | | Arabic influence and African slave music and traditional |
| culturally vibrant city, Lisboetas (the inhabitants of | | | | music of the Portuguese sailors. A few famous names |
| Lisbon) love their fast paced life, their cultural events, | | | | who perform this art today are Amalia Rodrigues, |
| their nightlife, their music to name a few. The streets | | | | Mariza and Cristina Branco. Today modern Portuguese |
| will leave you mesmerized with its energy – fish | | | | music is a blend of the rural and urban and the |
| sellers with their wares, musicians performing, chestnut | | | | performers mostly African- Portuguese. Pimba, a folk |
| sellers, artists displaying their paintings, performing | | | | music form is popular and played in the rural belts. |
| statues and what not. </br> | | | | Some popular dances of Lisbon are the Circle dance |
| <br>Traditionally, June is the busiest month filled | | | | and the Fandango. </br> |
| with feasts representing Portuguese culture. This | | | | <br>Portuguese literature too has ancient roots |
| month packs in partying, festivities and parades | | | | and dates back to the 12th and 13th century and was |
| honoring Lisboetas beliefs in Roman and Christian | | | | developed mostly in the form of text and songs. The |
| saints. The most revered saints being Saint John, Saint | | | | strongest influence of Lisbon’s culture can probably |
| Peter and Saint Anthony. The most popular festival is | | | | be seen most in its architectural wonders which dot |
| festa de Santo António, held in the month of June, in | | | | the city. The Belem tower, built to commemorate |
| honor of Saint Anthony a Franciscan Friar who was | | | | Vasco Da Gama’s voyage is one such famous |
| canonized as a Catholic saint on June 13th 1232. Saint | | | | landmark whose Gothic design and impressive |
| Anthony is chiefly popular as a matchmaker saint and | | | | construction is a big draw. It is in fact declared as a |
| young couples express their love for each other during | | | | UNESCO World heritage site.</br> |
| these festival days. The air is rent with music, dancing | | | | <br>Traditionally rich, culturally vibrant, Lisbon is a |
| and the aroma of grilled sardines and freshly baked | | | | city which any traveler should not miss out on. To do |
| traditional bread. Popular festivals also include the St. | | | | so will be losing out on discovering one of the |
| Pedro Festival in Montijo in June, festas do Colete | | | | world’s most beautiful cultures, people and history. |
| Encarnado in July, Sea festival at the picturesque | | | | |