tourism within your own city
Yesterday, I visited Alto de São João Cemetery, the biggest cemetery in Portugal, for the first time. It's about ten minutes from my place and I cycle along those gates every week. Yet, I had never stepped through the gates.
It's a quiet place with many shades and beautiful views of the Tagus. As soon as I walked for about two minutes, the silence made me feel as if I no longer was in a city of half a million people and constant planes crossing its skies. I was only there for about twenty minutes, but I will certainly go back there and appreciate the space for longer.
Visiting a cemetery always makes me think about my own mortality and the short time we may live on Earth. It was certainly an experience I won't forget, especially after putting it into words, but I'll write about my thoughts on that in another day. Today, I wanted to focus on being a tourist in your own city.
While Lisbon is filled to the brim with tourists, they visit a lot of places I've never set foot in. I've seen other people sharing these thoughts about their own cities, so I why I don't take advantage of all the cultural opportunities I have at my door? I'm not a big fan of trips abroad—while I don't mind flying, I feel so conscious about my CO₂ emissions that I end up not enjoying these trips as much as I would if I would take the train or bus.
With that being said, over the next few months, I will make a conscious effort to enjoy places that I've overlooked in the ten years I've been living in Lisbon. If by any chance you visit Lisbon and feel curious about any of the places I'll list below (I will update it with friends recommendations or places I find out), keep in mind that some of the prices and schedules may only apply to Portuguese citizens.
Museums
- Museu do Oriente "Museum of the Orient". Free entry on Fridays 6pm-8pm; normal price: €8.
- Museu da Água "Water Museum" (includes four places: Aqueduct, Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras Reservoir, Patriarcal Reservoir, Barbadinhos Steam Pumping Station. Free on the first Sunday of the month and special dates; normal price: €4.
- Casa Fernando Pessoa. I used to live ten minutes away and I never visited, despite Pessoa being one of my favorite writers. I visited the place in Largo de São Carlos where he was born, though. Free on Sundays and holidays until 2pm; normal price: €5 (normal visit) or €6 with a guide.
- MNAA-Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.. Free (included in the 52 free anual tickets for Portuguese citizens). I've visited this museum three times, but I'm yet to take advantage of the free entries.
- Museu Nacional do Azulejo "National Tile Museum". Free (same as above).
- Museu Bordalo Pinheiro "Bordalo Pinheiro Museum". Free on Sundays and holidays until 2pm. Normal price: €3
- Museu do Dinheiro "Money Museum". Free.
- Museu Nacional de Arqueologia "National Archaeology of Museum". Free on Sundays and holidays until 2pm. Normal price: €5 (50% for European Youth Card holders like me)
- Natural History and Science Museum (€6)
- Barracuda Submarine. Normal price: €4
Places
- Casa do Alentejo (free)
- Castelo de São Jorge (free for Lisbon residents)
- Pavilhão de Segurança (I'm not sure if this is still open to the public)
- Cemitério dos Prazeres "Prazeres Cemetery"
- Pavilhão do Conhecimento (€14)
- Aquário Vasco da Gama (€6)
- All of the Lisbon Libraries. So far, I've only visited Penha de França and Galveias.
Gardens
- Jardim Botânico Tropical
- Parque Bensaúde
- Parque Florestal de Monsanto, Lisbon's lung. I don't know how I've never been there, only around it.
There are many places I've visited and not included here, and there are also a lot of places I'm sure I'm forgetting.
Overall, this is a list for me to check whenever I say there's nothing to do or see, which is a ridiculous thing to say.