Travel guide
Lisbon

The 12 keywords Lisbon

1. #Alfacinhas

In Portuguese, this literally means "little salads", but it is also the term used to describe the Lisbon natives. No, Lisboetes are not born in lettuce or are not all vegetarian. The truth is that the plain that surrounded Lisbon in the past was a market gardening area famous for its salads.

2. #Bacalhau

That means cod in Portuguese. It is cooked according to 1,000 recipes so that you never get tired of it. It is also the traditional Christmas dish that replaces our dear turkey. We will always be surprised by the enthusiasm that this fish has aroused for several centuries. However, as you should know, it is not fished in territorial waters.

3. #Colline

Lisbon is made up of seven hills, which you will have to explore if you want to get to know it. It takes good calves! The views to which you will be entitled, on the other hand, are breathtaking, with a small part of the Tagus at the bottom, some palm trees and an 18th century palace. No wonder the city has so many elevadores.

4. #Coq

Seeing it in all the shops, one would tend to believe that the term "Portugal" comes from Portus Gallus ("the port of the rooster", in Latin for cooking). Not at all. On the other hand, the rooster does have a legend, that of Barcelos, which speaks of a pilgrim wrongly accused and who proved his innocence by a miracle involving... a rooster therefore

5. #Corbeau

An old legend has it that two crows watched over the tomb of Saint Vincent, a medieval martyr buried on the cape of the same name (southwest of the country). When Alfonso Henriques, the liberator of the city of Lisbon, fetched his remains, the two ravens escorted the caravel on its return journey to Alfama.

6. #Docas

Born from the desire to make the former Tagus quays profitable, from which caravels and ships once left and returned full of treasures, they now house bars, terraces, restaurants, nightclubs, and a few galleries, at the very place where soldiers embarked for the colonial wars in Africa.

7. #Football

There is no way out, it is almost a religion here and it fuels a lot of debate and even arguments within families. If you understand Portuguese, you will often hear conversations at lunchtime about the performances of Benfica or Sporting players (the most famous clubs), especially in the aftermath of the match.

8. #Fado

For some, fado would derive from the songs of medieval troubadours; for others, it would have been born from the songs of sailors at the time of the great discoveries, imbued with their adventures and their emotional life. Lisbon is one of the cities where Fado has developed. The topics covered are often part of everyday problems.

9. #Rent

In recent years, the liberalization of the real estate market has created a real boom and renewal. Lisbon is back to its former glory and prestige. People here will tell you that the downtown area is unrecognizable. On the other hand, rents have exploded, making it difficult today to rent an apartment at an affordable price..

10. #Moorish

Even if Portugal, and particularly Lisbon, is deeply oriented towards the Atlantic with Celtic features, the few centuries of Moorish occupation have had a profound impact on the city: place names, architecture, garden art. You will be surprised to see how much cinnamon and coriander are used in Portuguese cuisine

11. #Eyelets

On the night of 25 April 1974, Zeca Afonso's song, Grândola Vila Morena, broadcast at 12:25 on the Catholic radio station in Lisbon, was the expected signal. The captains of the army, disgusted by the colonial wars, openly threaten the government. That day, we see the soldiers in the street with carnations at the end of their guns.

12. #Saudade

A word almost untranslatable in French (or any other language for that matter), but oh how much the Portuguese feel! It is the absence, the regret of what could have been or what has been (without the idea of remorse), the resignation to what can never come... It is also the breath of fado, the soul of the whole country.