GAY AND LESBIAN LISBON

LISBON

The last post shared some important information about Porto for the Gay and Lesbian visitor.  Today I'd like to include the same information for Lisbon.

The City

Lisbon started from a small prehistoric aggregate located in the north of the current S. Jorge castle. Through the settling action of the Romans (195 a.C.) and the inherent socio-economic development, soon it would be given the status of "city", with all urban equipment: monuments, theatres, spa. In its history was conquered by different peoples and had an importance as the port of contact with Africa. Although Portugal has existence as independent kingdom since 12th Century, only in the 14th century Lisbon becomes the capital.
In 1st November 1755 at 10h00 there was the Great Earthquake of Lisbon that hit hard the "Baixa" (downtown), the castle and "Bairro Alto" (high neighborhood). In the reconstruction works the new Baixa Pombalina was created (whose main booster was the Maquês de Pombal), with its structure of lined up streets and special construction regulations unheard at the time. In the beginning of 19th century the city continues to grow and the Basilica da Estrela, the Opera of S. Carlos and Palácio da Ajuda are from this time. From 1943 and after the construction of Theatre D. Maria starts a bigger concern with the creation of green spaces and parks.
The population of Lisbon is constituted by a mixture of different origins not only of other regions of Portugal as of the world.
There are several Gay and lesbian places in the city mainly in the zone of Príncipe Real.

Climate
Lisbon has a mild climate in the winter (average temperature in January 12ºC/54ºF) as in the summer (average temperature in August 24ºC/75ºF) but in some days of the the temperature can reach the 34ºC/93ºF. 

Monuments and Visits
Of the several monuments of the city there are some of particular prominence like the Cathedral of Lisbon ("Sé"), the Tower of Belém (1515), the Casa do Bicos (1530), the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (séc. XVI) and the Castelo de São Jorge.
For more information on monuments and visits go to Cidade de Lisbon (in Portuguese) Page at PortugalWeb, Lisbon Area Inventory (in Portuguese) DGEMN.

Museums and Exhibitions
Lisbon has an unusual variety of museums from diverse traditional subjects like Archaeology, Navy, Ancient Art, Natural History, Planetary, Aquarium, Geology, Military to more "modern" subjects as Design, Electricity, Communications, Music, etc...
There are some more uncommon ones as the Museum of the Coches (phone 213610850), the National Museum of Tiles (phone: 218147747, 218147799), the Museum Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (tel: 217590816), the Museum Caloust Gulbenkian (phone: 217950236) and the National Museum do Traje (phone: 217590318).
The Cultural Center of Belém and Parque das Nações are also places with regular cultural events that you should check before a visit to Lisbon.
For more information on museums go to Intituto of the Museus

City Festivities
In Lisbon the Popular Party is Santo António (13 of June) where the old traditions of the "bairros alfacinhas" come back and each one has its one arraial with food and dancing. In a more commercial perspective the Marches of Lisbon present a parade livened up with songs that point out the virtues and shames of the Lisbon and National life. An old tradition recouped recently is the Fiancés of Santo António where the CML offers a collective luxury wedding for less wealthy couples.
The city is decorated by occasion of Christmas and New Year with street shows and fireworks along the Tejo margins.

Theaters and Exhibitions
Lisbon has a full cultural calendar. With a variety of theatres for all tastes from the small productions: Teatro ABC (tel: 213466745), Teatro Aberto (tel: 217970969), Teatro da Cornucópia (tel: 213961515), Teatro da Trindade (tel: 213423200), Teatro Maria Vitória (tel: 213461740), Teatro Villaret (tel: 213538586). Till more outstanding events of Teatro Municipal Maria Matos (tel: 218497007), Teatro Municipal São Luis, Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (tel: 213430104), Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos (tel: 213468408), Coliseu de Lisboa (tel: 213461997). Do not overlook the Centro Cultural de Belém and Parque das Nações.
When it comes to gay and lesbians the most important event is the Lisbon's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in September, and the Arraial Pride (kind of a open air Pride Party) in June.
The several "Casas de Fado" (see listing in Portugal Virtual website) have an unusual sound background (although with high prices for the locals).
See the links on the end of this page for more information about current shows.

Local Transportation
Lisbon is served by a modern Metropolitan network and several bus companies.
For more information on the metro see Metropolitano de Lisboa (in Portuguese and English).
For more information on buses see Carris.

Train
Using the Alfa/InterCidades train it takes 3h30 to Porto, 1h00 to Coimbra, 4h30 to Guarda, 4h30 to Covilhã (departures from Gare do Oriente or St. Apolónia or Pragal), 3h00 to Faro (departures from Barreiro). The Porto-Lisbon trip costs between €13,00 and €17,50 in 2nd class depending on the chosen schedule. These trains have bar service, meals and mobile phone.
There are also local connections in the Cascais Line (Cais do Sodré, Belém, Oeiras, Estoril, Cascais), Sintra Line (Rossio or Gare do Oriente, Benfica, Amadora, Queluz, Cacém, Sintra), Azambuja Line (Alcântara, Sete-Rios, Areeiro, Gare do Oriente, Sacavém, Alverca, Vila Franca de Xira, Azambuja) and Sado Line (Barreiro, Setúbal, Praias-Sado).
For more information see CP (in Portuguese and English)

Lodging
You can choose from the luxury Ritz to the pensions. There are several gay friendly and even an 100% gay hotel.
For more information on gay places (and others) see PortugalGay.PT Directory.
For information on places to sleep in Lisbon see Portugal Virtual or Portugal Web.

Phones
The fixed phones numbers in Lisbon area start with "21".

Usefull Phone Numbers
Please note: most of these are Portuguese-only speaking.

Emergency Emergency (Free) 112 Poisonings 217950143 Hospital Curry Cabral 217924200 Hospital Júlio de Matos 217971141 Hospital Santa Maria 217970541 Hospital São José 218841000 Hospital São Francisco Xavier 213017351 Turism Lisbon Airport 218413700 Lisbon City Hall 213227100 CP 218884025 Metro 213558457

Links
More information about Gay places available at PortugalGay.PT Directory.
More information about Lisbon: Câmara Municipal de Lisbon (in Portuguese).
For more information on theater, dance, displays and cinema go to Agenda (in Portuguese) from CML, a Agenda (in Portuguese) from Ministery of Culture or the Guia do Lazer-Lisbon (in Portuguese) from Público newspaper.