The narrow tracks and scenery along the tram route
Further down the line , the driver had to get down the tram because a car was parked in the middle of the track . It took a while to get the car out of the way .
On the tram route , I saw the picturesque parts of the historical town . Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe with a rich history of kings , empires , discoveries , tragedies and rebuilding .
Because of the crowd , it was difficult to take photos . From the window , I was enthralled by the many grand buildings and their various classical styles . These reflect Portugal ’ s history through the ages — Romanesque , Gothic , Manueline , Baroque and others . Many heritage buildings are adorned with pastel-hued facades , ornate balconies and intricate azulejos ( tiles ).
It was a long journey of almost one hour , passing 36 stops through the beautiful old quarters of the city . I enjoyed the slow-paced but scenic tram ride . It appears that tourists like me , is one of the reasons why trams still run in Lisbon . The city was reported to receive 5.4 million tourists in 2022 . Tourists obviously enjoy this nostalgic way of exploring the city . It is touted as a ‘ mustdo ’ when in Lisbon . The other reason is Lisbon ’ s topography . Its landscape is irregular , dominated by hills and valleys . Inner city streets are also narrow with meandering cobbled pavements . So , the small trams are ideal to transverse many districts .
It is a wonder that the Lisbon tram has endured for more than 100 years . The first tram service started in 1873 , using horses and then steam power , before turning electric in 1901 . At its height , the tram network grew to 27 lines . It declined with the expansion of buses and the construction of the Lisbon Metro lines . But six tram lines still remain today , with 63 trams in operation covering about 31km . I am glad to have experienced a part of this unique heritage .
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