Traveler Magazine Andrew Harper Traveler Summer 2019 | Page 37

35
Lisbon
(3 Nights)
Not long ago, Lisbon was down on its luck.
Many of the city’s grandest buildings were
boarded up, jobs were hard to come by
and young people were fleeing in droves.
Those days are long gone. In just a few short
years, the city has undergone a remarkable
transformation, and today Lisbon is a city
on the rise. Bursting with creative energy,
neighborhoods are once again filled with
shops and restaurants and the city’s many
monuments and museums are welcoming
visitors from around the world.
With an incredible mix of history, art and
culture, Lisbon could easily entertain for
a week, but there are a few highlights that
shouldn’t be missed even on the shortest of
itineraries. Featuring a magnificent collection
of jewelry by René Lalique, the Gulbenkian
Museum is one such spot. São Jorge Castle
and Jerónimos Monastery are two others,
but to really get the feel of how the city has
changed, head to the neighborhoods of Alfama
or Bairro Alto, where the cobblestone streets
and colorfully tiled buildings mix with chic
rooftop bars and trendy cafés.
If you have an extra day, don’t miss Sintra.
This fascinating UNESCO World Heritage
Site is an easy day trip from Lisbon and well
worth the effort (especially if you stay at Tivoli
Palácio De Seteais Sintra Hotel). Once the
summer destination of choice for Portuguese
royalty, the National Palace is here, as is Quinta
da Regaleira, a spectacular estate designed by
an Italian set designer with mystical leanings
and a flair for the dramatic.
ANDREWHARPERTRAVEL.COM
SUMMER | 2019