Lisbon Half-Day Private Food and History Walking Tour

We take you from the historical Lisbon of the 12th century till the current times. In a stroll by the off beaten path starting in Downtown, you will find out why Mouraria is such a unique place - the birthplace of the Fado music and the most multicultural neighborhood in Lisbon. 6 stops and more than 10 tastings are included for you to enjoy and be introduced to very local places where we locals go, and to taste the icons and staples of Portuguese food culture and its influences.

- Distance: 1,2 miles/2km.

- Duration: 3,5 hours.

- Physical level: medium - The itinerary involves a certain amount of uphill walking on cobblestones and climbing down steps, typical of old Lisbon streets.

The São Domingos Church, original from the 13th century, has witnessed for centuries faith and massacre, it was several times severely damaged by Lisbon earthquakes and a major fire. After the destructive fire of 1959, it stood closed for several decades. It opened in the 1990s, with a surprisingly simply restored interior, still reminiscent of the signs of the ruins caused by the fire.

The Rossio is the popular name of the King Pedro IV Square (Portuguese: Praça de D. Pedro IV) in the city of Lisbon, in Portugal. It is located in the Pombaline Downtown of Lisbon and has been one of its main squares since the Middle Ages. It has been the setting of popular revolts and celebrations, bullfights and executions, and is now a preferred meeting place of Lisbon natives and tourists alike.

Located in the heart of Lisbon, this vibrant and colorful city square is bursting with flower vendors, shoppers and people bustling to and from their jobs.

One of the city's best-loved landmarks and also known as the "Elevator of Carmo," this extraordinary structure was built in 1902 by the Portugal-born French architect Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard (an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, explaining the structure's similarities to Paris' Eiffel Tower), to connect downtown to Bairro Alto (the lowest and highest points of the city).

Originally powered by steam, it's 45 meters (147ft) high, and remains an interesting example of post-Eiffel iron architecture. The top of the Neo-Gothic tower, reached via a spiral staircase, has a splendid view of the city, including over Rossio Square, the castle and the river.

The expressive monument dedicated to Fado and to Mouraria - Cradle of Fado. It consists of a marble block 1.5 meters high that has carved the Portuguese guitar. It is a tribute to the Fado of Lisboa, which originated in the alleys of this neighborhood, sung by poor people, with suffering lives and generous souls. It is also a tribute to the first great diva of Fado Maria Severa, who lived and died in this neighborhood in the 19th century, and to Fernando Mauricio, the crownless king of Fado during the 20th century and contemporary of Amalia, the great queen of Fado, and to all the most famous or anonymous Fado singers in Lisbon.

Probably founded in the 12th century, this church was already used at the beginning of the 14th century. From the intervention of the 16th century, only the rectangular chancel built in 1671 by the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament survived. Rebuilt in the first half of the 18th century, resisted the Lisbon earthquake.

Praça da Figueira is a square in Lisbon Downtown. Prior to the 1755 earthquake, it was the site of the All-Saints Hospital, whose foundations were laid bare during the construction of the current underground car park.

In the design of the Marquis of Pombal to Downtown, the square became the main food market of the city. In 1885 a covered market was built there, demolished in the 1950s. Today, the four-story buildings are occupied by hotels, shops and cafes and the square is no longer a market.

One of the interesting features is the bronze equestrian statue of D. João I erected in 1971, by Leopoldo de Almeida.

The square is served by the Rossio metro station on the Green Line, as well as several public bus and tram lines.

Martim Moniz Square is the starting point of the famous tram 28, a tram line that runs through the oldest part of Lisbon. Although it is a regular transport line, tourists are often the longest in line to board.

This square is something of a mini Chinatown, looking up to Saint George castle, and is the gate for Mouraria, the city's most multiethnic and multicultural neighborhood.

The theater was built in the nineteenth century, comes to us with all the strength of the past when the culture was only accessible to the elites. Today, the theater is open to all.

In the main hall, Vihls' giant portraits of great actresses have been printed on the walls, there are guided tours, a bookstore and a friendly lounge with café / restaurant.

The Rossio Train Station is the primary train station in Lisbon. This railway station is important for visitors, as it connects Lisbon to the popular town of Sintra and passes the two stations that serve the Palácio Nacional de Queluz.

The Rossio Train Station is not only an important station, but also a magnificent building, and a tourist attraction in its own right. The wonderfully ornate exterior of Rossio train station was inspired by classical 16th-century Portuguese Manueline architecture, and passengers enter via two horseshoe-shaped archways, while turrets and pinacols line the roof.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Health is located in the Mouraria neighborhood.

Built in 1505 by initiative of the artillerymen of the Lisbon garrison, it was dedicated to St. Sebastian, its patron and protector of evils such as war, famine and especially the plague, which had raged in the city and caused hundreds of victims.

In 1569, it was dedicated to Our Lady of Health and in 1662 welcomed her image, and became known by that name. It underwent works after being damaged by the earthquake of 1755. However, the portal attributed to João Antunes dates from the beginning of the 18th century.

Every year, on the first Sunday of May, the procession of thanksgiving for the protection of the Virgin takes place, a tradition that has been repeated since the 16th century.

Largo de São Domingos is a square popular among Lisbon’s natives and african community that daily gathers here. A monument mural, inaugurated in 2008, reads “Lisbon, City of Tolerance” in 34 languages recalling the terrible episode of 1506 and paying tribute to the Jewish victims.

The square has several stores and cafés, and is home of the famous cherry brandy shop A Ginjinha.

The Lisbon Massacre, also known as 1506 Easter Slaughter, began on a Sunday Mass in April when believers were praying for the end of the drought, hunger and plague that ravaged Portugal at the time. One believer claimed to have had a vision of Christ, a miracle as interpreted by other Catholics. When a New Christian tried to explain the “miracle” as light reflection, the crowd wouldn’t want to listen. The New Christian was beaten to death. Thereafter, all Jews in the city were accused of heresy.

It was also here that, some years later, those condemned by the Portuguese Inquisition were left waiting to be burned alive at Rossio.

A monument mural, inaugurated in 2008, reads “Lisbon, City of Tolerance” in 34 languages recalling the terrible episode of 1506 and paying tribute to the Jewish victims.