Hi, my name is Niels, I am living in Lisbon since 2015, I work here as a German teacher. I am very interested in history, culture, art and politics and I am always eager to learn more about this wonderful city. Are you, too? 😉
First of all: If only one of 5 places on my tour is still free, but there are two or three of you:
No problem, just book the last spot and come to the meeting point in twos or threes!
(I am also available for larger groups on special request!)
But now to the description ;-)
Are you looking for orientation, information and fun?
Then let me take you on my all-round tour around the Baixa!
Together we will go on an inner city safari that is a real treat, including a wonderful viewpoint and a well-deserved break!
The meeting point and end point is the boat terminal at Praça do Comércio (Terminal Terreiro do Paço), where you will also find toilets.
At each stop on the tour you will learn a Portuguese word, so you will also get closer to the city linguistically!
Where are we going? What is it about?
0. Meeting point (and end point): Terminal Terreiro do Paço: Practical information & introduction
1. Commercial Square: Equestrian statue of Joseph I: The earthquake, the tsunami & the headstrong King Joseph I.
2. Commercial Square: Site of the 1908 Regent Murder: A Bouquet of Flowers in the Fight Against Lead Bullets & The Germans and Portugal
3. Corner of Rua da Vitória/ Rua Áurea: Tips for Chiado/ Viewpoints Bairro Alto
4. Hotel Avendida: Spies, secret doors, imperial honeymoons & the German ambassador makes Portugal a republic (without wanting it and without realizing it)
5. Dominican Church: The massacre of the Jews and the centuries-long struggle of the
Portuguese Jews fight for UN visibility… It’s a matter of life and death!
6. Manteigaria Silva: Black pork, bacalhau & the most popular snack on Portuguese beaches: it's German and comes from Berlin! (And: Why does the woman at the supermarket checkout always want to know my tax number?!)
7. Headquarters of the CDS party (Largo Adelino Amaro da Costa): A mattress in a bunk bed for €200/month? Or would you prefer a 4-room apartment in an old building in the center for €50/month? Welcome to Lisbon!
8. Break at the viewpoint “Chão do Loureiro”
9. Rua da Saudade: Fado then and now/ Madonna and Portugal/ Dancing, singing and getting married with the blessing of the city’s patron saint
10. The Roman Amphitheatre: Dinosaurs & the Portuguese Asterix. And why did the people of Cologne like to eat Portuguese canned fish in Roman times?
11. Aljube Prison Museum: The prudish dictator: kissing forbidden, God save us from Coca-Cola and why Portugal bombed Angolan villages with napalm in the 1970s
12. Cathedral: The world has been at home in Portugal since the 16th century. An African village in Lisbon and rice cultivation by Africans? Portugal and its ex-colonies today
13. Largo José Saramargo: Portugal today: Is slavery "too shocking" to talk about? Why is Portugal so poor? What does Portugal have to offer that is NOT touristy?
I look forward to you!
I will be standing in front of the historic white boat terminal building with a red umbrella, under the canopy of the building, outside the building
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
