Alfama
Alfama | |
---|---|
Neighborhood of Lisbon | |
Municipality | Lisbon |
Freguesia | Santa Maria Maior São Vicente |
Foundation | 1200 BCE |
The Alfama (Portuguese pronunciation: [alˈfɐmɐ]) is the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus river. Its name comes from the Arabic al-ḥamma (الحَمّة), meaning "hot fountains" or "baths," akin to "hammam" (حَمَّام).[1] The district includes the freguesias (parishes) of São Miguel, Santo Estêvão, São Vicente de Fora and part of the two streets, "Freguesia da Sé: Rua do Barão" and "Rua São João da Praça". It contains many important historical attractions, as well as an abundance of Fado bars and restaurants.
History
The Rua do Barão is one of the streets of the Freguesia da Sé, which begins at the Rua São João da Praça (where once stood the Door of the Alfama) and ends at Rua Augusto Rosa (at the Cathedral's walls). The toponym "Rua do Barão" is because João Fernandes da Silveira, the first Baron of Alvito, minister of Portuguese kings Dom Afonso V and Dom João II, lived here.[2]
During the times of Moorish rule, Alfama constituted the whole of the city, which later spread to the West (Baixa neighbourhood). Alfama became inhabited by the fishermen and the poor, and its condition as the neighbourhood of the poor continues to this day.[citation needed]
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not destroy the Alfama, which has remained a labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares. Lately the neighbourhood has been restored with the renovation of the old houses and new restaurants where Fado Portuguese typical is sometimes played.
Overlooking the Alfama is the medieval Castle of São Jorge, royal residence until the early 16th century with views of the city. In the slopes of Alfama there are other terraces (miradouros) from which to see the city, like the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, near the church of the same name and over remnants of the Moorish city walls, and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun). Near Miradouro of Santa Luzia is located the Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas), a 17th-century mansion.
From 2012, Alfama is part of the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.[3]
Landmarks
Among the churches of the Alfama are Lisbon Cathedral (12th–14th centuries), the oldest of the city and located to the West of the neighbourhood, the Convent of the Grace (Convento da Graça, 18th century), near the Castle, the mannerist Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (late 16th–18th century), where the Kings of the House of Braganza are buried, and the baroque Church of Santa Engrácia (17th century), now converted into a National Pantheon for important Portuguese personalities.
References
- v
- t
- e
- Águas Livres Aqueduct
- Ascensor da Bica
- Ascensor da Glória
- Belém Tower
- Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
- British Cemetery
- Café A Brasileira
- Campo Pequeno Bullring
- Casa dos Bicos
- Casa Fernando Pessoa
- Cordoaria Nacional
- Gare do Oriente
- Lisbon Astronomical Observatory
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Lisbon Zoo
- Mercado de Campo de Ourique
- Pillory of Lisbon
- Prazeres Cemetery
- Rossio Train Station
- Rua Augusta Arch
- Santa Justa Lift
- São Jorge Castle
- Torre do Tombo National Archive
- Vasco da Gama Tower
- Vasco da Gama Bridge
- 25 de Abril Bridge
- Berardo - Art Deco Museum
- Berardo Collection Museum
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
- Carmo Convent Archaeological Museum
- Carris Museum
- Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves
- Cordoaria Nacional
- Electricity Museum
- Ephemeral Museum
- José Saramago Foundation
- Macau Science and Culture Centre
- Museu da Água
- Museu Benfica
- Museu da Marioneta
- Museu Nacional da Música
- Museu das Comunicações
- Museu de Arte Popular
- Museum of Lisbon
- Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
- Museum of the Orient
- Museum of the Resistance and Liberty
- National Museum of Archaeology
- National Museum of the Azulejo
- National Coach Museum
- National Museum of Ancient Art
- National Museum of Contemporary Art
- National Museum of Clothing
- National Museum of Ethnology
- National Museum of Natural History & Science
- National Theatre and Dance Museum
- Naval Museum
- Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro Museum
- Ajuda National Palace
- Belém Palace
- Bemposta Palace
- Burnay Palace
- Galveias Palace
- Monteiro-Mor Palace
- Necessidades Palace
- Palace of the Counts of Azambuja
- Palace of the Counts of Redondo
- Palace of the Dukes of Palmela
- Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira
- Palacete Mayer
- Palacio Belmonte
- Panaca Palace
- Penafiel Palace
- Pestana Palace
- Pimenta Palace
- Quinta dos Lagares d'El-Rei
- São Bento Mansion
- São Bento Palace
- Sotto Mayor Palace
- Verride Palace
- Conceição Velha Church
- Estrela Basilica
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Igreja dos Anjos
- Igreja da Madalena
- Igreja da Memória
- Igreja do Menino Deus
- National Pantheon
- Santo António Church
- São Domingos Church
- São Roque Church
- Santa Luzia Church
- Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide Convent
- Santo Estêvão Church
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Lisbon Synagogue
- Madre de Deus Convent
- Mártires Basilica
- Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
- Monastery of the Mónicas
- St. George's Church
and parks
- Avenida da Liberdade
- Afonso de Albuquerque Square
- Bela Vista Park
- Eduardo VII Park
- Estufa Fria
- Gulbenkian Park
- Marquis of Pombal Square
- Monsanto Forest Park
- Praça da Figueira
- Praça de Entrecampos
- Praça de Espanha
- Praça do Comércio
- Praça do Império
- Praça Martim Moniz
- Restauradores Square
- Rossio Square
neighborhoods
- Doclisboa
- Festival da Canção
- Globos de Ouro
- Lisboa Games Week
- Lisbon Book Fair
- Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival
- Lisbon Marathon
- Lisbon Half Marathon
- Lisbon Christmas tree
- LPFP Awards
- Ludopolis
- NOS Alive
- Olhares do Mediterrâneo - Cinema no Feminino
- Portugal Day
- Queer Lisboa International Queer Film Festival
- Sophia Awards
- Super Bock Super Rock
- Web Summit
entertainment
- Associação Gaita-de-fole
- Banda Sinfónica da Guarda Nacional Republicana
- Casino Lisboa
- Cinemateca Portuguesa
- Coliseu dos Recreios
- Cultural Centre of Belém
- Estádio da Luz
- Estádio da Tapadinha
- Estádio do Restelo
- Estádio José Alvalade
- Gulbenkian Orchestra
- Hot Club of Portugal
- Lisbon University Stadium
- MEO Arena
- National Ballet of Portugal
- Royal Patriarchal Music Seminary of Lisbon
38°42′44″N 9°07′48″W / 38.71222°N 9.13000°W / 38.71222; -9.13000