Lisbon location and orientation enables one to understand the geographical position of the capital of Portugal and its city planning. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal since 1147 after the Moors conquered the country. Lisbon is also referred to as the "town of seven hills". The ideal location of Lisbon by the side of Atlantic Ocean makes it a land enjoying moderate climate throughout the year.
Lisbon Location
Lisbon coordinates at 9ºW longitude and 39º N latitude in the southwest part of Portugal. The city is situated on the Atlantic coast and lies approximately 400 km to Spain in the north and 300 km to Algarve in the South. Lisbon or the town of seven hills is basically the steep slope on the north bank of the Tagus estuary spanning over an area of 84 km. The urban region of the city that spreads over an area of 1000 sq. km is known as the Greater Lisbon. Setubal and Santarem are the two major Portuguese provincial capitals located near Lisbon.
Lisbon City Orientation
After the massive destruction of 1755 Lisbon earthquake, much of the city planning and its layout had been changed, as almost the entire city of Lisbon was rebuilt. Lisbon city planning is very unique and is a combination of old and new setups. Tunnels and underground
pathways run across the entire city. Some parts of the city still feature narrow roads depicting the Moorish medieval forms. The city of
Lisbon is distributed into spacious squares accommodating
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several huge buildings. Most of the buildings situated in the older sections of the city are almost symmetrical in terms of style and size. The buildings situated at the main city reflect Medieval African Moorish, Roman as well as modern styles and patterns of architecture.
The city of Lisbon is comprised of four main areas including Baixa, Bairro Alto, Alfama and Liberdade. Baixa is characterized by a large pedestrian boulevard and is home to the prominent statue of Pombal. This boulevard connects other parts of the city to the downtown area. The Baixa region is one of the greatest instances of neo classical design and urban planning in Portugal. Bairro Alto is the upper section of the city, which established during the 17th Century. It features steep streets, tram lines and numerous night clubs and restaurants. The Alfama quarter was established during the medieval era. The roads are narrow and meandering. The architecture of this region is a unique combination of Moorish and Roman style. Liberdade is the modern part of Lisbon. This area is marked for its massive tree-lined avenues with buildings that have rich and modern architecture. Expo is the vicinity of the industrial riverfront. Presently, the area is updated with several parks and housing. There is a large bridge that connects the either sides of the river.
53 administrative units make up the municipalities of the Greater Lisbon. The Lisbon riverside is affluent with cafés, restaurants, bars and discos. Understanding Lisbon location and orientation is very easy because of its well planned placement and architecture. The city attractions are positioned at prime locations of the city, which can be easily accessed through the well-connected efficient city transportation.
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