THE BAIXA

Wines of Portugal Tasting Room in Lisbon, more commonly known as Sala Ogival, is located on the western side of Praça do Comércio. In tasting rooms, from Tuesday to Saturday, you can have wine tastings from different Portuguese wine regions. They're open for single visitors or groups.

In addition to the regular daily wine tasting, Wines of Portugal Tasting Rooms also offer a programme of wine-related events such as the launch of new wines and producers, demonstrations, workshops, themed events, amongst others. Admission is free but for tastings, you need to purchase an Enocard for the price of €2.00, which will give access to tasting two to four wines from a selection of 12 wines from different regions of the country. The Enocard may be recharged whenever you want to taste more wines or whenever you return to the Tasting Room.

711, 794, 714, 732, 735, 736, 728, 759, 760, 781, 782, 794 | 15E, 25E
Tuesday - Saturday: 11h00 - 19h00, Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Praça do Comércio, 1100 - 148 Lisboa, Portugal. | 38º 42' 28.7" N | 09º 08' 8.6" W
+351 213 420 690 | sala.ogival@viniportugal.pt |  Website

West of the Praça do Comércio along the Rua do Arsenal, lies the Praça do Municipio, seat of Lisbon's Municipal power. As with the Praça do Comércio, it was rebuilt after the great earthquake it was rebuilt and designed by Eugene Carvalho dos Santos. The surrounding Neo-Classical buildings contain regional administration offices such as the Appeals Court and Navy Arsenal stand. The most imposing building here is the City Hall, constructed between 1865 and 1880 and designed by architect Domingues Parente da Silva. Its triangular tympanum is emblazoned with the city's coat of arms. The Portuguese Republic was established here in 1910.

A free guided tour is available on Sunday mornings, the interior contains many works of art, including a painting of the Marquês de Pombal during the reconstruction period of Lisbon. The city's Pelourinho or pillory is found here, a grim relic of public corporate punishment. Erected in the 18th century consisting of three twisted fluted columns topped by a brass globe.

711, 794, 714, 732, 735, 736, 728, 759, 760, 781, 782, 794 | 15E, 25E, 28E
Praça do Município, Lisboa, Portugal. | 38° 42' 28.97" N | 09° 08' 21.1" W

For those interested in the history of Lisbon, there's a web of tunnels that runs under the Baixa. They occupy almost an entire block containing a Roman spa dating from the 1st century AD. Entrance is free, via a branch of a Millennium BCP found in the Rua dos Correeiros which runs parallel to the Rua Augusta. Free guided tours take place every day (except Sundays and public holidays) and has already welcomed more than 110,000 people through the doors.

711, 794, 714, 732, 735, 736 | 12E, 25E
Monday - Saturday: 10h00 - 12h00/15h00 - 17h00, Sunday: CLOSED | FREE
Rua dos Correeiros 21 (NARC entry) 9 (reception desk), 1100-061 Lisbon, Portugal.
38º 42' 35.9" N | 09º 08' 13.5" W
+351 211 131 004 |  Website

Running parallel to the Praça Restauradores starting from behind the national theatre is the pedestrianised Rua das Portas de Santo Antão which has a concentration of restaurants. If you're prepared to run the gauntlet of waiters trying to entice you into their particular establishment, you're guaranteed to find the eatery of your liking.

One of the most striking and famous restaurants is the Casa do Alentejo housed within a curious 17th-century arabesque building. Access is through a small door that transports you off the street straight into another time and space. A former Moorish palace, the interior is spectacular, the azulejo lined dining rooms have open fireplaces and the food is typically Alentejana.

Casa do Alentejo
Daily: 10h00 - 15:00/19:00 - 23:00
Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 58 1150-264 Lisbon, Portugal.
38° 42' 57.3" N | 09° 08' 24.2" W | +351 213 469 231
casadoalentejo@mail.telepac.pt | Website

Often likened to the Champs-Elysees in Paris the Avenida da Liberdade is a 90 metre wide boulevard which runs for a mile from the Praça dos Restauradores north to the Praça do Marquês de Pombal. Its origins lie over an 18th-century park called Passeio Público. Its greenery is preserved in the central esplanade. Here you'll find an epitaph in honour of the 50,000 Portuguese who fell in World War I, designed in 1931 by Rebelo de Andrade and Maximiano Alves. The few remaining mansions lining the boulevard have been well preserved and house some of Lisbon's most prestigious hotels and luxury shops.

At the South end of Avenida da Liberdade, you'll find the Praça dos Restauradores which commemorates the restoration of the Portuguese monarchy after 60 years of Spanish rule in 1640. The obelisk in the centre is attributed to this act. It displays the names and dates of the battles fought during the Portuguese Restoration War. Here too you'll find the Palácio Foz, a neo-classical palace designed by Francisco Xavier Fabri and built following the 1755 earthquake. Originally built for the Marquês de Castelo Melhor, it now houses one of Lisbon's tourist offices and an art gallery.