Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is found on the Western Iberian Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean.  It is the eleventh most populated urban area in the European Union with about 3 million people living in the metropolis area. Being one of the oldest cities in the world it has an affluent past filled with historical significance. Brimming with museums and beautiful architecture, Lisbon is truly a magnificent place of grandeur.

Some of the elegant architectural styles one can find while walking the streets of Lisbon include: Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Modern and Postmodern. There is also the remarkable Belem Tower, the most photographed landmark in the city. It seems that almost anywhere you look you can find an extravagant palace or an old exquisitely constructed church. All of this classic architecture mixed in with contemporary styles makes Lisbon out to be a perfect hybrid of old and new.

Every year Lisbon is also home to many festivals that celebrate art and culture. The Lisbon International Documentary Film Festival, The Festival of the Oceans and the Art Lisboa- Contemporary Art Fair are just a few of the festivities that happen along Lisbons cobbled roads. One of the largest pop rock festivals,the Rock in Rio Lisboa, has also happened in the city. While in the city one can also enjoy Fado, a type of urban folk music that sings about love, desire and the ups and downs of life. Fado is strong in emotion and equally as strong in performance with such an engagement to the crowd that many people say the music has moved them to tears. To fully understand the experience that entails with Fado one can visit the Cafe Luso, which was established in 1927 and is now one of the oldest Fado houses in the city.

Made up of different barrios or neighborhoods, the communities of Lisbon have no definitive boundaries but rather have distinct districts that are common in culture and living standards with each other. Bairro Alto is an area that is known for its fine shopping and entertainment and is also the hub of Portugal nightlife. Parque das Nações is a quaint residential area of the city and also the newest district to be established in Lisbon. Chiado mixes old with new as a popular shopping area filled with museums as well as theaters.

A perfect blend of classic and modern, Lisbon is a place for those wanting to learn about the past along with celebrating the present. Visually stunning with architectural gems and inspirational sights of the sea, even just walking the city is an outstanding experience in itself. Thriving with arts and culture a visit to Lisbon would definitely be a remarkable journey for anyone to partake on.