33 Facts About Lisbon

1.

Lisbon is recognised as an alpha-level global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, fashion, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism.

FactSnippet No. 820,828
2.

Lisbon is one of two Portuguese cities to be recognised as a global city.

FactSnippet No. 820,829
3.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the second-oldest European capital city, predating other modern European capitals by centuries.

FactSnippet No. 820,830
4.

Lisbon's name was written Ulyssippo in Latin by the geographer Pomponius Mela, a native of Hispania.

FactSnippet No. 820,831
5.

Archaeological excavations made near the Castle of Sao Jorge and Lisbon Cathedral indicate a Phoenician presence at this location since 1200 BC, and it can be stated with confidence that a Phoenician trading post stood on a site now the centre of the present city, on the southern slope of Castle hill.

FactSnippet No. 820,832
6.

In 1108 Lisbon was raided and occupied by Norwegian crusaders led by Sigurd I on their way to the Holy Land as part of the Norwegian Crusade and occupied by crusader forces for three years.

FactSnippet No. 820,833
7.

The reconquest of Portugal and re-establishment of Christianity is one of the most significant events in Lisbon's history, described in the chronicle Expugnatione Lyxbonensi, which describes, among other incidents, how the local bishop was killed by the crusaders and the city's residents prayed to the Virgin Mary as it happened.

FactSnippet No. 820,834
8.

In 1589 Lisbon was the target of an incursion by the English Armada led by Francis Drake, while Queen Elizabeth supported a Portuguese pretender in Antonio, Prior of Crato, but support for Crato was lacking and the expedition was a failure.

FactSnippet No. 820,835
9.

Lisbon was the site of the regicide of Carlos I of Portugal in 1908, an event which culminated two years later in the establishment of the First Republic.

FactSnippet No. 820,836
10.

City refounded its university in 1911 after centuries of inactivity in Lisbon, incorporating reformed former colleges and other non-university higher education schools of the city .

FactSnippet No. 820,837
11.

Lisbon was the site of three revolutions in the 20th century.

FactSnippet No. 820,838
12.

Lisbon Agenda was a European Union agreement on measures to revitalise the EU economy, signed in Lisbon in March 2000.

FactSnippet No. 820,839
13.

In October 2007 Lisbon hosted the 2007 EU Summit, where an agreement was reached regarding a new EU governance model.

FactSnippet No. 820,840
14.

The resulting Treaty of Lisbon was signed on 13 December 2007 and came into force on 1 December 2009.

FactSnippet No. 820,841
15.

Lisbon has been the site for many international events and programmes.

FactSnippet No. 820,842
16.

On 7 July 2007, Lisbon held the ceremony of the "New 7 Wonders Of The World" election, in the Luz Stadium, with live transmission for millions of people all over the world.

FactSnippet No. 820,843
17.

Lisbon hosted the NATO summit, a summit meeting that is regarded as a periodic opportunity for Heads of State and Heads of Government of NATO member states to evaluate and provide strategic direction for Alliance activities.

FactSnippet No. 820,844
18.

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters and warm to hot, dry summers.

FactSnippet No. 820,845
19.

Parque das Nacoes is the newest district in Lisbon; it emerged from an urban renewal program to host the 1998 World Exhibition of Lisbon, known as Expo'98.

FactSnippet No. 820,846
20.

City of Lisbon is rich in architecture; Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Modern and Postmodern constructions can be found all over Lisbon.

FactSnippet No. 820,847
21.

Lisbon is home to numerous prominent museums and art collections, from all around the world.

FactSnippet No. 820,848
22.

Lisbon has two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery.

FactSnippet No. 820,849
23.

Furthermore, in 1994, Lisbon was the European Capital of Culture and, in 1998, organised the Expo '98 .

FactSnippet No. 820,850
24.

Lisbon is home to the Lisbon Architecture Triennial, the Moda Lisboa, ExperimentaDesign – Biennial of Design and LuzBoa – Biennial of Light.

FactSnippet No. 820,851
25.

Lisbon has the largest and most developed mass media sector of Portugal and is home to several related companies ranging from leading television networks and radio stations to major newspapers.

FactSnippet No. 820,852
26.

Lisbon was the 7th most "livable city" in the world in 2021 according to lifestyle magazine Monocle.

FactSnippet No. 820,853
27.

Lisbon Metro connects the city centre with the upper and eastern districts, and reaches some suburbs that are part of the Lisbon metropolitan area, such as Amadora and Loures.

FactSnippet No. 820,854
28.

Lisbon is connected to its suburbs and throughout Portugal by an extensive motorway network.

FactSnippet No. 820,855
29.

So, Lisbon would have two airports, the current airport in the north and a new one in the south of the city.

FactSnippet No. 820,856
30.

The New University of Lisbon, founded in 1973, is another public university in Lisbon and is known internationally by its Nova School of Business and Economics, its economics and management faculty.

FactSnippet No. 820,857
31.

Lisbon is home to Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, the Portuguese national library, which has over 3 million books and manuscripts.

FactSnippet No. 820,858
32.

From 12 October 1982, Lisbon is part of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities.

FactSnippet No. 820,859
33.

From 28 June 1985, Lisbon is part of the Union of Capital Cities of Portuguese Language, alongside with 22 other cities from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and Sao Tome and Principe.

FactSnippet No. 820,860