City, seaport (one of the most beautiful in the world) and capital of Portugal, Lisbon is the westernmost metropolis in continental Europe. From its symbiotic relationship with the Tagus River and the Sun, came the nickname of White City or City of Light.
Its name is a modification of the old name Olisipo (Ulyssipo), and its foundation has already been attributed to the hero of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus (Odysseus); to Elisha, supposed grandson of Abraham; and, more recently, to Phoenician settlers – the most credible hypothesis. Despite its occupation dating back to 1200 BC, it was in the 15th and 16th centuries that Lisbon flourished as the center of a vast world empire, during the golden period of the Portuguese discoveries.
At this time of intense maritime exploration, Portugal accumulated power and fortune through the colonization of Asia, South America, Africa and the Atlantic islands. The city’s wealth is now reflected in magnificent buildings from the time, such as the Jerónimos Monastery and its neighbouring Belém Tower, both classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1983.