Postcards from... Booklet 2022

Formerly an 18th Century mansion, Solar do Castelo, was built on the site of the former Alcacova Palace kitchens within the walls of the Castle of St. George, and there is still some evidence of its Medieval past. For this reason it is still sometimes known as the "Kitchen Mansion". Graca Viterbo, one of Portugal's leading interior decorators has overseen the restoration and the result is a stylish and comfortable boutique hotel with an impressive architectural design. There are just 14 comfortable bedrooms and a pleasant courtyard garden. Situated just off Avenida da Liberdade, a short walk from the Avenida Metro station and Gloria funicular and tram connections, family run Hotel Lisboa Plaza is a charming boutique hotel and a member of Heritage Lisbon Hotels; promoting small and intimate family residences and historic buildings.The comfortable and classically elegant décor and furnishings create a welcoming and home from home ambiance with bright and cheerful guest rooms decorated in warm colours and featuring the latest in-room amenities. There's no doubt that Bairro Alto is one of Lisbon's most luxurious hotels. Named after the lively and fashionable Barrio Alto district in the heart of downtown, the boutique hotel is overlooks Luis de Camões - Lisbon's main square - in a restored 19th century building resplendent in primrose yellow, with wrought iron balconies and stunning views of the River Tagus. The hotel's décor is a juxtaposition of glamorous urban style with traditional architecture and furnishings from Portugal. Behind a discreet door on Avenue da Liberdade, Valverde is a hidden gem in one of the most exclusive areas of Lisbon that evokes the air of a stately town house with its perfectly polished design. The deep colours that shade the walls contrast with the bright tones of the fabrics and cushions. A clever mix of retro details and antiques, vintage furniture and art prints extends from the entrance to the rooms. With high ceilings and exposed plumbing, the quasi-industrial ambience of the restaurant, O Sítio, belies the intimate dining experience. Enjoy an exquisite Portuguese cuisine to which chef Carla Sousa adds a delightful Cape Verdean touch. BehindadiscreetdooronAvenuedaLiberdade,Valverde isahiddengem inone of themost exclusive areasof Lisbon that evokes the airof a stately townhouse with itsperfectlypolisheddesign.Thedeepcolours that shade thewallscontrast with thebright tonesof the fabricsandcushions.Aclevermixof retrodetailsand antiques,vintage furnitureandartprintsextends from theentrance to the rooms. Withhigh ceilings and exposedplumbing, thequasi-industrial ambienceof the restaurant, O Sítio, belies the intimate dining experience. Enjoy an exquisite Portuguesecuisine towhichchefCarlaSousaaddsadelightfulCapeVerdean touch. AvenuedeLiberdade,PrincipeReal HiddenGem ValverdeHotel (Relais & Chateaux) The OnePalácio daAnunciada RuadasPortasdeSantoAntão,nearAlfama Palacewithamodern twist The city’s newest 5-star luxury hotel is a tour de force blending the history of theoriginal16th-centuryoriginalbuildingwithanelegant,contemporary interior design that will offer guests an unforgetable experience. The project was developedbyaward-winningdesigner JaimeBeriestain,whosought theperfect balance between the structure’s tradition of the original Palácio daAnunciada and thecontrast in thedesignandcomfortofeachof its spaces.TheOnePalácio daAnunciadaoffersguests, in addition to its elegant83 rooms andwell-cared for interior spaces, 2500m 2 of gardens, aswell as elegant dining areas in the noble roomsof theoriginalpalace. Custard tartsand rhinospotting inBelém Lisbon’shistotical sites span centuriesofPortugal’sascendancy and subsequent fallas theworld’s leadingmaritimepower. Somemonuments like the rooflessConventodeCarmeloalso bear testament to thedestructionof theearthquakeof1755, whichflattened the city.Perhapsoneof the city’smost iconic places is theTorredeBelémwhichwasbuilt toguard the river entrance intoLisbonharbour.The intricate towerhas stoneworkmotifs recalling theDiscoveries,among them twisted ropeand theCatholicCrossesofChrist,aswellas Lisbon'spatron saintStVincentanda rhinoceros.Whilst in the area itwouldbe churlishnot tovisit the templeof tarts,and savour the city’s favoritedelicacy, custard tart (pasteisdenata), atThePastéisdeBelémbakery. Worldclassgastronomy starts in themarket Rapidlybecomingaphenomenon inkey citiesallover the world,Lisbonwas thefirst city to featureaTimeOutMarket opening in2014.Located ina significant sectionof the historicMercadodaRibeira, the city’s famousmarketnow shares itshallswith26 restaurants,8bars,adozen shops andahigh-endmusicvenue. Tobeeligible to tradeyour culinarydelightsmeansgaining recognition fromapanelof food criticsensuring that thehallonly features theverybest! TheLisbonCard Make sureyou invest inTheLisbonCard.Thisamazing21euro contactlessdailypass (44euro for72hours) really isyourbest friendas itgivesunlimitedaccess toLisbon'spublic transport system including travel toSintraandCascais,entry to39museums,attractions& UNESCO-listed sitesandyou canevenSkip-the-lineat severalDGPCMuseums. Itevengives youdiscountsatparticipating shops.Tram rideswillbe irresistibleespecially theNo.28 whichpassesa large selectionof the city’smost famous landmarks. Valverde Hotel (Relais & Chateaux) Solar do Castelo Hotel Lisboa Plaza There'snodoubt thatBairroAlto isoneofLisbon'smost luxurioushotels.Named after the livelyand fashionableBarrioAltodistrict in theheartofdowntown, the boutiquehotel isoverlooksLuisdeCamões-Lisbon'smainsquare- ina restored 19th century building resplendent in primrose yellow, with wrought iron balconies and stunning views of the River Tagus. The hotel's décor is a juxtaposition of glamorous urban style with traditional architecture and furnishings fromPortugal. ThePickofLisbonHotels Highly recommended5-star luxuryhotelswithverydifferentappeal inprime locations LuisdeCamõesSquare,BairroAlto GlamBoutique Built in the 19th century for a noble Portuguese family, this is Lisbon’smost luxurious and sumptuously furnished hotel. Located in the diplomatic quarter, Lapa,between theBairroAlto andBelemdistricts, thepalace is set inbeautiful landscapedgardenswhich slopepast the largeoutdoorheated swimmingpool, towards theRiverTagusbelow. Thegastronomic ‘Lapa’restaurant serves classic PortugueseandMediterraneandishes inelegantsurroundings,while‘LePavillon’ serves lightdishesby thepool insummerand the‘Tejo’bar terrace isawonderful place to relaxwithadrinkoverlooking the river. Olissippo LapaPalace BairroAltoHotel Tagus To Do’s Whenyou read theseessential facts you reallyhavenosensible reason not toputavisit toLisbononyour citybreakbucket list -unlessyou wantegg (wellcustard)onyour face! BairrodeLapa Fit foranAmbassadour Belem, thecity’sculturalheartandmuseumdistrict.Theelegant residentialneighbourhoodBairrodaLapa ishome to foreign embassies,expensive townhousesandPortugal’s largestmuseum, theNationalMuseumofAncientArt.ThecentraldistrictofBaixa is the traditionalshoppingcentre,whilstBairroAlto is famed for its nightlife. In theeveninghead toabaror restaurantwhere traditional fado isperformed;amusicgenre recognisedby UNESCOandanessentialpartofLisbon’sheritage. Within20and40minutesof thecitycentre,and incorporated into thepublic transport system lie the townsofCascaisandSintra respectively.Historically,Cascaiswas the summer retreatof the Portuguesenobility,and today the town isanelegant fusionof its illustriousheritageand theexpectationsof themodernvisitor.The beachesclose to townaregloriousbutventurenorthwardsand theybecomemore ruggedas thewild terrainof theSerrade Sintra takeshold. Incontrast the townofSintradeepwithin the pinecladhillsof theSerradeSintrahasalwaysbeenapopularand coolingescape from the summerheatwithplentyof interesting buildings includingwhimsicalpalaces,extravagantvillasand the ruinsofa10th-centuryMoorishcastle. With somuchgoing for thiswonderfulcityat thewesternedge of the IberianPeninsula,andwith somanymoreflights becomingavailable fromallacross theUKonemightbe foolish not tovisitnowbeforeLisbonbecomes toonoticeable -Youhave beenwarned! RaduBercan /Shutterstock.com S omecitieshavemanaged to remainbelow the radarwithLisbonbeinga superbexample. Here isahistoriccapitalcitywithadeep sense ofnational identitypepperedwithcolourful low-risebuildingswithbright terracotta tiled roofs thatcascadeoff itsmanyhills towards theAtlantic Oceanemphasising thecountry’socean-faringpast. With itsback to the restof thecontinentget ready fora quaintyetcosmopolitancitybreak thatpromisesa warmMediterranean styleclimate fromearly spring to lateautumnandmildwinters thanks to theGulfStream, aburgeoning restaurantandbarculture,and is just minutes from someofEurope’sbestbeaches. Thecityhasverydistinctneighbourhoods.Themedievalquarter Alfama, isa labyrinthofnarrowcobbled streetsand steepcrooked alleywaysand theplace toeat in localcafés,wanderamongst the antiqueandbric-a-bracemporiaand loseyourself in the twice-weekly fleamarket.ParquedasNacoes is the regenerated industrialzonenow home to the strikingVascodaGamabridgeand thecity’s impressive aquarium,OceanariodeLisboa.TheTowerofBelem, Jeronimos Monastery, thePlanetariumand theunmissableAjudaPalace lies in Bairro Alto Hotel