Alfama, Medieval district in Lisbon, Portugal.
The steep streets of Alfama form a complex network of narrow pathways connecting white houses with terracotta roofs down to the Tagus River.
The district survived the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of Lisbon, maintaining its original medieval street layout and architectural elements from that period.
The neighborhood contains several important religious buildings, including the Lisbon Cathedral, the Church of Santo António, and the National Pantheon.
Visitors can reach the upper sections of Alfama by taking tram 28, which travels through the narrowest streets of the neighborhood.
The district features multiple water fountains, including the d'elRei Fountain, which served as the first public water source in Lisbon.
Location: Santa Maria Maior
Address: Alfama, 1100 Lisbon, Portugal 1100 Lisbon
GPS coordinates: 38.71177,-9.12838
Latest update: June 16, 2025 08:28
The historic districts display local architecture from medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect markets, cafes and old houses. The quarters preserve elements from their time of origin, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.
Lisbon connects Moorish fortifications with structures from the Age of Discoveries and contemporary architecture. The city evolved from its medieval hilltop castle through the 16th-century Manueline monasteries to modern cultural buildings along the Tagus waterfront. This route passes through neighborhoods and periods that document Lisbon's architectural development. In Belém, the Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery represent the Manueline style, which combines maritime motifs with Gothic and Renaissance elements. The Castle of São Jorge stands above Alfama, the city's oldest district with narrow streets and viewpoints such as the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. In the city center, Rossio Square marks the start of Baixa, the district rebuilt systematically after the 1755 earthquake. The collection also includes religious buildings such as the Basilica da Estrela and the Church of São Roque with its gilded chapels, the Pantheon of Santa Engrácia with its dome, and the ruins of the Convento do Carmo. More recent projects like the MAAT Museum and the Oceanário show Lisbon's approach to contemporary architecture. Historic Tram 28 connects many of these sites and runs through Chiado, Bairro Alto and Graça. Outside the city, the National Palace of Sintra and the Moorish Castle complete the picture.
Lisbon Cathedral
453 m
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
160 m
Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa
518 m
Casa dos Bicos
478 m
Cadeia do Aljube
414 m
Igreja da Conceição Velha
597 m
Penafiel Palace
530 m
Ancient Roman theatre (Lisbon)
373 m
Chafariz d'El-Rei
245 m
Igreja da Madalena
599 m
Igreja de São Brás e de Santa Luzia
166 m
Centro de Estudos Judiciários
254 m
Igreja Paroquial de Santiago
212 m
Igreja Paroquial de São João da Praça
308 m
Palácio Azurara
196 m
Lápides das Pedras Negras
589 m
Arco da Porta de São Jorge
559 m
Arco de Jesus (Lisbon)
356 m
Arco do Rosário (Lisbon)
233 m
Museum of Saint Anthony
515 m
Palace of the Chafariz d'El Rei
239 m
Bela-Sombra da Rua do Limoeiro
211 m
Ermida de São Crispim e São Crispiniano
461 m
Edifício da Fábrica Romão
434 m
Palácio Monte Real
487 m
Ermida da Caridade
467 m
Recolhimento das Merceeiras
318 m
Casa das Varandas
463 mReviews
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