Bring Lisbon’s history to life through its stories! This fun history ‘primer’ takes you to key spots in the historic city centre to give you entertaining anecdotes and fun stories that will deepen your experience and understanding of Lisbon. Not just a bunch of dates and the usual unconnected sights, but the stories and scandals, loves and tragedies that personalise the city and make history come alive!

Highlights of this fun and accessible tour include: the prison that one-eyed national poet Luis Camões escaped to join the overseas ‘Discoveries’ (1553); stories from the Inquisition’s execution site; Medieval Lisbon - rampant squalor, pogroms and deadly road-rage in the world’s first one-way street; Spanish domination and Portuguese independence (1640); Unlimited gold & diamonds from Brazil squandered on the king’s follies - economic disaster, famine and riots (1700); Earthquake devastation (1755) - survivors’ stories, who was blamed, and what was lost; The five alternative plans for rebuilding Lisbon; The Marques de Pombal - dominated the king, rebuilt Lisbon, killed his opponents in public!); The first queen of Portugal - and the world’s first restraining order; The royal family’s desperate departure as Napoleon’s troops enter Lisbon (1807); The return of royalty, civil war (and a nun’s illicit love letters); who else died at the site of king’s bloody assassination (1908); Republican revolution, more assassinations and political chaos (1926); Dictatorship, disappearances and the deadly deckchair; World War II spies, desperate refugees (and James Bond 007!); Tanks in Praca do Comercio as the 1974 revolution almost fails!  

        Tours start at 10:00 & 14:30. 3.5 hours. 4km (2.5miles). €40/per person. (Min booking 2 people).

  To ensure a relaxed and personal experience, groups will be kept between 2 and ~6 people (If you are a group of more than 6 people let's chat and make arrangements).

  Central meeting point: Rossio Square (Praça de D. Pedro IV), at the south end, in the shade of the Arco do Bandeira arch (see pic below).      

    Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aUMpdzpu3SigFLdm9.   

                We are easy to find – just look for the Rainbow Umbrella!

This tour covers the historic centre of the city (Baixa, Alfama and Praca do Comercio), avoids too many hills and will include one or two short comfort breaks for coffee and/or ‘Ginjinha’ liquor.

  Please bear in mind the weather and wear comfortable shoes for the cobblestoned streets.

• If you are booking for the next day or two - please send a text/SMS or call: (Portugal) +351 910 826 218, or (UK) +44 07803 570 232, or email: AlexLisbonTours@gmail.com

• Weather - I will alter tours to accommodate the weather when necessary, but tours will always go ahead.

    I first came to Lisbon over thirty years ago, fell in love with the city and love to share Lisbon with you.  I have a Masters degree in cultural history but like to keep it entertaining - showing you the fun details, moving anecdotes and quirky surprises that make history engaging, personal and memorable!