Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and has the largest population in the country. Along with a thriving, lively coffee shop culture and university scene, Lisbon has a rich history (dating back to the Phoenicians in 1200 BC), culture, art, business and education. All this makes it a top tourist destination and an ideal place to visit on university trips, where students can experience the sites that attract visitors from both Portugal and abroad. While you’re in the historic city, be sure to visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, Belém Tower, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, and Ponte 25 de Abril.
Lisbon Oceanarium – When it opened in 1998, the Lisbon Oceanarium was the focal point of the 20th century Universal Exposition, whose apt theme was ‘The oceans, a heritage for the future’. College trips to the oceanarium can highlight how the building’s modern design blends it with the theme of the future while creating living space for a plethora of marine life. Visitors will see how the main tank was specially designed with glass walls as a centerpiece that looks out over the entire oceanarium and gives the illusion of an open ocean. There are four tanks around the central tank that house four different habitats, complete with their natural flora and fauna. ‘The Oceanário de Lisboa is located in Parque das Nações, at the southern end of Doca dos Olivais.’
Belem’s tower – While you are near the water, visiting the Lisbon Oceanarium, you should stay and visit the Torre de Belém on the Tagus River at the entrance to the Lisbon port. The Torre de Belém, or Belem Tower, was begun in 1514 and completed in 1522 as part of the city’s defensive plan. College tours can take students inside the structure, which consists of several rooms. It has served a variety of roles over the years, as port entrance defense has become less of a concern for Lisbon. Five floors rise above the bastion, including four main rooms: the Hall of the Kings, the Chapel, the Audience Hall and the Tower of the Terrace. In 1983, the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
National Museum of Ancient Art – Located on Rua das Janelas Verdes, Lisbon, those on college trips can’t miss the building itself, notable for its yellow exterior and green-tinted windows. Founded in 1884, this is one of the best museums to gain a deep understanding of ancient Portuguese culture and history. The museum occupies the former palace of the Count of Alvor (dating from the 17th century) and the convent of Santo Alberto. Inside, the museum houses paintings, metalwork, sculpture, drawings, furniture, jewelry, and textiles dating from the early Middle Ages to the 19th century.
April 25 Bridge – While a bridge may not seem like the most likely option for tourism, certain bridges and architects have a cult following. University trips to Lisbon should include in their itinerary a visit to the red section of Ponte 25 de Abril, which crosses the Tagus River with six highway lanes and two train tracks. The bridge itself can be seen from the castle walls and if it reminds you of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco it is because it was built by the same company (American Bridge Company) and is the 21st longest suspension bridge in the world.
