This city of paintors, poets, opera singers and brave fishermen is waiting for you to be discovered. Take the opportunity to discover our history & traditions with an engaging and enthusiastic guide, along with history, culture, nature and eating tips.

Our morning will start at the downtown. We will walk through the most important cultural and historical sites, including Bocage Square, the Convent of Jesus, Luísa Todi avenue and the traditional fisherman’s wharf enjoying the views towards the Sado River, Tróia peninsula and Arrábida mountain range.

The last part of our tour will take place exploring the amazing Livramento Market: the central fresh products market (considered one of the most beautiful in the world). Here locals buy the ingredientes they love to cook and that will be used throughout the week. It is here that the gastronomic trends and food culture of Setúbal and the region are set. Dont miss the opportunity of trying some local oysters, sugary pastries and the very famous sweet wine Moscatel de Setúbal.

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A Journey into the Dark Side of the City

Our journey begins at two of Lisbon’s most significant 19th-century prisons, where we trace the changing perceptions of crime and punishment throughout the centuries. From the harshest forms of punishment, including public executions, to more humane approaches driven by enlightenment ideals we’ll uncover the evolving attitudes towards justice in Lisbon.

Crimes that Shaped Lisbon’s History

The history of crime in Lisbon is not merely a chronicle of misfortune and violence; it’s a reflection of society’s changing dynamics and the city’s adaptation to new realities. We’ll explore a range of crimes, from notorious forgeries and robberies to murders fueled by passion, politics, and religion. These incidents, often accompanied by social unrest and economic hardship, provide insights into the city’s past and the challenges it faced.

The tour also sheds light on the city’s efforts to combat crime and improve public safety. We’ll discuss initiatives aimed at enhancing lighting, paving, and waste management, measures that not only improved the urban environment but also addressed the perceived insecurity that plagued Lisbon.

Our focus lies primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a period of significant transformation for Lisbon. However, we’ll also briefly explore some of the city’s most notorious crimes from the 16th and 17th centuries, providing a broader context for understanding Lisbon’s complex and intriguing history.

This guided tour is not just a walk through the past; it’s an immersive experience that brings Lisbon’s dark history vividly to life. As we retrace the footsteps of criminals and law enforcers, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of the city’s past and the forces that shaped its development.

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Lisbon can be a challenge with so many hills and steep streets. In this tour we believe, every effort is worthwhile and the views we will enjoy from two of the most iconic hills are breathtaking. One of such viewpoints is the  S. Pedro de Alcântara Garden, where we will enjoy the lovely view of  downtown Lisbon and the Castle. 

Through the trendy Bairro Alto we will have a glimpse of one of the traditional nightlife spots in the city and we will walk down to the Carmo square, passing the elevator Santa Justa. Through the elegant district of Chiado we will discover interesting shops, historical cafes and old bookstores.

Down to Rossio square and through Praça da Figueira and Baixa (Downtown) we will learn how much the city was transformed by the earthquake of 1755. And up again we reach the old town surrounding the castle and wander through the labyrinth-like district of Alfama.

Our tour will end at Praça do Comércio, near the  Tagus river.

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The most oriental neighborhood in Lisbon was until 1993 forgotten and decadent. Containers, refineries, and slaughterhouses could be found in abandoned spaces. After 5 years of planning, cleaning, and building this new district became a weekend destination for lots of families, where international companies have their headquarters therefore an added value to Lisbon. This tour begins in front of the Orient station, passing by the most iconic buildings, and modern sculptures, enjoying the green areas with plenty of exotic and native trees. The subjects covered on this tour are Botany, History, Architecture, Street Art, and Economy. During our 3 walking tours these are the highlights we pass by: – the Oceanarium was the landmark of the exhibition, at that time, it was the largest aquarium in Europe. – some pavilions won architectural awards, such as the Pavilion of Knowledge, Utopia, and the Future now been transformed into a museum, multipurpose building, and casino of Lisbon. – Vasco da Gama Bridge, spanning the widest part of the Tagus estuary. – Orient railway station, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. – The tour includes a visit to the green areas of the former Expo 98 with their native and exotic trees as well as the Garcia de Orta botanical garden.

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We’ll start our tour at Casa dos Bicos, this former private residence is now the headquarters of the Saramago foundation. We leave the river behind and head towards the church of S. António, a space that keeps alive the cult and popular tradition associated with the saint who died in Italy.

A few steps away, we find the compact cathedral of Lisbon. This was an ancient place of cult for Romans, Arabs and Christians.

Starting to climb, we will reach the Portas do Sol viewpoint overlooking the colorful houses and the enormous water mirror of the tagus river.

We will start to go down the streets and alleys, feeling the atmosphere of the neighborhood and its people. We will end our journey by the river.

Close to the old water pumping station, which houses the Fado museum, preserving and disseminating a vast collection of this musical style, classified by UNESCO.

To find out more, come with me!

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During the 2nd World War Portugal was under the dictatorship of António Oliveira Salazar and remained neutral during the conflict. Between 1932 and 1945 the country, particularly Lisbon, received thousands of refugees looking to escape the war and the nazi persecution, waiting for a visa to departure Europe.

During those years Lisbon became the „waiting room“ or the „sad paradise“ for the refugees but was also one of the many stages of international espionage. Spies of different nationalities, British, German, and American roamed the city and its surroundings under the surveillance of the Portuguese political police.

The route starts next to Marquês de Pombal, close to the location of the Hotel Aviz, at the time, one of the most renowned hotels in the capital. Crossing the avenue we find the pensions and assistance organizations that helped the refugees in a strange land.

On this guided tour, we highlight the policy of the Estado Novo toward the refugees and glimpse the shadow of the various spies that crossed the city. In the old cafes of the city, such as Café Chave d’Ouro or Pastelaria Suiça, news of the war was received with excitement, and the presence of spies from both belligerent camps was feared. Also, the threat of the invasion of Portugal by the Axis forces, broke the normality in the Portuguese capital, with different monuments and important buildings to be covered and protected in case of an eventual bombing.

Different international personalities visited Lisbon or were forced to stay in the city for long weeks. Josephine Baker, Alfred Döblin, and Leslie Howard, among others, were some of those who traveled to Portugal. They wrote about the city and its inhabitants and caused surprise and shock to the Portuguese mentality.

Come with us and discover the city of Lisbon of the late 1930s and 1940s.

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From the middle ages and for 500 years, this became the summer resort chosen by the Portuguese royal family. However, it was in the 19th century that the bourgeoisie and the European elite fell in love with the intense green of these spaces and the palaces and chalets lost in this paradise Eden.

On this walking tour, we’ll walk through some of the winding streets of the historic center towards Quinta da Regaleira.

This place was conceived at the end of the 19th century by the businessman Carvalho Monteiro and Italian set designer Luigi Manini.

This scenic space of total communion with the surrounding nature, reflects its creator’s philosophical and scientific belief in a mystical proposal of self-knowledge. The route ends at the elegant palace where Carvalho Monteiro stayed every time he was in Sintra.

To find out more, come with me!

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We’ll start our visit at Praça dos Restauradores, the northern limit of the city until the 16th century.

Before heading up to Praça Carmo, we’ll pass by Rossio station, where the Sud express once ended.

Arriving at this square, we will remember one of the most important moments in contemporary Portuguese history, which put an end to the dictatorial regime, lived between 1933 and 1974, the year of the revolution of the 25th of April.

Going up a little we will arrive at Largo Trindade Coelho, where we will enter the very rich church of São Roque, with special emphasis on the chapel of S. João Batista completely built in Italy.

Going around the church, we will arrive at the elegant viewpoint of S. Pedro de Alcântara, to enjoy the panoramic view over a large part of the city center.

Going down towards Chiado, we will pass by the mythical Café Brasileira of Chiado, where intellectuals used to meet to exchange ideas and drink coffee.

After the typical photo at the statue of Fernando Pessoa, we’ll go down Garrett street. Discovering historic city stores, protected and classified, as the oldest bookstore in the world, the mythical Bertrand.

We’ll end our journey in the elegant square of Rossio, the epicenter of Lisbon’s dynamic commercial and cultural life.

To find out more, come with me!

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