The theme of Expo 98 was ” The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future”, and intended to celebrate Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India in 1498.
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.
