Hello archi lovers!
We continue to visit places in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, and also in its surroundings. Previously we have seen the originality of the city with a center full of history and art but with a special configuration, a few kilometers away a magical palace full of color. And now we are still in the city but we are moving to a totally different area.
We leave the center and the most touristic places, but without straying from the course of the Tagus River that borders the city to the Atlantic. Suddenly with the wind we go from nostalgic airs of the past to modern airs but also from another era.
Nations Park
The "Parque das Nações" in Lisbon, is an almost separate area, an area built ex process for an event, the Universal Exposition EXPO'98 that focused on the oceans.
In fact, it is possible that one of the buildings that is most worth visiting is the Oceanário (aquarium). But there is more. Time has passed and everything is behind us but those buildings are operational and have become a pleasant attraction and a change of scenery...
And although the entire complex is years old and from then on the area has grown with more high-rise buildings and residences, the modern design stands out. Curved lines, and a lot of white. Different constructions that make up a different space that contrasts with everything seen before. There are no orange roofs, no stone walls, but other materials, more steel, and more industrial air as well.
But almost what most attracts our attention is the panoramic view that we can enjoy from various points. The best and most fun is the funicular, a small cable car with a short distance and not very high, but it allows us to see a lot.
For example, we see striking modern buildings and walkways over water from above, the tower Vasco da Gama and the Myriad tower hotel, plus other structures that form a complex in which families and visitors entertain themselves and spend time, because there are restaurants, museums, a fair pavilion, a shopping center, entertainment venues, and as I say, much more.
More places to walk, along the river, because this area is the estuary of the Tagus River close to the Atlantic Ocean but it seems really from there the same immense ocean.
Bridge Vasco da Gama
And there we go down again to the ground, to look at the water and discover the most impressive architectural structure, one of the two emblematic bridges of Lisbon, this is the Vasco da Gama bridge, in homage to the Portuguese explorer and it crosses the big end of the river.
A very long bridge, with a modern design that blends with everything else and the optical effect with the water is almost magical.
We cross the bridge, and it is not easy to take photos from the car in motion where we can focus more on its structure, but also on everything we leave behind, that Nations Park where we have enjoyed, eaten and walked.
And the bridge seems to have no end, but curiously it becomes the way out of the city, we put an end to the visit to the Portuguese capital, or maybe not, maybe we should explore something else, somewhere nearby, the surroundings, between two waters...
Lisbon, Portugal ❤️ Europe
For more about Lisbon here:
- Lisbon from above, views from viewpoints
- Lisbon, Portugal: a special downtown facing the river
- Lisbon, Portugal: the São Jorge Castle and the views
And about surroundings near Lisbon: