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Visitors to Lisbon city often remark on the instant attractiveness of Portugal's first city. Built on the terraced sides of low, steep hills overlooking the harbour Lisbon city has the combination of wide tree-lined avenues, large public gardens and handsome squares. The narrow crooked charm of the Alfama quarter survived the terrible earthquakes of the eighteenth century, so visitors to Lisbon city can now step back in time and experience the cobbled lanes and flea markets of this traditional fishing community.

Lisbon city is warm, sometimes hot in the summer with a maximum temperature of approximately 28 Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperatures rarely fall to freezing point, even during the coldest months of December and January. Due to its proximity to the sea, mist and drizzly rain can sometimes make Lisbon city feel cooler than inland Portugal.

Over a thousand years old, Lisbon city was once the centre of a mighty empire spanning 5 continents. As Portugal reached its zenith as one of the world's greatest maritime nations in the 15th and 16th centuries, so the port of Lisbon became the world centre for trade in spices and jewels from the East and gold from Brazil.

Lisbon city is a buzzing city at the best of times, activity in Lisbon is currently frenetic as the city gears up to play host to the Euro 2004 football championships. Kick-off takes place on 12th June 2004, a month after Momentum Lisbon 04, at the new Sporting Club of Lisboa stadium.

Lisbon city is built on seven hills & interwoven with slippery, cobbled pavements, which can make sightseeing on foot both tiring & perilous.

At the heart of Lisbon city are wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings, mosaic pavements and street cafes. Seen from the river - one of Lisbon city's many great viewpoints - Lisbon is an impressionist picture of low-rise ochre and pastel, punctuated by church towers and domes.

Lisbon city is a mix of vibrant blue and white azulejos (painted tiles), cobblestoned laneways, wildly extravagant Manueline architecture, melancholy fado singing, funiculars, fun and more than a touch of the medieval