Picture of Rua da Graça in Alfama district (Lisbon, Portugal)

Buildings on the Rua da Graça in Alfama

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Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon; with cobble-stone streets, old churches, peaceful squares, and the best views over the city there are sufficient reasons to walk up to Alfama.
The oldest district of Lisbon is Alfama. Originally it was been largely formed by the Arabs that were in the Iberian peninsula from the 8th century. Indeed, its name originally derives from Arab Al-hamma, meaning baths. When the city started to grow, it did so towards the west, on the other side of the hill now crowned by the Castelo São Jorge. Since people were afraid of earthquakes, the rich abandoned the Alfama neighbourhood, leaving Alfama to fishermen and other humble people. Alfama actually survived the worst earthquake of Lisbon in 1755. Still now, the streetplan is pleasantly chaotic with a structure much like a kasba in Moorish countries. Alfama has for a long time been run down, but it is currently undergoing a facelift. Good idea: it is a very attractive area with too many buildings either abandoned or in very bad shape. It could well be the most picturesque area of Lisbon.
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