Private Lisbon tours and day trips 

The history of Lisbon stretches back 3,000 years, beginning with the Phoenicians who settled in the area and named the city Alis Ubbo, meaning "Delightful Shore." Its appealing attributes quickly attracted the Greeks and Carthaginians, with the Romans establishing their presence in 205 BC. In 714, following a period of tribal unrest, the Moors seized control of the city, fortifying it and renaming it Lissabona, successfully defending it against Christian forces for over 400 years. However, in 1147, the city was captured by Christian fighters, primarily British crusaders.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Lisbon flourished as the epicenter of a vast empire, propelled by Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to India. This prosperity extended into the 1800s, following the discovery of gold in Brazil, which attracted merchants from afar to trade in gold, spices, silks, and jewels.

The Great Lisbon Earthquake On All Saints’ Day, November 1, 1755, Lisbon was irrevocably transformed. A series of three significant earthquakes struck the city in what is deemed one of the most powerful seismic events in history. Estimates suggest that as many as 100,000 of Lisbon’s 270,000 residents perished, and much of the city was devastated, with Lisbon never regaining its former prominence.

Modern Times In 1908, amid social and economic decline, the Portuguese monarchy met a violent end. King Dom Carlos I and his heir, Prince Royal Dom Luís Filipe, Duke of Braganza, were assassinated in Lisbon. This was followed by two coups: the first in 1926, which terminated the Portuguese First Republic, and the second in 1974, which concluded Europe's longest dictatorship. The years 1974 and 1975 brought a significant influx of refugees from Portugal's former African colonies, enriching the city’s cultural tapestry.

With Portugal's entry into the European Community (EC) in 1986, substantial funding catalyzed urban redevelopment, allowing Lisbon to once again thrive. Today, the city is basking in its most vibrant era, spurred by a surge in tourism that has led to the creation of a multimillion-euro cruise-ship terminal and the opening of over a hundred new restaurants, bars, museums, and cultural attractions.