ALFAMA 

 

Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the Castle of Lisbon and theTejo river. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning fountains or baths.

It it is a delight to explore the maze of narrow streets which climb up from the Rio Tejo to the Castle of São Jorge. The steep ramshackle streets of medieval buildings have not altered since their construction, both surviving the destructive 1755 earthquake and the more recent trend of modernisation. Alfama was historically the seedy and impoverished neighbourhood of Lisbon but today is a favourite with tourists.

 

Alfama is now as it was almost 500 years ago. Within Alfama streets change rapidly into stairs and narrow roads become impassable to traffic while up at the roof level the buildings almost touch each other. The ancient houses which are only just from collapsing have had their rent protected by the Lisbon council allowing generations to own the same dwellings. Alfama has the strongest sense of community of all of Lisbon’s districts, with old women gossiping from window to window and young kids running around in the streets. The Alfama district is unique to all other areas of Lisbon, with the chance to experience ancient Lisbon.