Just like how the Portuguese brought back 'souvenirs' from the countries they colonised, there is one thing I want to take back with me: Mercado da Ribeira!
The market is located opposite the Cais do Sodré train station, at the bottom of the hill of Chiado and Bairro Alto. Mercado da Ribeira is Lisboa's largest covered market. Since 1892, it was a trading ground for fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, and flowers. Now, it has been divided into 2 sections. One still reserved for its trading activities from 1892, the other, has been transformed into a food hall by Time Out.
The market is located opposite the Cais do Sodré train station, at the bottom of the hill of Chiado and Bairro Alto. Mercado da Ribeira is Lisboa's largest covered market. Since 1892, it was a trading ground for fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, and flowers. Now, it has been divided into 2 sections. One still reserved for its trading activities from 1892, the other, has been transformed into a food hall by Time Out.
It is absolutely fantastic! It's like a community that sells local Portuguese and international food, desserts, snacks, Portuguese wines, chocolates, and many others - a foodies' hang out!.
Some may say it is a food court, but, this is way better: first of all it is not in a mall, and most importantly, the people selling the food are passionate about the food they sell. They are not just selling it for the sake of selling. They give importance to the ingredients, the method of cooking, amongst other things.
What I love about it: just like international sports, it is a platform for all nationalities (both locals and foreigners) to share their love of food, sipping a glass of wine (or others) and listening to some good music together - no prejudice, racism, nothing! Everyone just sharing their passion for food. I mean, I even taught a French family how to use chopsticks. A brilliant concept: food bringing people together!
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| Petiscos (Portuguese tapas) |
Mr. Benjamin Yong - a business idea to consider? :D
Definitely plan at least one dinner here whilst in Lisboa :)
Lastly, if you have time for one museum visit, choose the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum) - I enjoyed my visit tremendously. It has both artifacts (including jewellery :D) and art pieces. There is also a collection of bibles, from the Renaissance period, which is plated in gold - so beautiful!
The best part, it is arranged in chronological order: Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamia, Persian, European. On top of that, there are art pieces from the different places: Flanders, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, British, etc. Due to its organisation, one can compare how the art (method, the perception of beauty, etc) changed over time and how the art differs among the different places (again in terms of the method, the perception of beauty, etc) - love it!
The layout is perfect, you don't have to worry that you are missing something out (which I hate about some museums - it stresses me out!).
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| Sculpture at the entrance of the exhibition hall |
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| British art |
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| Mirror of Venus |
A fitting museum for historians and art goers alike.
*Note: Most museums in Lisboa (with the exception of the Maritime Museum) are closed on Mondays. Please plan you museum visits accordingly.*
No more Lisboa......I shall see you in Caiscais next!
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