Alfama: The Kaleidoscopic District - Private Walking Tour
Description
Alfama is where it all started, the oldest and most picturesque district of Lisbon. The core of the old town was built and enlarged, then shaken and destroyed, reborn and rebuilt again, only to start all over again, for more than two thousand years. That’s why we propose an unusual tour, with a good deal of improvisation and a handful of dazzling discoveries. All-time favorites include a restaurant framed by Roman walls, public restrooms six feet below -with a residential building inside-, a majestic royal palace converted into a dark prison, or a collection of decorative tiles that no one knows (not even thieves) whether they are cheap replicas or precious originals. By the way, does anyone still live in what increasingly resembles an amusement park for tourists?
Tour Options
Itinerary
Ore first stop offers an open view over Alfama whimsical skyline, the majestic Straw River and its South Bank
First and only Romanesque monument remaining in town, the Lisbon Cathedral is half a church, half a fortress. Some say it's almost a new medieval cathedral, as it was radically rebuilt in the 30's of the 20th century.
An awesome medieval fake window, opened in south wall of the Cathedral's Cloister and, on the other side of the road, a XIXth century smithy with a facade covered with rare ceramic tiles
A place of miracles and public hangings. One of the best fado houses and also a wonderful baroque small church are just around the corner
That's where you finally found out what "Alfama" means, in the midst of a dazzling urban puzzle, including a fado restaurant with an archaeological museum inside
One of the rare surviving manor houses of the Age of Maritime Exploration, now also hosting Foundation José Saramago. Astonishing archeological findings in the ground floor.
The old Onion Market now converted into a garden and all the refurbished shops around it. At this very moment, it's certainly one of the most lively places in town.
One of the 12 doors that where daily opened in Medieval Lisbon, framed by two noble houses, one waiting to be refurbished, the other a five stars hotel with its own archeological treasures
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
If you are into history, this tour was very good. Luis is a very knowledgeable guide who is very passionate about the subject. He showed us interesting locations and details that we would have certainly missed on our own. Walking through Alfama’s narrow streets is the only way to truly appreciate this neighborhood. It was an interesting tour.
This couple was able to convey to me the pleasure of discovering Alfama as a unique place. When this chemistry happens it is a great stimulus and a prize for any guide. Thank you so much!
The private tour of the Alfama district with our guide Luis (who speaks impeccable French) was very interesting and a perfect introduction for a first stay in Lisbon, thanks to all his explanations. We highly recommend it!
Je vous remercie pour votre curiosité et votre désir de comprendre le passé, mais aussi le présent de Lisbonne. J’espère vous revoir bientôt. Très sincèrement, c’était un plaisir de se promener avec vous à Alfama.
Luis was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He prepared materials and information to give us a better idea of Lisbon and Alfama. He also tries to pepper his tours with fun facts to make it more interactive. This is reflective of his profession of being an educator of Philosophy. If you are looking for a real walking tour where the guide understands Lisbon inside out and is able to readily chat through historical events (and not scripted), Luis is your guy. We highly recommend a private tour with him if you want to understand Alfama for what it is.
You were my first clients from Singapore and it was a great pleasure to meet you and spend the afternoon with you in Alfama. It is amazing the knowledge you already had of the city and its history, the interest with which you heard stories from such a distant place/culture. Thank you very much for your kind words and I hope to meet you again in Lisbon. Best wishes, Luis
Luis is a sociology professor and was easy to understand and extremely knowledgeable. He answered our questions (even when random) and was extremely flexible - checking in on us for length, amount of detail, etc to make sure we were satisfied, comfortable, and happy. He’s obviously passionate about the city and was happy to give a lively tour of the area. Definitely exceeded expectations! Because alfama is dense in culture and history, it wasn’t a strenuous walk, we stopped frequently to learn about the area. We only covered a small distance, mostly downhill from starting point. In that time we covered a few millenniums of history - not bad!
Thank you so much for your insight and (extremely) kind words. I'll be happy to help you with tips and whatever you need during the rest of your stay in Lisbon. Feel free to send feedback of your local experiences! Luis
Luis transforms a rainy day into a sunny, pleasant and super interesting morning. A stroll through the streets of Alfama which reveals the archaeological and religious history of this district which remains very endearing. THANKS
C’est moi qui vous remercie de votre disponibilité à connaître les histoires et les lieux de Lisbonne, surtout un jour si pluvieux et avec tant de touristes. Bon retour à Montpellier.
What a brilliant tour! Our guide, Luis, was able to talk about all of the history, culture, and interesting facts of Alfama. He answered all my questions really well and was very thorough. Luis was very friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend this experience :) thank you!
Thank you so much and I hope Carmen found her luggage. Come back to Lisbon and we'll explore Belém together!
Luis explained the history about Alfama very enthusiatically and knowledgeably, and walk us to the meaningful places, not for just sightseeing but for learning. The only reservation we had was about the restaurant he recommended. The bathroom was smelly that we could even smell from where we sat a few tables away. A cock roach fell on our plate from somewhere when we were eating.
Thank you so much for your review, it was really a pleasure to guide you through Alfama. I'm sorry about the restaurant, but some of the best traditional places are losing quality - they're no more like they used to be -, in part due to so much tourism. Best regards Luís
Meet for the first time in 2019, visiting a Lisbon neighborhood with Luis is to treat yourself to a visit rich in history and anecdotes but also places out of the classics that you could see with a paper guide. Originality and good humor guaranteed. Luis is local, passionate and erudite. You can call on him without hesitation.
There are probably cheaper tours available but they will lack the depth of knowledge and passionate connection to Lisbon’s illustrious history. Our guide was not only a great source of information but genuinely wanted to cover topics that we found interesting. We saw several large group tours that were very formulaic and less personalized, which made us appreciate our decision. Highly recommended!!
Hi Justin Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope you and your wife enjoy the rest of your stay in Lisbon (in spite of the light rain) and don't hesitate to call me (or send a mail) if you need suggestions or more information. Have a safe and sound return home! Best regards Luís
Luis invited us to a quality intimate & cultural discovery of Alfama district and along the Tagus. Passionate, Luis strives to deconstruct a few misconceptions and... to provide clear explanations, a wealth of details. Thanks to a subtle mix of history, anecdotes and analyses, its lighting is intended to be thorough and didactic. Thanks again to Luis for these beautiful visits!
