Chiado

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has an area called The Chiado. A significant economic and cultural space, Chiado is well-known for its upscale shopping, iconic sites, and abundance of theaters and museums. A fire that occurred in 1988 seriously damaged the Chiado neighborhood. After rehabilitation, the Chiado has rebounded and turned into one of Portugal's most desirable real estate markets. How to explore Chiado? - Visit the most famous church of Lisbon, Sao Raque, that remained almost unchanged during the 1755 earthquake. As a result, the church and auxiliary dwelling were donated to the charitable organization Santa Casa da Misericórdia to rebuild the damaged structures in the earthquake. It is still true today, as everybody passing by is attracted to the church. It has a mixture of Mannerist and Baroque designs to look up to. After all, this was one of the city's most exquisite cathedrals when it was constructed towards the end of the 16th century. - Eat like a king at Palácio Chiado. Its historic halls are now home to eateries and a lounge. Palácio Chiado also rents out individual rooms for parties or small business gatherings for 15 to 25 people. Other restaurants worth visiting there are Atalho - a meat joint, Suchic - a sushi spot, and Bacalhau Lisboa - a restaurant that only specializes in codfish dishes, - Try pastéis de nata fresh out of the oven pastries. In the lengthy queues outside Manteigaria, only pastéis de nata can bring together visitors and residents. A new batch of pastries comes out of the oven when the bell rings. You may take them home in boxes for the same price of €1. The fact that it's open till midnight is ideal for satiating your late-night sweet cravings. - Visit By The Wine, José Maria da Fonseca's flagship store. This lounge is the most beautiful one in Lisbon, with impressive decor where the ceiling is covered entirely with wine bottles. - Satisfy your taste buds at Topo Chiado, an ideal restaurant for all-day dining with a brunch (€17) and various petiscos. The panoramic view over Lisbon is even better than the food. - Go to Bertrand, considered the world's oldest bookstore still in operation according to the 2011 Guinness World Records. There is a cafe at the bookstore where you can gorge on some bakery items while reading books.