If you are planning to spend some time in the city of Lisbon, you will enjoy many advantages to finding a Lisbon hotel in or near the city center. This way you will be close to many of the beautiful squares, bustling streets & excellent shopping areas, and efficient transportation systems.The population of Lisbon consists of about 600,000 people. Not very large. However, surrounding the main city are a number smaller urban areas together making up the Greater Lisbon Area.This area measures about a thousand square kilometers and includes ‘dormitory’ towns for commuters to & from the city center. In total, Greater Lisbon has a little more than two million inhabitants.It is situated on the northern bank of the Tagus River mouth, known as Rio Tego, in Portuguese. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has a fascinating history for those who are interested in the past. It is also the westernmost city on the mainland of Europe.The city of Lisbon consists of 53 ‘freguesias’, which can be translated in English as ‘civil parishes’, or ‘bairros’ which in English are called ‘neighbourhoods’, run as democratic entities. Each little municipality has its own elected president & a small elected staff.Throughout Portugal, there are a little over 300 separate municipalities. These are divided into freguesias, amounting to about 4,000 in all.
The city has a moderate climate, seldom going below 5 deg in winter or above 30 deg in summer. The winters are untroubled by frost or snow, & subtropical – Mediterranean vegetation thrives there.Even in the vibrant center of the city you will find beautiful parks where you can enjoy nature & a bit of open space. One of the loveliest & most convenient to the city center is the Parque Eduardo VII.Apart from a little lake, beautiful gardens & greenhouses, you will also be able to enjoy lovely views. It is close to the famous Marquês de Pombal Square and the impressive Liberdade Avenue, which has a similar atmosphere to the Champs Elysées in Paris.For getting around the city of Lisbon, you have several options. There is the metro system which is reliable & fast, but if you want to see a bit of the city while you travel, you should probably choose the trams, ‘eléctrico’, funicular, or the buses.Take special care if you choose to walk & sightsee. The traffic, although not particularly aggressive, is not famed for its pedestrian friendliness, especially at crossings where there are no red lights.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6295431
