Accepting a Surprise Challenge
Last August (2019) I accepted a surprise challenge from my friend Catarina Leonardo (Kate to her friends) and author of Wandering Life BlogI took part in the first InstaMeetLisboa. I had no idea what it was about but I accepted immediately. I trust Catarina and I know that she always has fantastic ideas and really gets down to business. She's one of those people I admire and who is an inspiration to me. She left her job many years ago as a consultant to dedicate herself professionally to travel. But you can read the whole story of her career on her blog.
What is InstaMeetLisbon?
InstaMeetLisboa is Catarina's new project. It aims to bring together content creators (bloggers, photographers, instagrammers, etc.) in the Greater Lisbon area, to explore various places in the city together and exchange experiences, in an informal way and with travel photography as the motto for each meeting. An Instagram profile has also been created, where you can follow everything that's going on, and everything that happened at the last meeting, through the highlights on the profile.
Who can take part?
If you're a content creator, you can sign up for the next InstaMeetLisboa. Follow the link here to the InstaMeetLisboa page on Catarina Leonardo's blog.
Registration for InstaMeetLisboa
This first meeting was attended by four participants (three bloggers and a photographer). Catarina wanted to make this first meeting a "Pilot" Instameet, to test whether it would eventually be viable and how well it would be accepted by the public. That's why there were only 4 participants. In addition to Catarina and myself, we also had the presence of photographer and travel leader Artur Cabralwho I met in person that day, and blogger and friend Alexandra Carreira from the blog World Citizen Girl. Alexandra is also an inspiration to me, and it was inspired by her that I started traveling alone. It's so good to have inspiring friends.
The 1st InstaMeetLisbon - Almada
Almada was the venue chosen to host the first InstaMeetLisboa. And I have to confess that when I go sightseeing in Lisbon I focus so much on the center of Lisbon that I end up "forgetting" that Greater Lisbon is much more than just the center of Lisbon. And so this was an excellent opportunity to get to know more of Lisbon outside the center. We (Catarina, Alexandra and I) left Lisbon for Cacilhas. We caught the boat at Cais do Sodré. I can't remember the last time I crossed the river by boat. It's a beautiful ride and super fast, in less than 8 minutes we were on the other side of the river. The ticket costs €2.60 (2019 price) round trip, or if you have the Navegante pass you don't pay.
Waiting for us was photographer Artur Cabral, who lives in Almada and also accepted Catarina's challenge to show us his city.
Almada
Brief Introduction
Almada is located on the left bank of the River Tagus and belongs to the district of Setúbal and the Lisbon metropolitan area. Its neighboring municipalities are Seixal and Sesimbra. It has an area of 71 km2, of which 35 km are made up of water. Almada is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean with 13 km of beaches, and by the River Tagus. At the end of the post you'll find a practical guide with all the relevant information for visiting Almada, and a suggested route.
Historical Notes
Due to its connection with water and its strategic location, human presence in Almada dates back to prehistoric times. The name Almada has Arabic origins. And Cacilhas was one of the main ports on the Iberian Peninsula. At the end of the 19th century, it became industrialized, with activities linked to the cork industry and milling. From 1940 onwards, there was a demographic explosion, motivated by the installation and expansion of various industries in the city's riverside areas. In the 1960s there were two important milestones for the city: the opening of the bridge over the Tagus and the expansion of the Lisnave shipyards. The municipality of Almada is marked by a strong associative movement, linked to the strong presence of workers and the struggle for workers' rights. Over the last few years, projects have been developed to rehabilitate the old industrial areas along the river.
Places visited
Our walk began with a climb from the Cacilhas pier to the Castle garden. Did you know that there is a Castle in Almada? I had no idea.
Castle Garden
In this garden you can find a bandstand, which in 1997 replaced the original bandstand from 1868. From the garden's belvedere you can see the Tagus bar and the whole of Lisbon to the north, as well as the Serra de Sintra. And in Almada you can see Cristo-Rei, the Cerca Palace, the São Paulo seminary and the Boca do Vento Panoramic Elevator.
Church of St. James
Next to Almada Castle and the Castle Viewpoint, we find the Igreja Matriz de S. Tiago. This church dates from the 12th century and is the oldest in the municipality. It is therefore considered the Mother of all Almada churches and is dedicated to the patron saint of the parish, the Apostle St. James.
Quinta do Almaraz Archaeological Site
Between the historic center of Almada and Cacilhas is the archaeological site of Quinta do Almaraz. Here we can find traces of a Phoenician city from the first millennium B.C. Guided tours take place on specific days, admission is free but requires prior booking.
Town Hall Building
Did you know that the Portuguese Republic was proclaimed on October 4, 1910, one day before the official date, in the Paços do Concelho building in Almada? This building is also known as the Local Government Building.
Rua da Judiaria
Rua da Judiaria is part of the historic center of Almada, also known as Almada Velha. In this street you can still find traces of the 1755 earthquake.
Casa da Cerca
Casa da Cerca is located in the historic center of Almada, on top of the cliff. It was acquired by the Almada City Council in 1988, restored and transformed into a contemporary art center with the aim of promoting the visual arts. The Casa da Cerca houses exhibition rooms, a documentation and information center and the "Chão das Artes" botanical garden. It also has a magnificent viewpoint.
Arealva Farm
Quinta da Arealva is now an abandoned site that has fallen victim to erosion caused by time and vandalism. Although it is an interesting place to visit, you need to do so with care, as it is abandoned and in ruins. It was here that one of the largest cooperage industries in the municipality of Almada (the construction of wooden containers for storing wine) operated.
Jardim Boca do Vento
This garden is near the Panoramic Lift. Here you can relax on the grass, listen to music (when we visited there was live music), eat an ice cream or simply contemplate the magnificent scenery.
Sítio de Olho de Boi
This is where the old Portuguese Fishing Company Quarter was located. And where the acronyms on the walls of the buildings are still visible today (CPP). There used to be a textile factory next to the pier.
Ginjal Quay
Cais do Ginjal runs along the Tagus riverfront, from Cacilhas to the Boca do Vento Panoramic Lift. There is a rehabilitation plan for Cais do Ginjal, but in the meantime, when they say that Ginjal has ruins and the best view of Lisbon, it's not far off the mark. What was once an important pier for the industries that settled in the area is now mainly abandoned warehouses. As well as the magnificent view, you'll find two top restaurants here, "Atira-te ao Rio" and "Ponto Final". Booking a table is essential to get a seat.
The Result and the Next Meeting
This first meeting was a success on social media. Both inside and outside the blogging community, the curiosity and enthusiasm generated around this meeting was fantastic, which is why the project has legs.
The next one is expected to be in October 2019, and until then the place will be a surprise.
Don't miss out on the news and follow the @instameetlisboa and #instameetlisboa
Practical Guide
How to get there
Almada is 15 km from Humberto Delgado International Airport (Lisbon-Portela). You can get to Almada by car, train, boat or bus. And of course by cab or Uber.
On the Almada Town Hall you'll find all the information you need on how to get to Almada, what transport is available and timetables, and how to get around the city.
Almada Tourist Map
Here's Tourist map in pdf format that you can download to plan your tour.
Proposed Route
- Castle Garden and Castle Viewpoint
- Church of St. James
- Quinta do Almaraz Archaeological Site.
Until October (2019), there are guided tours by archaeologists on the third Saturday of every month. Visits are free but require prior booking.
Information and registration
Tel: 212 734 030
- Town Hall Building
- Rua da Judiaria
- Casa da Cerca
Opening hours
Exhibitions: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Garden: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Documentation Center: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Arealva Farm
- Jardim Boca do Vento
- Bull's eye
- Ginjal Quay
This is a possible itinerary for a morning or afternoon well spent. But there is still so much to see and discover in the Almada municipality. And we'll explore it in more articles.
Did you already know Almada and the places we visited? Are there any other places you know of that are worth a visit? Let me know in the comments or contact me via social media.
I hope you enjoyed it, good rides, good trips and see you next time.
Plan your trip and save with these platforms:
These are the platforms I use on my trips and trust. All you have to do is click on these links before planning your trips. These are resources to help you plan your next adventures.
You don't pay any more for using these links, and in some cases you benefit from discounts (where noted) for being my reader. And I get a small commission.
Book one Hotel at the best price
Travel Insurance Heymondo (5% Discount with this link)
Rent one Car with the best rates
Discover the best attractions with GetYourGuide
Discover the best Flights
Lockers to store your luggage in Bounce
E-Sim (virtual data card) from GigSky - 5% Discount with code LOVELYLISBON
EN 
PT
Leave a reply