Explore Lisbon: A city shaped by maritime history
Overview of Lisbon.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Media Editor: Lauren Sims
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The Nile River has been important to the development of North Africa.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.See why the cities of the Northeast are so important.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny ChmielewskiThe first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who was charged with finding a Spanish route to the Moluccas. He was killed on Mactan Island in 1521, but the expedition returned to Spain under the command of Juan Sebastián del Cano.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of Madeira Island, Portugal.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzThe forests of Madeira Island, Portugal.
News •
Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson Talks Losing Key Trump-Era Protest Mobilization Tool: “I Miss Twitter”
• Nov. 10, 2026, 4:04 PM ET (The Hollywood Reporter)
Soccer-Portugal pledge to honour Ronaldo as Jesus names first squad after captain's retirement
• Nov. 6, 2026, 8:09 AM ET (Toronto Star)
Clashes broke out in Portugal as police stormed housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto
• Nov. 1, 2026, 6:32 AM ET (Deutsche Welle)
Portuguese police with dogs and batons dismantle housing protest camps
• Oct. 26, 2026, 6:07 AM ET (The Guardian)
Demonstrators wounded as police break up Lisbon and Porto housing protest camps
• Oct. 25, 2026, 11:52 AM ET (Euronews)
Transcript
NARRATOR: Lisbon's landmark statue of Christ the King looks out over the Tagus River, which has provided a natural harbor and safe haven for sailors for millennia. The city's port and her seafaring past have shaped life in the Portuguese capital. It was from here that Portugal's great journeys of discovery were launched in the 15th century. Within a few years, the nation's explorers had brought wealth and power to this tiny nation.
Although the golden age of exploration is now long past, ships from all over the world continue to glide up the river, which divides the city in two. As Portugal's largest city, Lisbon isn't only the administrative capital, but also its cultural heart. The port is the most important in the entire country. Thousands of cruise liners, sailing boats and cargo ships dock here each and every year.
GERHARD LICKFETT: "Lisbon, Lisbon - for thousands of years, sailors from around the world have used the northerly winds to help them sail up and down the Tagus. Just like we do, really. Some things never change."
NARRATOR: The Monument to the Discoveries overlooking the Tagus, is a reminder to all sailors of this city's rich seafaring past.
LICKFETT: "At the front, with the galleon, is Henry the Navigator. Kneeling next to him is King Alfonso. And behind them are some of the nation's greatest explorers."
NARRATOR: Portugal's golden age also saw the construction of a raft of imposing buildings - highly visible signs of Portugal's imperial prowess and vast wealth. The gleaming Hieronymites Monastery is now a world cultural heritage site. The best way to get a feel for the city is to wander through the maze of narrow streets in Lisbon's old quarter. If you still find it hard to picture the city's rich history, then just sit back and listen.
Fado - Portugal's traditional maritime music - can be heard on almost every street and conjures up images of an ancient way of life. But fado's somber sounds and melancholic lyrics can't detract from the vibrant atmosphere of this historic maritime city.
Although the golden age of exploration is now long past, ships from all over the world continue to glide up the river, which divides the city in two. As Portugal's largest city, Lisbon isn't only the administrative capital, but also its cultural heart. The port is the most important in the entire country. Thousands of cruise liners, sailing boats and cargo ships dock here each and every year.
GERHARD LICKFETT: "Lisbon, Lisbon - for thousands of years, sailors from around the world have used the northerly winds to help them sail up and down the Tagus. Just like we do, really. Some things never change."
NARRATOR: The Monument to the Discoveries overlooking the Tagus, is a reminder to all sailors of this city's rich seafaring past.
LICKFETT: "At the front, with the galleon, is Henry the Navigator. Kneeling next to him is King Alfonso. And behind them are some of the nation's greatest explorers."
NARRATOR: Portugal's golden age also saw the construction of a raft of imposing buildings - highly visible signs of Portugal's imperial prowess and vast wealth. The gleaming Hieronymites Monastery is now a world cultural heritage site. The best way to get a feel for the city is to wander through the maze of narrow streets in Lisbon's old quarter. If you still find it hard to picture the city's rich history, then just sit back and listen.
Fado - Portugal's traditional maritime music - can be heard on almost every street and conjures up images of an ancient way of life. But fado's somber sounds and melancholic lyrics can't detract from the vibrant atmosphere of this historic maritime city.
Last Modification: