Escolas Gerais: Alfama

Alfama is one of the Europe’s oldest and the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon. It was settled as far back as the Iron Age, and later occupied by the Romans, Visigoths and other Germanic tribes, before becoming the heart of Moorish Lisbon. After the conquest of the city by Portugal’s first king in 1147, Alfama became home of the upper classes. It was also the Jewish quarter, until the Jews were expelled in 1497. As Lisbon expanded, the wealthy residents moved west, leaving Alfama to the fisherman.

Thanks to its dense bedrock foundations, it was practically the only neighborhood that wasn’t greatly affected by the disastrous earthquake in on first of November in 1755. Its a maze of cobbled alleys, stairs  and small squares, like it was centuries ago.

If you dare to walk around and explore the narrow streets of Alfama, please hop off here.