Almada, which is a historical city, is located on the borders of the Lisbon region which is the capital of the country. The city, which has its own flag and coat of arms, doesn’t cover a large area. However, it has a great importance historically.
Almada situated on the southern margin of the Tagus River is connected to Lisbon on the other side of the river by the 25th of April Bridge. The population of the city, whose history dates back to 5000 years ago, is approximately 175 thousand.
The city, whose development gained speed with the arrival of the Muslim settlers to the region, has continued its growth around the castle built here. Muslims and Jews were allowed to live here after the city was dominated by the Christian forces in the 12th century. The Muslims that were living in Portugal and Spain in those periods were called Moors.
Although the city, which extends from the Tagus River to the Atlantic coasts, covers a small area, it has a large population. Thanks to the 25th of April Bridge (“Ponte 25 de Abril”), many Almada residents and visitors travel to Lisbon by using this bridge every day. In addition, the railway network is highly developed in the region.
Almada is twinned with Ostrava city of the Czech Republic and Regla city of Cuba. Almada is a great place to watch Lisbon from the opposite side. You can walk around the Praca do Comercio region which is home to many stores and cafes and buy local souvenirs. The historical Bairro Alto region famous for its yellow tramways is among the places to visit in the city.
After experiencing the historical atmosphere of the city, you can visit the Parque de Paz which is one of the famous parks of the city. The Museu do Oriente is another point to visit in the city. The museum reflects the interaction of Portugal with the orient such as China, India and Timurids. In the museum, which has a great collection, you can see the temporary exhibitions in addition to the permanent exhibitions. If you want to experience the famous tastes of Portugal, you must turn your route directly to Mercado da Ribeira. It is also a very enjoyable experience to try the delicious street tastes on the tables placed on the market appetizing with its fresh vegetable fruit stalls.
If you are going to visit Almada in the summer months, you can enjoy swimming on the beaches around the city. The coasts of Costa da Caparica and beaches like Praia Fonte da Telha attract a great number of visitors in the summer season.
If you don’t want to leave this city without tasting the famous dishes of the region, you should definitely try the delicious dishes made with sardine and cod fish. Octopus, calamari and shrimp are among the sea products frequently used in the salads and dishes. If you visit the city in the winter months, you can buy the chestnuts that you will see on every corner of the city. Pasteis de Nata is perhaps the most famous dessert of the city and you should add this dessert to your list.