#DCYOIBERIA Day 1: Bóm Dia, Lisboa!

Greetings from beautiful Lisbon! After a very long day and a half of travel via Frankfurt, we landed safe and sound in Portugal, where our tour officially begins. 

After meeting our tour guides, Sónja and Beatriz, we kicked things off in style with a welcome dinner at Casa do Alentejo. From the outside, Casa do Alentejo looked like a plain building that blends right into the busy cityscape. But once we entered the doors, we were suddenly welcomed into a tranquil Moorish-style courtyard with more surprises to follow. 

Originally known as the Palacio Alverca, Casa do Alentejo was built in the 1600’s and served as the home of the Paes de Amaral family until the early 1900’s. Over one hundred years later, it serves as a cultural center celebrating the heritage of Portugal’s southern Alentejo region, including a restaurant that serves many of its traditional dishes. This multipurpose space hosts everything from book talks and art exhibitions to cultural afternoons and social events.

We were treated to a spectacular welcome dinner in the former ballroom of the house, an ornate room decorated with crystal chandeliers that cast a warm light on the gilded wood panels and mirrors that cover its walls along with ornate frescos.

During the course of our meal, we enjoyed a truly special performance of fado, a very special traditional form of Portuguese music that is usually sung by a solitary singer or fadista accompanied by classical and/or Portuguese guitar. Named to the category of  Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO , Fado can be difficult to explain to people who are not familiar with its long history and unique place in Portuguese culture. “The way to understand fado is to feel the music,” our tour guide, Sónia, told us. Everyone in the room definitely felt the incredible singing of fadista Yola Dinis, who was accompanied by both Portuguese and traditional guitarists. The entire orchestra gave her a standing ovation in appreciation of the special gift she shared with us, and enthusiastically agreed with Ms. Dinis that they would love to come back and play with her sometime!

After dinner, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around downtown Lisbon, taking in the Arco do Rua Augusta and the Casa dos Bicos, an early 16th century house known for its unusual spiky facade that also houses the José Saramago Foundation. Some of the ashes of the Nobel Prize-winning author, who was born in a small village northeast of Lisbon, are buried under a beautiful olive tree in front of the building.

Tomorrow, we stay on in Lisbon for a little sightseeing as well as our first tour performance that will take place outdoors at the Ruinos do Carmo as part of the Lisbon Music Fest. Stay tuned for more updates!

Tomorrow, we stay on in Lisbon for a little sightseeing as well as our first tour performance that will take place outdoors at the Ruinos do Carmo as part of the Lisbon Music Fest. Stay tuned for more updates!