Harvey's Amazing Race: Lisbon, Portugal
- youthhaven
- May 28
- 2 min read
Harvey's last stop in the Amazing Race is Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, and it is the farthest west of any city in Europe! It is also the second oldest capital city in Europe, after Athens (Greece). There have been a lot of interesting things for Harvey and his friends to see and do in Libson, and the food there is amazing! Here are a few of their favorite things in Lisbon:
Red and Yellow Trams
Lisbon's trams are more than just a mode of transportation... they're a tourist attraction in themselves! The trams will take you through the historic areas of Lisbon so you can see all the cool sights and learn about the city's history. They are so famous in Lisbon, there's even a museum about them!
Belem Tower
Belem Tower took 5 years to build and was finished in 1519 - over 500 years ago! It was built on a small island in the Tagus River near the Lisbon shore, and it is known as the gateway to Portugal because it is a point of entry into the country. It provided protection for Portugal and allowed the king to keep track of any ships coming and going. Prisoners were also kept in its dungeon.
25 de Abril Bridge
The 25 de Abril Bridge (which means April 25th) was the first bridge built in Lisbon. It has an upper level for cars, and a lower level for trains. It has been compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco because it looks a lot like it and is close to the same length. The 25 de Abril Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Europe and is 1.4 miles long. The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long. The Mackinac Bridge in Michigan has them both beat, though! It's about 5 miles long and is the longest suspension bridge in the entire Western Hemisphere!
Sao Jorge Castle
The Sao Jorge (St. George) Castle is a fortress that was built in stages, dating all the way back to 714 - more than 1300 years ago! At that point, it was most likely just walls to protect the city inside, but a bigger fortress was built around 1150. We don't actually know what it looked like, because more changes were made in the 1200's, with 11 towers, 2 wide open spaces for gathering troops, wall walks, and a moat. It is now a national monument.
Pena Palace
Pena Palace is a colorful castle that looks out over the town of Sintra near Lisbon. It was where many of the Portuguese royal families lived during the summer. It was built by King Ferdinand, making use of a monastery that had been destroyed by lightning and and earthquake. It is also surrounded by a park full of interesting plants and trees from all around the world. It's not actually in Lisbon, but you can see it from Lisbon on a clear day, and it's amazing!
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