Welcom to Lisbon, Portugal dear Members of the UGA Chamber Choir

Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal, is the twelfth most populated urban area in the European Union. Lisbon is the westernmost capital city in Europe, lying on the western Iberian Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean and Tagus River, less than 200 miles northwest of Cape Spartel, Africa.

Lisbon is recognized as an alpha city due to its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education, and tourism. It is the world’s 25^th most livable city, according to the lifestyle magazine Monocle, and the sixth most visited city in Southern Europe with more than two million tourists annually.

Lisbon reigns as one of the world’s oldest cities. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon’s status as the capital of Portugal has never been confirmed or granted officially—neither by statute nor written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal. The city boasts two registered UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Belem Tower constructed during the maritime exploration, and the Manueline-style Jeronimos Monastery. Lisbon was honored in 1994 as the European Capital of Culture.

Lisbon enjoys subtropical-Mediterranean climate. Among all of Europe’s metropolises, Lisbon experiences the warmest winters with average temperatures of 59 degrees Fahrenheit from December through February. The typical summer season lasts approximately six months, from May through October, however November, March and April often also experience temperatures upwards of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. While in Lisbon, why not explore the city by riding the famous street cars or enjoy watching people strolling by at one of the beautiful plazas. 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.