Duplex at old typical Lisbon - Alfama

WELCOME to my very special little place! [If you're coming in June or mid May, it's important that you READ carefully, further down, about SPECIAL JUNE CELEBRATIONS, literally just by the apartment] The space I lived in this house for 7 years, and I loved every minute of it!! On September 2010 me and my wife had our first baby and when she was 8 months old we decided it was time to move to a little bigger place. I love this house since the first day I saw it, love the location, the space, the light... This was my 1st house! Also I refurbished it myself (not only did the architecture project but the actual hands-on reconstruction work) so I definitely didn't want to sell it or give it to a long term rent.... That's when this project started and AirBnB was a great aid to it! Adding to the fact that I also love traveling, meeting new people and hosting, this was a perfect combination! The apartment is located in the center of Alfama, one of the oldest and most typical neighborhoods of Lisbon. It's small but generous, the apartment, has a magnificent sun exposure and you can see a bit of the river from the balcony or living room. The five windows on the main floor, including two bay windows facing south, and a skylight window on the top floor, fill the space with light. The apartment is located on the third floor with NO ELEVATOR! The stairs are narrow and steep, proper of Alfama's charm. The building is way older than a century. In the apartment all facilities are available, such as Wi-Fi, TV, heater, sheets, towels, stove, microwave with grill, water boiler, Nespresso machine, cooking utensils, running hot water, etc. Around the apartment you’ll find countless excellent restaurants and cafes, shops and groceries, bars, pharmacy, bank, bicycle and motorbike rentals, museums, the castle, the 28 tram and other endless leisure possibilities. LOCATION: The apartment lies on a charismatic alley just besides church of São Miguel square, in a pedestrian area, almost car-free (residents only area). Alfama is located in central Lisbon, so you can see much of the city without using a single transport - just walking! The house is at a 3 minute walk from the river, 10 minute walk from Terreiro do Paço (city center), 15 minute from Rossio Square, 10 minute from the Castle and 5 minute from the Santa Luzia viewpoint, from where you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the city, the river and the house itself. The neighborhood is famous for Fado (a unique Portuguese music genre), that became recently an UNESCO immaterial world heritage, in 2011. Here you’ll find the Fado Museum and innumerous spaces and restaurants where you can hear the music and feel it’s essence and authenticity. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: At 200 meters from the apartment you can get aboard the famous 28 Tram! It makes the route of Lisbon’s seven hills. Bus stops are also widely available. Less than 500 meters away is the Subway (Metro), the International Train Station of Santa Apolonia and the Boat to cross the Tagus river; 15 minute walk to the Train to Sintra (a UNESCO Cultural Heritage village); 5 km away, you have the Lisbon International Airport. AROUND: As I said, Alfama is one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city. Alfama is famous for it's Fado and it's narrow winding streets (done with a Moorish urban design, around the 8th century). Full of restaurants and taverns, typical regional cuisine and also contemporary, small businesses, stores, fado clubs, bars, etc... It is 10 minutes walking from down town center (Baixa Pombalina), one of the best places to shop in the open air of the country, where they mix the traditional and modern trade. Around the apartment you can find everything - museums, churches, castles, archaeological sites, theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, bars, restaurants - the choices are endless and for all tastes. The famous Tram 28 passes is a wonderful and very practical way to meet old Lisbon's 7 hills. The Castle of São Jorge is at the top of this hill, with stunning views over the city. Halfway through you'll find the lookout of Portas do Sol where you can see, from above, Alfama, the river and our apartment. I truly hope that you'll enjoy Lisbon and Alfama, at least, as much has I do! See you soon!! 1 abraço, Andre Other things to note -------------- JUNE IN ALFAMA ----------------- ----------SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS------------- If you chose to visit us in June, do you know that this is the most amazing time to visit Alfama?! Starting on the 1st and lasting the hole month of June, Lisbon celebrates the Festa dos Santos Populares (Popular Saint’s Festival), and Alfama is one of the main centers for this celebrations!! The last two weeks of MAY there is some extra noise on the streets due to the construction of the stalls for this festivities. From the apartment you'll have a first role seat to this unique event (see the pictures). The streets and squares around the house will be adorned with hundreds of colorful garlands, streamers, paper lanterns and lights. You'll have concerts, grill sardines, barbecues, drink's, flowers (little pots of basil are the special treat), esplanades, etc. The celebrations lasts for the hole month! They are in honor of Santo António (Saint Anthony) - the patron saint of Lisbon and of weddings and of lost causes. He's also kindly known as 'Santo Casamenteiro' (the match maker). The 12th of June - the eve of Saint Anthony day - is the craziest of all nights, as Alfama and all other historical centers of Lisbon, turn into one gigantic party, that usually last's until 6 or 7 am. For the rest of the month (all month long), on Fridays and Saturdays you'll have concerts of popular music, just in front of the apartment (that you can see from your livingroom window - I call it the presidential balcony!), so just don't count on sleeping before 3 or 4am on these days (the sound is so loud that it's the same to be downstairs in front of the stage speakers, or inside the house, in your bed, even with earplugs and the windows closed!!) - so you WILL HAVE TO GO PARTYING with the locals! The remaining days are calmer but the street restaurants make sure that you have plenty of animation as well (loud music), so don't count on sleeping before 1 or 2am on these days. The street decors, stands, and liveliness of the neighborhood make it amazing to walk around and soak into this local tradition. If you would like the sound of this experience then go ahead and book it. It will be an even greater pleasure to welcome you here at this time. I truly hope that you'll enjoy Lisbon, Santo António and Alfama, at least, as much as I do! See you soon!! Cheers, Andre Registration Details 59682/AL