2 Best Sights in Lisbon, Portugal

Avenida, as Lisboetas usually call it, was laid out in 1879 as an elegant Parisian-style boulevard modeled on the Champs-Élysées. Although many of the late-19th-century mansions and Art Deco buildings that once graced it have been demolished, it remains a high-end part of town, with some notable survivors now housing luxury hotels and international fashion outlets. It’s worth a leisurely stroll up the 1½-km (1-mile) length of the avenue, past ponds, fountains, and statues, from Praça dos Restauradores to Parque Eduardo VII, at least once, if only to cool off with a drink in one of the quiosques (refreshment kiosks) beneath the trees and to admire the iconic cobblestone pavement.

Fado, the mournful Portuguese folk music, is said to have been born in the Lisbon neighborhoods of Alfama and Mouraria. This street is redolent with its history, with large black-and-white photographs and information about famous fadistas pasted on its walls. One famous fadista, Maria Severa, lived on this street, and her former home is now a performance space, Maria da Mouraria. Mariza, one of contemporary fado's biggest stars, also hails from the area.