PORTUGAL - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 462

April Bridge spanning the Tagus River, which is equal to the Golden Gate Bridge
of San Fransisco in its structural beauty.
Completed for Expo '98, Lisbon's Vasco da Gama Bridge is a massive en-
gineering feat. The bridge is 17 kilometers long—making it the longest bridge in
Europe—1 kilometer longer than the one between Sweden and Denmark. Besides
providing another modern symbol of Lisbon, it provides much-needed relief of
traffic congestion crossing the Tagus River, especially during the summer. The
Vasco da Gama Steel Tower (the tallest building in Portugal) and the impressive
Lisboa Oceanarium contribute to the east side's modern attractions.
Lisbon has three distinct districts—the shopping areas clustered around Rossio,
Baixa, and Chiado; the more ancient areas, such as the Moorish quarter Alfama
and Castelo; and the “new Lisbon,” with post-modern high-rise structures, Amor-
eiras, stretching out to the airport and to the north. Just five minutes from the air-
port is the Gare Intermodal de Lisboa multistation complex, also known as Oriental
Station, which serves long-distance and suburban trains, the underground railway
system, a bus and motor coach terminal, and a taxi stop. A day can easily be spent
in any one of Lisbon's districts.
Of particular interest to Western visitors is the Alfama district, which suffered the
least damage during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 and has thereby been
able to preserve much of its old facade and narrow, winding cobblestone streets.
St. George's Castle offers a splendid view of the city. The tourist office has sever-
al excellent illustrated brochures describing Lisbon, one of which lists walking tours
From the Castle to Alfama via Mouraria , where examples of Moorish and medieval
architecture prevail. A city map is also available.