Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal. It is also the largest city in the country with a landmass of almost thirty-three square miles and has a population of over two million people in the metropolitan area. Greater Lisbon is known for its diverse network of primary and secondary schools. These include the Saint Dominic’s International School, Saint Julian’s School, the Carlucci American International School of Lisbon, Deutsche Schule Lissabon, Instituto Español de Lisboa and Lycée Français Charles Lepierre.

It is also home to three major universities; The New University of Lisbon, University of Lisbon and the Technical University of Lisbon.

The first inhabitants of the area that Lisbon sits on are the Iberians of the Neolithic Period. These people built many fotifications and megaliths, some of which can still be found in the countryside surrounding the city. Little is known of these tribes until the Indo-European Celts invaded their settlements around the first millennium BC. These invaders intermarried with the indigineous people and produced what would become the Celtic speaking known as the Cempsi.

The next historic landmark in the timeframe of this city occurred around the year 205 BC. This is when Julius Caesar placed it uder Roman rule and named it Felicitas Julia. It then fell into the hands of various Germanic tribes from the fifth century until the eighth century when it was capture by the Moors. Their rule over the city lasted for two hundred years, until Afonso Henriques conquered the city for Christianity in 1147. Ever since it has been the main economic, political and cultural hub of Portugal.

Lisbon is a city that has been long known for its beautiful and diverse architecture. The architectural styles represented in this city include Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Manueline and Traditional Portuguese. Lisbon is also a city where the major thoroughfares intersect with many historical boulevards and are lined with some of Portugal’s greatest tourist attractions and landmarks. One of these major attractions of Lisbon is the National Museum of Ancient Art.

Another prominent attraction in Lisbon is the Lisbon Oceanarium. This oceanarium was built in 1996 and is shaped like an aircraft carrier. Inside is a diverse collection of marine species which include fish, mammals, birds and cnidaria. In the heart of the buildng is a large three thousand square foot tank and an even large fifteen thousand square foot tank. These tanks contain four large one hundred and fifty square feet windows. Located inside these tanks are creatures such as sharks, sting rays, barracudas and sunfish. The collection here includes over sixteen thousand animals from over four hundred and fifty different species.

A prominent attraction that is known worldwide is the Cristo-Rei. This monument is not in the city limits of Lisbon. It is located across the river in the town called Almada. But, because of how it stands, the ideal location to view the monument is Lisbon. This monument features a two hundred and forty-six foot arch on which stands a ninety-two foot statue of Jesus Christ, which was designed by sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa. Located on the base is an observation deck where visitors can get a great panoramic view of the city of Lisbon. Last but not least, Lisbon is a city that features some of the finest Portuguese restaurants in the country. This city also has a large collection of shopping venues, cafes and hotels for the curious tourist to visit and explore.