European Ribbon

Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) 🌍

In the northeastern part of the city, along the banks of the Tagus River, we encounter Lisbon’s newest face: the Park of Nations. As you exit the metro at one of the city’s most beautiful stations, Oriente, you immediately feel like you’re stepping into the contemporary era with great fanfare.

EXPO  1998  🏆

From May 22 to September 30, 1998, this area hosted Expo ’98, a world’s fair that was the largest event in Portugal, promoting the nation’s heritage, cultural achievements, and advancements. The exhibition’s theme, “The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future” honored the era of great geographical discoveries and commemorated the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. The Expo took place on a 50-hectare site that underwent an extraordinary revitalization. The scale of investment was impressive, resulting in not only the beautiful metro station but also a massive train station and the Vasco da Gama shopping center. The development included:

Vasco da Gama Bridge 🌉

Opened on March 29, 1998, the Vasco da Gama Bridge spans the Tagus River and stands as the longest bridge in Europe, with a total length of 17.2 km (10.7 miles). This bridge is celebrated in civil engineering history as one of the largest and most successful projects of the 20th century. It is a colossal structure divided into seven sections, with the most spectacular being the Main Bridge, whose deck is anchored to the main pylons. Another impressive feature is the Northern Bridge, situated over the shipping channel, providing a clearance of 47 meters (154 feet) above the water level for ships.

The bridge accommodates vehicular traffic on six lanes, which can be expanded to eight lanes during peak times. It was built to relieve congestion on the 25th of April Bridge and to provide a transit route that bypasses the city center. A toll is required to cross the bridge. Unfortunately, there are no pedestrian walkways or bicycle paths. Current traffic conditions on the bridge can be monitored through 🌐 Lusoponte.

Oceanário de Lisboa 🦈🦦

The Oceanário de Lisboa, the largest oceanarium in Europe, is a must-visit for tourists of all ages. It houses nearly 15,000 individuals representing over 450 species. The impressive building, designed by Peter Chermayeff, appears to float on the water. Access is via special two-level walkways from a neighboring building, which houses the first part of the exhibition, ticket offices, and the entrance. This entire area is part of the closed section available for touring the Oceanarium. During Expo ’98, Chermayeff’s building was called the Pavilion of the Oceans and was one of the exhibition’s biggest attractions. The structure is not only stunning from the outside but also impressive inside, featuring a main aquarium with a capacity of 5 million liters of seawater. The aquarium is divided into four habitats, creating a shared ecosystem where sharks, rays, and mantas glide by each other as if in a dance. You can observe this magnificent marine world from two levels of corridors and several smaller and larger alcoves, where you can sit for a moment during your journey through dark corridors that feel like ocean depths. The tour route in the Oceanarium circles the main aquarium, marked by arrows. On the upper level, you encounter animals living above or near the water’s surface, while the lower-level houses deep-sea dwellers.

The Oceanarium is a rich world of birds and various mammals. Separate exhibits are dedicated to tropical ecosystems with magnificent vegetation inhabited by sea birds and accompanying fish. Special windows allow you to observe their habits from both land and water perspectives. There are also amazing penguins and agile seals. The exhibit is complemented by dozens of smaller tanks with fish, coral reefs, jellyfish, and other diverse sea and ocean creatures.

🎫 Tickets to the Oceanarium can be purchased online 💻 or at the ticket offices before entry. You can also buy a combined ticket with the Telecabine. 🚠