12 Hours in Lisbon
Portugal
You are probably well aware of our fascination towards Portuguese culture by now so it’s not much a surprise if I say that it’s hard not to be deeply charmed by Lisbon. The picturesque city scape indeed has its unique vibe with all of its hills, narrow streets, viewpoints, the River Tagus, the old town filled with colourful tiles, yellow trams and traditional patisseries. The city is divided intro districts; Barrio Alto, probably the most vivid and boheme area, it is the centre of the Portuguese capital's nightlife, attracting youth culture and gives home to many concept stores and local showrooms. The heart of the city is the Baixa or city centre; the Pombaline Baixa is an elegant district, primarily constructed after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Belém – our very favourite one, is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. From this part of the city you can have a perfect view at the famed 25 de Abril Bridge designed by the same architect yet it is often compared to San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. The city is connected to the far side of the Tagus by two important bridges; The 25 de Abril Bridge, and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which is the longest bridge in Europe. If you are lucky enough to not only spend 12 hours in the city but more, you may rightfully ask; where should we wake up? I’d immediately say; Santa Clara. The building's sense of intimacy is accomplished through a sensitive interplay of interior and exterior features. The generous windows frame the unique brilliance of the Lisbon light which spills over the city and can be seen reflected in the river below. If you are opting for a less minimalistic choice Valverde Hotel with its classic and elegant style, it's contemporary furniture, works of art and antiques is a nest to embrace. Its warm colours, the comfort of its fabrics and materials, its homey arrangement of space, are what distinguishes the Valverde Hotel from any other hotel in the surrounding area, an "Oasis of comfort and discreet luxury."
Shopping in Lisbon: The Feeting Room
Portugal
The store as we’ve known it, is being reinvented. In the past years, traditional retail has been challenged by both shifting consumer habits and rising e-commerce traffic. New retail concepts were born that combine online and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences in order to remain competitive and accurate in the market. One of our favorite concepts in the whole wide world are The Feeting Room stores in Porto and Lisbon. Both have lately become true cultural hubs for both local creatives and travelers. With a roomy 300 square meter area in each store, their aim is to offer a versatile assortment of lifestyle items for both women and men, ranging from timeless carryovers to seasonal pieces. Altogether the selection is bound by the quality of their partnerships and collaborations which result from a shared vision of the future and sustainability of retail fashion. For the ones not planning to visit Portugal any soon, they operate a webshop as well. We dug beyond their concept a bit, read on to get some great insights!