Hidden Alfama, Spanish

Overview

This GuruWalk walk starts in Commerce Square, where the guide waits between the Augusta Arch and the equestrian statue with a light blue umbrella. From there the route sets off through the Baixa district and then continues into Alfama, ending at Portas do Sol after 2 hours 15 minutes. The entire walk is run in Spanish.

The theme is the stranger side of Lisbon. Along the way the guide tells of the Knights Templar and the symbols they are said to have left behind, the theory that some historians have linked Portugal to the legendary Atlantis, and the story of Portugal's bloodiest murderers told at the Cathedral. From the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints the group hears the legend of the enchanted Moura, and Saint Vincent, the first patron saint of Lisbon, also comes into the story.

It suits Spanish-speaking travellers who want legends, conspiracies and viewpoints rather than a dry chronology. Reviews describe the walk as a mix of neighbourhood history and curious tales, some real and some possibly legend, which matches the tone the guide sets. Booking is free on GuruWalk, and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Commerce SquareThe guide waits at Commerce Square, between the large Augusta Arch and the equestrian statue, with a light blue umbrella.
2. Walk through BaixaThe tour begins by exploring the Baixa district before heading towards Alfama.
3. Church of Our Lady of Conceição VelhaThe route passes by this church in Baixa, one of the stops shown in the itinerary.
4. Casa dos BicosThe walk passes Casa dos Bicos, the third of the stops published in the itinerary.
5. Enter AlfamaThe tour continues into Alfama, where the stories of the Knights Templar, the Cathedral and the enchanted Moura are told.
6. Lisbon CathedralThe group passes the Cathedral and hears the story of Portugal's bloodiest murderers.
7. Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpointsFrom these viewpoints the group takes in the views over the city and hears the legend of the enchanted Moura.
8. End at Portas do SolThe tour finishes at Portas do Sol after 2 hours 15 minutes of walking.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from this walk.

• Spanish only. The walk runs in Spanish, so comfortable listening comprehension matters. Travellers who do not speak Spanish will not follow the stories, which are the whole point of the tour.
• Finding the guide. Meet at Commerce Square, between the Augusta Arch and the equestrian statue. The guide carries a light blue umbrella, which makes the group easy to spot in a busy square.
• Pace and footwear. The walk lasts 2 hours 15 minutes on foot through Baixa and Alfama. Comfortable shoes are the sensible choice for a route of this length.
• History and legend mixed. Reviewers describe a combination of neighbourhood history with curious tales, some real and others that may be legend. Go in expecting storytelling rather than a strictly factual commentary.
• Photo stops. The Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints are part of the route, so keep a camera or phone reachable. The tour ends at Portas do Sol, which is one of the viewpoints visited along the way.
• Paying the guide. Booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. Reserve your spot on the walk's GuruWalk page.

Common issues. Pickup is not included, so every traveller makes their own way to Commerce Square. The full route has 12 stops but the itinerary publishes only the first 3, so you cannot see the complete route before booking. The reviews available are short and praise the guide without raising complaints, but they do not cover group size, pace or accessibility, and GuruWalk's own page for this walk gives no information on those points either. The walk is in Spanish only, which rules it out for non-Spanish speakers.

What To Know Before You Walk