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Photos of Parque Das Nacoes
Lisbon Estoril Coast Tourism Guide - Parque Das Nacoes
To the North East of Lisbon city centre on the waterfront, and easily accessible via the Lisbon Metro hopping off at Oriente, sits the superb Parque das Nacoes (Park of Nations) complex. (see Parque das Nacoes weblink right for details) It sits on the Olivais docks on the former site of the Expo 98 which hooked into a celebration of the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama's 500th anniversary. Parque Das Nacoes makes a perfect Lisbon base, with its own metro station on-site for zipping elsewhere around Lisbon and national Portuguese Rail station at Oriente whisking you off to Braga, Porto and elsewhere. The Vasco da Gama shopping centre has all you need shop wise, whilst everywhere you look on the Parque das Nacoes complex some dramatic sculpture, interesting architecture or views of the long Vasco da Gama bridge crossing the Tejo will catch your eye.
The cutting edge contemporary architecture here at Parque das Nacoes is a striking contrast to Pombal's Lisbon City centre design. Oriente Station is the design work of genius Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, and serves as a breathtaking highlight with its jagged white roof top. Some of the best views of the Expo 98 site are to be had from the cable car running along the waterfront. Hire bikes and cycle along the waterfront promenade, laze in sleepy bars people watching, visit the superb Oceanarium and return to one of the numerous luxury hotels located here on Parque das Nacoes.
Parque Das Nacoes Expo 98 Complex, North East Lisbon City Centre
This little mini entertainment rich village is well worth a visit - spending a day here is perfectly feasible. Take a cruise along the River Tejo from the Olivais dock area, or try a spot of canoeing, sailing or windsurfing with the Nautical Centre. You'll spot the huge Pavilhao de Portugal designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira. It's a popular photo choice, especially for its huge concrete canopy roof. (check the Pavilhao Atlantico weblink right for events and concert listings).
Other Lisbon attractions on the Parque das Nacoes complex include the Pavilhao do Conhecimento (Ciencia Viva). This one's a Live Science series of exhibitions with plenty of interactive opportunity, and info on the latest computer stuff. The big attraction here is the splendid Oceanario (weblink right). Lisbon's big Oceanarium is actually the second largst in Europe and should be on every Lisbon visitor's itinerary.
Other attractions here include the pretty water gardens, the Teleferico ski-lift styled ride taking you high up above Olivais Docks for splendid views of Calatrava's Oriente Station, the Torre Vasco da Gama tower and the Expo 98 complex and North Lisbon beyond. Also included on the Parque das Nacoes site is the Feira Internacional de Lisboa trade fair space (weblink right), a big casino and enough shops, bars, restaurants and clubs to keep the nightlife crowd happy. For family holidays in Lisbon, the Parque das Nacoes site serves as an excellent self contained Lisbon base with easy access into Lisbon centre.
Shop till you drop cetainly at the Centro Vasco da Gama shopping complex which has everything from supermarkets and foodcourts to clothes shops and kids stuff galore. Check the weblink right for full shop listings - there's an enormous number of shoe shops and fashion shops here particularly! A shopper's heaven.
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