Lisbon with the family: a city to discover with your grandparents

In 2011 we had the opportunity to experience one of those trips that over time take on an even more special meaning.

We traveled to Lisbon with Pablo, our children Madelyn and Tomás, and my parents. Three generations traveling together through one of the most charming cities in Europe.

When I look at photographs from those days, I don’t just see monuments, squares or historical buildings. I see my children still young, my parents enjoying every walk and our family sharing moments that today are part of the most valuable memories we keep.

Lisbon welcomed us with its particular light, a light that seems to be reflected on the tiled facades, on the cobblestone streets and on the Tagus River, which accompanies much of the city’s life.

Touring its historic neighborhoods was a fascinating experience and from several of the city’s viewpoints we contemplated unforgettable panoramic views.

Lisbon has the particularity of being built on hills, and from above you can see the reddish roofs, the churches, the river and the characteristic yellow trams that run through the streets as if they were part of a permanent postcard.

One of the places we enjoyed the most was the Belém area and there we visited the historic Belém Tower, a symbol of the time of the great Portuguese navigators, and the impressive Jerónimos Monastery, a true masterpiece of Manueline architecture.

Walking through these spaces allowed us to imagine the time when Portugal was one of the great maritime powers in the world and from there the expeditions that would change the history of navigation departed.

Of course, we also tried the famous Belém pastries and I still remember the mix of enthusiasm and curiosity with which we all shared those little freshly baked Portuguese delicacies.

Another place that impressed us was the Commerce Square, open towards the river, where the history of Lisbon seems to meet the constant movement of the modern city.

The walks through the Baixa, the Elevador de Santa Justa and the avenues full of life allowed us to discover an elegant, welcoming city deeply linked to its past.

But if there was one thing that made that trip truly special, it was sharing it with my parents.

Seeing grandparents touring the city with their grandchildren, listening to their comments, watching them discover new places and sharing long conversations over meals, gave the experience a value that goes far beyond tourism.

Today, many years later, those days have a different meaning.

The children grew up.

Times changed.

And the trips shared between generations become treasures that one learns to value more and more.

Lisbon gave us monuments, history, gastronomy and unforgettable landscapes, but above all it gave us time together.

And over the years I have understood that there is no memory more valuable than that.