Page 28 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 LISBON EDITION

The Lisbon Story Centre

Today’s Lisbon reflects its floor has five main exhibition
history, geography, and nature. areas that vividly showcase a
Influences of occupying Ro- different episode in Lisbon’s
mans and Moors, as well as its history. We sensed the excite-
colonial and authoritarian past, ment as we walked through a
are readily apparent through- 16th-century warehouse dis-
out the city. Lisbon’s cata- playing new products brought
strophic earthquake and by Portuguese ships from the
subsequent tidal wave and New World. Another immer-
fires reshaped the city and af- sive exhibit allowed us to ex-
fected the economy for centuries. Knowing this perience the panic and horror of the All Saints'
history as you walk city streets makes the expe- Day tragedy in 1755, when the earth shook and
rience richer and more meaningful. ravaged the city. And we shared in the far-reach-
Perhaps the best way to begin your visit is ing vision of the Marquis of Pombal, who spear-
with a stop at Lisboa Story Centre. Flanking the headed the city’s rebuilding.
central Plaza Commercial, this innovative info- Other exhibit areas spanned Lisbon’s rich his-
tainment venue brings to life events that shaped tory from ancient settlements to the present day
the Portuguese capital though state-of-the-art and offered insights into architecture and art.
multimedia exhibits. Our visit to the Story Center helped us look at
History is anything but dry in the center’s vis- the city through different lenses and better ap-
ually dramatic and sometimes humorous vi- preciate what we encountered as we explored
gnettes spread over three floors. The ground- the surrounding neighborhoods.

28 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023