LISBON - Culture :

The charm of the Portuguese capital resides in its strong links to the past; restored palaces, majestic churches and an imposing hilltop castle reflect the city's rich cultural heritage.

The cultural scene in Lisbon today is a vibrant collage of old and new as the ghosts of Lisbon's grand past echo evocatively around today's venues. Lisbon offers a formidable number of venues and companies can often be found performing in such varied sites as outdoor parks and national palaces.

Event tickets can be purchased at the Agência de Billetes para Espectáculos Públicos (commonly referred to as ABEP), there is a kiosk in the southeast corner of Praça dos Restauradores.

Music :

The Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa (Portuguese Symphony Orchestra) is now based at the Teatro Camões at the former Expo98 site in the Parque das Nações. The Gulbenkian Orchestra and Gulbenkian Choir are among those whose concerts are held at one of the concert halls and open-air amphitheatre of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Avenida de Berna 45A, adjacent to the museum. The Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Rua Serpa Pinto 9, is where opera productions are staged during the September to June season. Classical concerts are also held here.

Other classical music ensembles include the Sinfonietta de Lisboa and the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa. Major venues include the Coliseu dos Recreios, Rua das Portas Santo Antão 92), and Teatro Municipal São Luís, Rua António Maria Cardoso 40

Theatre :

Among Lisbon's attractive theatres, the Teatro Nacional de Dona Maria II, at the top of the Praça de Dom Pedro IV (Rossio), is the most striking. Theatre and opera productions are also hosted in the Pequeno and Grande Auditório (Small and Large Auditoria) of the Centro Cultural de Belém on the Praça do Império.

Dance :

The Companhia Nacional de Bailado (Portuguese National Ballet) is based at the Teatro Camões in the Parque das Nações. Other venues that host dance performances are the Centro Cultural de Belém and the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

Film :

The world's oldest taxi driver and his 1928 Oldsmobile are the stars of the film Lisboa Taxi, which premiered in January 1997. Films are almost always shown in the original language, with subtitles in Portuguese. For English-language films, the best bets are the multiplexes in the larger shopping centres. The Diário de Notícias newspaper has film listings. There is a drive-in theatre at the north end of Parque das Nações.

Cultural events :

Since the sixteenth century, a procession of violet-covered litters has passed through the Graça district on the second Sunday of Lent in honour of Senhor dos Passos. The month of June sees some of Lisbon's most popular festivals, honouring a number of saints with parades and parties. Similar processions take place on saints days in many of the surrounding villages.