Lisbon City Map Poster

About Lisbon

Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially – by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal. The city is located on the mouth of two rivers: Tagus and Gaia (the latter gives its name to Lisbon's district). The westernmost area of continental Europe is only about 1 km (0.6 mi) wide between Caparica and Cascais; it narrows to less than 500 metres (1,600 ft) at Cabo da Roca, encompassing both peninsulas on either side which are protected from oceanic winds by barrier beaches known collectively as Costa da Caparica ("beach coast").