Chiado District
Lisbon's elegant shopping district since the 1800s, where intellectuals and artists would meet at A Brasileira café to discuss politics over coffee and absinthe. A massive fire nearly wiped it out in 1988, but architect Siza Vieira brought it back to life, keeping the 19th-century charm while sneaking in modern touches. This is where you'll find the statue of Fernando Pessoa outside his favorite café, the world's oldest bookstore still running (Bertrand, since 1732), and fashion shops hiding behind Art Nouveau facades. (Tip: check out the Chiado Museum's modern art collection, housed in an old monastery, and stop by Manteigaria for the city's best pastéis de nata.)
