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EXPO '98 area

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Off the red "Oriente" metro-line
Lisbon, Portugal
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Jose Kevo: First Reviewer

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EXPO '98 Area

March 20, 2001
Rated 3 of 5 by Jose Kevo from Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri

During my first visit, the city was fairly wrecked with preparations for the opening of Expo '98. Years later, it was nice to see what progress had accomplished, and how Lisbon had evolved from the efforts. Unlike Olympic complexes, which usually end-up an obsolete burden, this World Expedition project left behind something with ongoing benefits.

Expo Urbe is a 10-year development plan, which only began with the main event. Once a polluted industrial eyesore, this prime riverfront property is destined to become heart of the new city. While modernization could never surpass the grandeur of Praça de Comercio and the Baixa district, this community of the future certainly has enough to warrant a day on itineraries; especially a good option for when it's raining.

Most come here for the Oceanarium, which is certainly the main attraction, but hardly the limit. In fact, shopaholics, and even casual browsers, will need to restrain themselves just for getting there thanks to a Mega-Mall which extends between the Metro-stop and riverfront grounds.

The mammoth exhibition halls now entertain cultural and educational-geared events, which only compliments the Capital's wealth of museums. Food kiosks pepper the outer-corridors for quick bites, but visitors also can choose from numerous upscale restaurants positioned along the concourse. If nothing more and the weather cooperates, it's worth sitting at a riverfront table to indulge panoramas over a Portuguese bottle of wine.

The promenade is lined with small gardens and ample clusters of shaded benches for catching a breather. Lay-out of the facilities makes for plenty of walking. Everything was accessible for the handicapped except the cable cars. These run between the Oceanarium and the other main attraction, which I certainly recommend.

The distant Vasco de Gama Tower is certainly worth the walk or ride for getting a bird's-eye view, provided the weather's clear. The 18km Vasco de Gama bridge is an exemplary work of art, unto itself! Aside from spectacular overviews, there's also a pricey restaurant on one of the upper levels.

-- Take the red Metro-line to the Oriente stop, and be prepared to walk quite some distance underground. I recommend entering lower-level of the mall, and weaving to the distant end, which opens onto the Expo complex. Otherwise, taking the first series of exit stairs requires crossing busy thoroughfares and detouring quite some distance around the mall.

-- The 340 hectare development strategy aims to recharacterize Lisbon as one of Europe's most contemporary urban areas. Luxury condo and commercial towers are destined to accommodate more than 20,000 people, with a wellness approach for living to include bicycle/walking-trails around a pair of expansive parks, fishing piers, and the city's largest marina.

Results were impressive and commendable, but -- Lisbon is still my favorite European city thanks to the peerless historic areas; not modern more-of-the-same. Thankfully, the Expo area is far enough away that hills block the new skyline from mesmerizing vantage points in the downtown area; perhaps the most ingenious component of the entire plan.

From journal Lisbon's New Age of Discovery