Tiago conceived this walk tour through “Eastern Lisbon” (“Lisboa oriental”), departing from the central area of Lisbon towards where the “Parque das Nações” is located today, an area which those who only visit the tourist attractions of Lisbon end up not getting to know. This is a region of Lisbon that allows us to understand the city's past, while showing us how it is evolving today. It was a very comprehensive tour, in which we visited museums, palaces and mansions of the XVIII century, as well as industrial buildings converted into entrepreneurial and cultural initiatives; and also appreciated many street art works. I am positive that I would hardly have had a chance to learn about several of these places had it not been for Tiago, who really loves his city and is always searching for new venues to share with those who visit Lisbon. Furthermore, the diversity of venues fueled our discussions about the history and evolution of Lisbon, and how it has reflected in the city’s landscape. Throughout our tour, Tiago demonstrated vast knowledge of the many subjects that arose, ranging from Portuguese history to tile manufacturing processes (one of Tiago’s passions). The conversation flowed easily, and he was always glad to answer my questions and to further explore the subjects that instigated me the most — and to tell me anecdotes about the places we visited and the characters who lived there —. Also commendable is the fact that he put me at ease and made me very comfortable to share my ideas and impressions. All these skills combined allowed him to convey a huge amount of information in a light and entertaining way. And, as usual, we ended up with many ideas for future trips.

The tour that day led us to the Almourol Castle and to Santarém. The Almourol Castle, located on a small granite island in the middle of the Tagus River, in Vila Nova da Barquinha, is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Reconquista. Conquered in 1129 by D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, it was handed over to the Knights Templar, who rebuilt it under the orders of Gualdim de Pais, Master of the Templars in Iberia, and integrated it into the defensive line of the Tagus River. The castle is an excellent example of the military architecture of the period, displaying many features brought by the Knights Templar from the Crusades. After having lunch in a traditional restaurant, we continued on to Santarém. Located on the banks of the Tagus, Santarém has a history that goes back thousands of years, as evidenced by the Phoenician remains on display in the archaeological site located at Portas do Sol Garden. It was later occupied by the Romans, then by the Germanic peoples, and subsequently by the Moors. In 1147, shortly before the reconquest of Lisbon, it was finally conquered by D. Afonso Henriques. The city holds the title of Portugal’s Capital of Gothic, a style that can be appreciated in many of its churches. And yet, its cathedral, with its beautiful Baroque interior, is also well worth a visit. Tiago drew up a careful itinerary, which allowed us to visit as many venues as possible in the most efficient way in the time we had. His explanations were comprehensive, covering different aspects, such as architecture, culture and history. His being an architect offered a significant differential, especially in our journey through Santarém. Also commendable was his eagerness to share his knowledge, as well as his availability to answer my questions and to delve deeper into the points I was most interested in. In short, I learnt a lot in a very pleasant way and had a fantastic time with Tiago.

Estela was an excellent guide-we would not have enjoyed and learned as much about the historical sites we visited without her. She was punctual, shared her personal stories and experiences with the culture and history of Sintra and was a wealth of knowledge about Portugal history in general. We really loved the small tour experience and happy to support Context to help minimize the impact to these small communities that see large influx and disruption from large tours while still supporting tourism.