A secular town with a contemporary and vibrant cultural scene? Welcome to Lisbon.
Lisbon is a place in motion and culture is the name of the game. Being centuries old it has churches and monuments enough to fit the bill, but the city moves towards what is new and contemporary. From innovative museums to design stores, from bars to art galleries, or claiming a reputation for its street art (the one that insists on living in plain sight) the Lisbon artistic scene changed and likes to be different. For all to enjoy.
Lisbon has no lack of museums and some of them are brand new or have been able to embrace renovation in the eyes of a new public and a younger audience. MAAT, the Gulbenkian Museu or the CCB – Colecção Berardo (the largest cultural center and modern art collection at Belém), are good examples of that. CCB has helped pave the way to the concept of ‘integrated space’ where the same place welcomes art exhibits and galleries (including jewelry, finally making a stand), theatre, recitals and concerts of all sort of music, bars and restaurants with culture and entertainment on the menu.
More of the same, but even more and exciting and certainly alternative can be found at LX Factory or Fábrica do Braço de Prata, real ‘cultural compounds’ with galleries, ateliers, bookshops and caffés. And all have more than a touch of modernity .
In Lisbon not even the street escape from the creative movement and contemporary moods. Urban art flourishes with street artists like Vhils whose work and legacy changed the face of the city, from walls to facades, from corners to full avenues. And both master and fellow ‘spray artists’ are well recognized worldwide.
The design scene with a clear portuguese signature doesn’t move far behind, as in Marvila and Santos with its own Design District. But the vitality of our design can be found around the city, from major ateliers to small stores. And when one place is not enough, creativity moves in all directions allowing Lisbon to shine through events inside museums, galleries, bars or bookshops. Like with Bairro das Artes (Arts Quartier), this year celebrating its 9th edition.
Whether it’s a large museum or a tiny gallery, a restaurant or a bar, even a whole neighborhood, Lisbon is ‘in’ for contemporary culture and any project is incomplete until it shows some sort of ‘art program’. Because culture in this city goes beyond catalogs, fees and menus.
Here are the best choices in town, mandatory stops of a Lisbon in motion.
