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Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 1)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 2)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 3)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 4)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 5)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 6)
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Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre: Cristina Emília Silva (Thumbnail)
Cristina Emília Silva
Lisbon, Porto

Cristina Emília Silva holds a PhD in Architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto (2016), and a degree in Architecture from the University of Coimbra (1999). Since 2006, she has co-authored projects at bau.uau arquitectura. A guest assistant professor and researcher at the Faculty of Architecture, she is the author of International Dissemination of Portuguese Architecture 1976–1988 and several articles. She also coordinates APJAR – Associação Pró-Arquitectura João Álvaro Rocha. Her work includes archiving, curating, editing and organising events on architecture. In 2004, she co-founded cultour, where much of this practice took shape.

Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre: João Paulo Correia (Thumbnail)
João Paulo Correia
Lisbon, Porto

João Paulo Correia, graduated in Industrial Engineering and Management in 1995. His professional work focuses on planning and managing municipal and metropolitan investment projects. He completed an MBA in Business Management at IEP and ESADE in 2001. He has collaborated in multidisciplinary teams developing urban and regional plans and regularly participates in institutional forums related to tourism. In 2004, together with Cristina Emília Silva and Maria da Conceição Melo, he founded the company Cultour.

Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre: Maria da Conceição Melo (Thumbnail)
Maria da Conceição Melo
Lisbon, Porto

Maria da Conceição Melo graduated in Architecture from the School of Fine Arts, University of Porto, in 1984, studying under Fernando Távora, Álvaro Siza and other Key figures of the Porto School. She holds a master’s degree from the Faculty of Architecture and Engineering of the University of Porto (1995) and works in planning and urban design. She was a visiting professor at the University of Minho’s School of Architecture. She served as President of the Northern Regional Section of the Order of Architects (2020–2023). In 2004 Melo co-founded cultour.

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Tour in Lisbon:
Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre

Lisbon stands as a living example of cultural exchange, modernity through the ages, and urban care. Known in Roman times as Felicitas Julia Olisipo, the city reveals its layered history, including Muslim archaeological remains within S. Jorge Castle, now preserved under Carrilho da Graça’s architectural intervention.

The Baixa–Chiado district embodies Lisbon’s resilience and capacity for renewal. After the 1755 earthquake, often described as the first modern disaster and a turning point in European thought, its reconstruction introduced the Pombaline system, a groundbreaking model of urban planning. Following the 1988 fire, Álvaro Siza Vieira’s sensitive reinterpretation of this heritage established new principles for contemporary urban regeneration.

Today, Baixa continues to evolve as a public space. Projects such as the Fanqueiros Elevator and Graça Funicular improve mobility, while the waterfront’s revitalization integrates the Cruise Terminal and reclaims areas like Ribeira das Naus and Campo das Cebolas for public use.

Photo credits: 1 (large) Ana Aresta; 2 José Manuel Rodrigues; 3, 4 and 5 Fernando Guerra FG+SG; 6 Ana Aresta

– Duration: 4 hours
– Transport: Walking
– Services: Experienced local architect as guide
– Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
– Group size: max. 20pax per guide

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Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 7)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 8)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 9)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 10)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 11)
Guiding Architects, tour: Timeless Lisbon: Historic City Centre (Fig. 12)
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