Lisbon with Alex

Alexandre Ovídio (Alex for his friends) has been a professional tour guide for more than a decade, working with companies like Lisbon Walker, The Cooltours, Tours of My Life and Little Lisbon. With Renovar a Mouraria he was one of the creators of the first project to create accessible tours for people with special needs in Mouraria. He also works in the theater, where he acts and occasionally writes things he is proud of. Every day he can still find something that amazes him about the city he loves.

By visiting Lisbon with Alex, you will experience an interactive showcase of the city’s rich history. From King Manuel I in the XVI century to breathtaking panoramic views, Alex will guide you through the story of this ever-evolving city.

Important Details

Duration: (2h30m to 3h – 15€ per person)

When: Wednesday, 16th 6 p.m. and Saturday 19th (10 a.m; 2 p.m; 6 p.m.)

For booking the tour please contact directly the guide: Alexandre Ovídio

  • Email: alex.tx100@gmail.com 
  • WhatsApp: +351 91 173 88 08
  • Payment method: PayPal upon confirmation or cash directly to the guide at the meeting point before starting the tour.

The visit and the guide are prepared to, if necessary, to include interpretation in Língua Gestual Portuguesa, routes adapted for wheelchairs, as well as description and routes with touchable points if they are suitable for blind or low-vision persons.

Highlights of the Tour

Meeting Point – Praça do Comércio, next to the statue at the center of the square. As an alternative, if it’s raining, we can meet below the arch of Rua Augusta.

Praça do Comércio – A central, easy-to-find, meeting place

A high-angle view of Praça do Comércio, a large square in Lisbon, Portugal, with a statue of King José I in the center. The square is surrounded by classical buildings with yellow facades, and the Tagus River is visible in the background. A ferry is seen crossing the river, leaving a white wake behind. The sky is blue with scattered white clouds, and people are walking across the square, adding a sense of scale to the scene.
Praça do Comércio and the statue of King Jose I in Lisbon, Portugal

We start the tour in the noble and wide square of commerce, with its view of the river Tejo, where, since 2500 years ago, so many visitors arrived here coming from distant lands, like the Fenitians, the Romans or the Moors. In the XVI, king Manuel I decided to have his palace here, so he could witness first-hand the arrival of the Portuguese ships that ruled the sea at the time. So, what better place to welcome these new visitors?!?

Sé Catedral – The cathedral of Lisbon

A view of the Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa), a historic Romanesque church with two imposing towers and a large rose window in the center. A classic yellow tram is seen curving along the tracks in front of the cathedral, adding a dynamic element to the scene. Overhead tram wires crisscross the sky, while blurred pedestrians and a passing car convey movement. The cobblestone street and surrounding old buildings enhance the historic charm of the setting.
The Lisbon Cathedral with a traditional yellow tram in Lisbon, Portugal

Contemporary to the 12th century Christian reconquering of the city from the Moors, the Romanesque style cathedral of Lisbon gives us the perfect excuse to talk about the Arab presence of more than five centuries in Portugal, and the legend of Saint Vincent, who is still today the patron of Lisbon. Well… together with Saint Anthony. But Saint Anthony is the patron of love, so it became much more popular. These are just some of the stories that shaped our traditions and folklore and that will be revealed during our tour.

Teatro Romano – Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Image of the archaeological excavations of the Roman Theatre of Lisbon, featuring stone ruins and remaining columns. A panel in the background displays a digital reconstruction of the ancient theatre, showing the original layout of the seating and stage. The site is protected by a metal roof structure.
Roman Theatre in Lisbon – Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

It’s not every day that one can witness the vestiges of the presence of civilizations that preceded us in almost 2.000 years. Back then, Lisboa was known as Felicitas Julia Olissipo, a part of the Lusitania province of the powerful Roman Empire. The roman presence left its marks on our Latin language, but also more tangible remains like this theater.

Miradouro do Chão do Loureiro – The view

Panoramic view of Lisbon, Portugal, showcasing the city's iconic red-roofed buildings. The image captures the historic Baixa and Alfama districts, with São Jorge Castle and other landmarks visible in the background. The Tagus River stretches towards the horizon, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds
Panoramic view of Lisbon, Portugal, showcasing the city’s iconic red-roofed buildings.

At this moment of the walking tour, our visitors have certainly heard many references to the 18th century earthquake that reshaped our city forever. But it’s only when we reach this beautiful terrace and viewpoint that they can fully grasp the scale of the area destroyed, when we can embrace the downtown area we call Baixa, from the river to the square of Rossio. But here, our experience tells us that the wisest thing a guide can do is just be quiet and let everyone enjoy the breathtaking view.

São Cristóvão – The upper Mouraria

A narrow street in Lisbon, Portugal, lined with colourful buildings. The entrance to the São Cristóvão church is on the right, with a grand archway and stone steps leading up to it.
São Cristóvão church

It’s time to get off the beaten track and venture into one of the most authentic neighborhoods of Lisbon. Mouraria was originally the community created by the Moors when the city was conquered by the first king of Portugal, but since its almost 900 years of history it has seen a lot of changes. A great place to talk about one of the quintessential elements of our culture: Fado, the world heritage Portuguese musical style that the people from the neighborhood swear was born there!

Largo de São Domingos – Lessons from the past

A street-level view of Largo de São Domingos in Lisbon. Traditional Portuguese buildings with painted facades line a narrow street, leading towards the stone steps and arched entrance of the São Cristóvão church on the right. A few people are visible walking along the street, and a white van is parked further down. The church features a grand stone archway and steps leading up to the main entrance
A street-level view of Largo de São Domingos in Lisbon.

Circling back to the sea level, surrounded by the beautiful post-earthquake squares and buildings of Baixa, and almost at the end of our tour, we still have time to visit the church of São Domingos, and to hear a very dark story that happened here more than five hundred years ago. It’s not a beautiful, pleasant story, but if we believe, as we do, that we cannot just cherry pick the good aspects of our history, and also that we must know the errors of the past in order to not repeat them in the future, this is a story that needs to be told: the massacre of part of Lisbon’s Jewish population in the 16th century.

The End – Saúde (Cheers!)

A person pours a dark red liqueur (Gingnha, a very populer Lisbon liqueur) from a glass bottle with a decorative pattern into small plastic cups. The liqueur contains whole cherries, which are visible through the bottle. The setting appears to be a bar or café, with a reflective metal surface underneath.
‘A Ginginha’, one of the most well known liqueur in Lisbon

Finally, we reach the end of the tour, safe, sound and full of good memories. And to celebrate this, nothing like a treat of Lisbon’s best-known drink, the sour cherry liqueur we call Ginja. Ginjinha Sem Rival has always been the favorite place for locals (including your guide!)  to enjoy this tradition, and it’s our pleasure to offer you a glass to try it.