And if you take a walk in Parque Eduardo VII it will take you a while as it is the largest park in Lisboa at 26 hectares. That’s about 25 sport fields (the ones with a 400metre running track). so unsurprisingly the climb to the belvedere might take you a while. However if you make it you are rewarded by the views of Lisboa. I thought it simply glorious looking down the hill to the busy Marquês de Pombal roundabout and then across the city roof tops across to the Rio Tejo.
The park is a late 19th century creation but its name and many of the statues reflect key moments in Portugal’s history. The statue at the bottom commemorates Lisboa’s re-birth following the 1755 earthquake.
And as for the name. The park began life as Parque da Liberdade but was renamed within a few years to Parque Eduardo VII.
I didn’t know any of this though when we explored the park
We did though spy the pavilion on the eastern side of the park. Originally built as Portugal’s exhibition pavilion for 1922-1923 World Expo in Rio de Janeiro, the pavilion was rebuilt here in the early 1930s for use as a concert hall and sports hall. In 1984 it was renamed in honour of Carlos Lopes, a marathon runner who won Portugal’s first ever Olympic gold medal, but since 2003 has been closed and gradually fallen into disrepair. I read somewhere, but for the life of me cannot recall where, that there is a plan to turn into a hotel, but given the state of dilapidation, the current financial climate and the fact I’ve been unable to find anything else on the plans I’m not sure how likely that now is.
PS Did you notice my title – yup it’s a Six Word Saturday! Wishing you all a very happy Saturday, and whatever you are up to I hope it is as fun and easy as a ‘walk in the park’.