Basílica da Estrela

The Basílica da Estrela is an obligatory port of call in Lisbon. It is also a stop on the no. 28 tram route, another must during your stay. Two of the things on your to-do list can be found here, in this elegant bairro with its lovely park. But the neoclassical 18th-century church deserves most of your attention. Its two bell towers peal charmingly, while its paintings by Pompeu Botoni and Pedro Alexandrino accentuate the baroque style of its interior. As a simplified replica of the Convento de Mafra, it is also the result of a vow made by the queen in the hope of producing a son and heir. Its white dome marks the skyline. And the interior, decorated with marble of every colour houses the queen’s majestic tomb, and a unique nativity scene made of 500 cork and terracotta pieces.