Costa de Prata - Leiria area Villa Rentals

LISBON Make a Lisbon villa rental or vacation rental your home away from home in the fascinating country of Portugal. Lisbon (Lisboa), the capital of Portugal, lies on the southern portion of the country's Atlantic coast. The oldest part of the city dates from the Moorish occupation in the 8th through 12th centuries. Guests of Lisbon vacation rentals and villas can explore the old neighborhoods of Rossio, Barrio Alto and Alfama. Lisbon was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, and much of the today's city is a result of the carefully planned rebuilding. The main streets, Rua Garrett and Rua Augusta, are lined with fashionable shops. The Castelo de Sao Jorge has stood guard atop Lisbon's highest hilltop for more than a thousand years. Guests of Lisbon vacation rentals can stroll through the castle's lush gardens and enjoy the spectacular views from the View Terrace. The Monastery of Jeronimos, built in the 16th century under the direction of King Manuel, is a good example of the distinctive "Manueline" style of architecture, a transition between Gothic and Renaissance. This huge church contains the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Guests of Lisbon vacation rentals can also visit the ruins of the Convento do Carmo, destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and left as a reminder of the event. In the 16th century Sao Roque Church, guests of Lisbon vacation rentals can see the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which was constructed in Rome in 1742, then disassembled and shipped to Lisbon for installation here. The richly decorated Baroque chapel includes lovely carvings, mosaics and paintings. One of Lisbon's most interesting museums is the Gulbenkian Museum. This art collection, spanning 2,000 years, was given to Portugal by an Armenian oil tycoon as thanks for the asylum given to him during the second World War. The exhibits are arranged chronologically, and include Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art, French furniture, paintings by masters such as Rubens, Renior and