Cinema

Choosing a movie is not complicated if you like blockbusters and “Hollywood” kind of cinema. Sadly, some actors and directors are sometimes forgotten because Oscars, Grammy’s and other prizes tend to be attracted to the shining stars instead of “real” actors. Those like Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole and Glen Close or film directors like Kubrick, Fellini or Alfred Hitchcock, aren’t fated to win, as they attracted honorary prizes only. Fortunately, there are some cinemas in Lisbon where one can enjoy true cinema.

Created in 1948, the Portuguese Cinematheque is working since than as an institution dedicated to preservation and promotion of Cinema. The place is located near the Liberdade Avenue in a 19th century well preserved building in Art Nouveau style with an impressive Neo-Mudejár atrium. It’s a great place to go for a good “night at the movies” and also a pleasant place for a coffee or a snack. Check the open-air terrace and enjoy the museum!

The museum is divided into 3 rooms: The Cupid Room, the Oak Room and the 6×2 Room. Here you’ll find relics that tell the story of Cinema from magic lanterns to Lumiére projectors or other cinematographic objects like film reels, books and photographs.

Enjoy your favorite director’s tribute at the cozy small cinema. Sessions start in the afternoon screening movies from great directors. There are also retrospectives of the most acclaimed film directors and actors.

Forget blockbusters for a day and give these guys some credit… There’s the musical and detailed Kubrick with “Shinning” and the satirical black comedy “Dr. Strangelove”, and the king of suspense genre, Hitchcock with “The birds”. You won’t be sorry. And… cut!

Bull fighting is certainly not my cup of tea, so… besides the “Tourada” what can you expect me to recommend in the red brick ring of Campo Pequeno? Well, first of all, the fantastic Neo-Mudejár – Arab influenced architecture that one can easily admire from the park located nearby. The bull ring of Campo Pequeno was built in 1890 by a Portuguese architect and the design was inspired by the old bull ring of Madrid.

The Arab influence can be seen in the oriental-looking domes, the horseshoe shaped doors and the two towers at the main entrance. It looks like you’re back to the “Arabian Nights”, and inside the bull ring there’s a world to explore.

Besides the “Tourada“, that is seasonal and could happen from time to time, the place is used as stage for concerts and underneath the 10.000 seat arena, there’s a shopping center with cinemas, restaurants and souvenir shops and possibly the best supermarket of Lisbon, Sá. The small supermarket sells products made on Madeira Island and is definitely a place I would go to buy local products such as: Passion fruit, Bananas, Coral Beer, Physalis Jam, Madeira wine, Cheese and Honey cake (the best I’ve tasted so far) or traditional cookies.

The bull ring is located in one of the main avenues, near a metro station. Enjoy the place and go to the movies. All movies have subtitles and remain in the original language,… so there’s no mistakes and misunderstandings! ;)