Dating back to the Neolithic period, the earliest occupants of the present day Lisbon region were known as Iberians. Greek mythology also lays claim to Lisbon proclaiming that Ulysses founded the city after he fled Troy. Over the centuries, Lisbon was occupied by the Celts, the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Moors. The Alfama, the oldest existing district of Lisbon, dates back to the Moorish influence. Lisbon's name, pronounced "Lishboa" in Portuguese, is derived from Moorish Arabic.

Lisbon came into its full glory during the 15th and 16th centuries at the helm of a golden empire. Great sailing vessels and daring explorers like Vasco De Gama, Henry the Navigator, and Magellan set sail on historic voyages of exploration, conquest and trade.

Reminders of her “Golden Days of Discovery” are everywhere. The past echoes loudly in Lisbon. Today, as Lisbon retains great pride in the past, it proudly leads the way as a progressive cosmopolitan city and one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe.