Mouraria
Mouraria is one of Lisbon’s most central, traditional neighborhoods, a place where one can feel and witness the essence of being a Lisboeta, amidst a blend of international influences. This is a neighborhood that must be experienced and felt to truly comprehend Portuguese Fado culture in harmony with its inhabitants from Eastern and African cultures. In Mouraria, you can see buildings and streets from different styles and eras: from simple facades to more elaborate ones, from winding alleys to wider streets. Due to the street gradients, in Mouraria, windows are often seen at the top of staircases, and vice versa; it is a winding and labyrinthine district. This is the neighborhood where Dom Afonso Henriques settled the Muslims who continued to live in Lisbon after the Christian Reconquista in 1147. It is the birthplace of Fado, the place where Severa, the first known Fado singer, lived and performed. Mouraria has a unique life of its own: it boasts a large number of shops and small businesses, Fado houses, restaurants, and taverns where one can savor the most typical Portuguese recipes and dishes from around the world. It is a neighborhood with one of the greatest cultural diversity in the Portuguese capital, with over 60 nationalities, notably large communities from Asian and African countries, namely Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, India, and Mozambique, which is why you can sense the characteristic aromas of the East in the air. In Mouraria, racial and cultural diversity contributes to a peaceful life in harmony. A place to live, invest, and visit.
The Mouraria neighborhood is administered by the Parish Council of Santa Maria Maior.
The Atmosphere of Mouraria
Mouraria is a multicultural neighborhood, filled with scents, colors, and sounds… As you enter Mouraria, you feel the streets narrowing, with crowds of people of various ethnicities crossing the labyrinthine lanes, paved with traditional Portuguese natural stone, polished by time. There are several routes you can take to get to know Mouraria: enter through Praça do Martim Moniz, from Arroios, arrive from Baixa, descend through Alfama, or from Graça, near the Castle slope. Mouraria is a neighborhood surrounded by Lisbon’s most historic districts.
Top 10 Attractions to Visit in Mouraria Neighborhood
1. Rooftop Bar Hotel Mundial: This is one of Lisbon’s most famous terraces due to its panoramic views over São Jorge Castle, Rossio, and the Tagus River. Rooftop Bar Hotel Mundial is located at the top of Hotel Mundial in Praça Martim Moniz, offering a luxurious outdoor space with bar service, where companies and individuals can gather or organize parties in a tranquil atmosphere, thanks to its privileged location overlooking Lisbon…
2. Casa da Severa: This is an extension of the Fado Museum, where you can listen to Fado and learn about the life of Maria Severa Onofriana, known as the first Portuguese Fado singer. At Casa da Severa, located in Largo da Severa, you can visit the Fado house and the Café bar.
3. Church of São Cristóvão: This 17th-century construction, located in Largo de São Cristóvão, houses one of Lisbon’s oldest parishes, known in the 13th century as the Church of Santa Maria de Alcamim. Highlights of the Church of São Cristóvão include the 36 paintings by Bento Coelho da Silveira (1617-1708); the Tomb of Bishop Dom Fernando de Miranda, chaplain-major to Dom Afonso V; and the Tomb of Dom Martim Afonso, Archbishop of Braga, Governor during the reign of Dom Duarte and principal advisor to Dom João II.
4. Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde: This is the starting point for the Procession of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, the oldest procession in Lisbon, which has been held continuously since 1570. The Procession of Nossa Senhora da Saúde began as a way for the people of Lisbon to give thanks for the end of the Great Plague of 1569. The Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde was built in 1505 and renovated after the 1755 Earthquake. Points of interest at the Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde include the 17th-century Image of Nossa Senhora da Saúde; the 18th-century entrance portal, by João Antunes; and the tile panels, by António de Oliveira Bernardes (1662-1732).
5. Casa Fernando Maurício: This is an extension of the Fado Museum, dedicated to the Fado singer Fernando Maurício (1933-2003), “The King of Fado and Mouraria,” located on Rua João do Outeiro. The attractions at Casa Fernando Maurício include videos and interviews of the Fado singer Fernando Maurício; his complete discography; and portraits and a bust dedicated to Fernando Maurício.
6. Casa da Achada: This space is dedicated to the painter Mário Dionísio (1916-1993), located on Rua da Achada. Highlights at Casa da Achada include the private libraries of Mário Dionísio and Maria Letícia Clemente da Silva; the permanent exhibition space of Mário Dionísio’s works; the reading area for researchers and visitors; and the outdoor terrace.
7. Monument to Mouraria: This is a sculpture in natural marble depicting a Portuguese guitar, with the inscription “Symbol of Mouraria, Cradle of Fado.” The Monument to Mouraria is located at the entrance to Rua do Capelão.
8. Atelier Camilla Watson: This is the studio where British photographer Camilla Watson prepares photographs for her exhibitions. Camilla Watson, who has lived in Mouraria since 2007, has contributed to the dissemination of local history in outdoor spaces, notably through her participation in projects such as “Um Tributo” (A Tribute), an exhibition with photographs located in Largo de São Cristóvão and Beco das Farinhas; “Retratos do Fado – Um Tributo à Mouraria” (Portraits of Fado – A Tribute to Mouraria), an exhibition with photographs on Rua do Capelão, Rua João do Outeiro, Rua da Guia, Rua Marquês Ponte de Lima, Largo das Olarias, and Travessa da Nazaré; and “Canto do Sol” (Song of the Sun), an exhibition featuring a panel of 80 mosaics on Rua dos Lagares.
9. Mouraria Creative Hub: This is Lisbon’s first incubator dedicated to cultural and creative industries, located on Rua dos Lagares. The Innovation Center aims to be a support space for entrepreneurs in various business areas, including Gastronomy, Design, Fashion, Music, and Tile Art, with the following attractions: a space for 50 entrepreneurs; the archaeological exhibition “Quarteirão dos Lagares: from Mouraria to Vila Nova.”
10. Cozinha Popular da Mouraria (Mouraria Popular Kitchen): This is a multicultural project that uses gastronomy to socially integrate immigrants residing in Mouraria from all over the world. Cozinha Popular da Mouraria is located on Rua das Olarias, with its main attractions focused on the aromas of Asian, African, or Arabic cuisine, or the experience of cooking the meal you will eat.
Other Attractions to Explore in Mouraria Neighborhood
- Oficina Santa Rufina: This is the studio where Portuguese artist Cristina Lopes practices her art, specializing in tile painting. Oficina Santa Rufina, located on Calçada Conde Penafiel, is worth a visit for the artist’s tile work.
- Zé da Mouraria: This is the most well-known restaurant in Mouraria, located on Rua João do Outeiro. Zé da Mouraria was inaugurated by Virgílio from Minho and is renowned for its Roasted Cod à Zé da Mouraria and charcoal-grilled dishes.
- Zé dos Cornos: This restaurant is known for its “tasca” (traditional tavern) appearance, with traditional wooden tables arranged in a corridor, offering simple cuisine, notably pork ribs (ponta do entrecosto), roasted cod, and cured ham and cheese platters. The restaurant Zé dos Cornos is located on Rua dos Surradores.
- Palácio dos Távora
- Rua do Benformoso
- Associação Renovar a Mouraria
- Casa de Fados Maria da Mouraria
- Centro Comercial da Mouraria
- Cerca Fernandina de 1373/75
- Colégio dos Meninos Órfãos
- Escola de Fado da Mouraria
- Largo da Achada
- Mercado de Fusão
Main Streets and Squares in Mouraria Neighborhood
Praça Martim Moniz: This is one of Lisbon’s largest squares, always bustling with locals, tourists, trams, tuk-tuks, private vehicles, and public transport. Praça Martim Moniz is a passage to Mouraria, Largo do Intendente, and Baixa, known for several aspects, including its multiculturalism, being the starting point of the historic Tram 28, and its craft and gastronomy fairs. Martim Moniz was a knight of Dom Afonso Henriques who died preventing the closure of one of Lisbon’s city gates in 1147, a gesture that allowed the capture of Lisbon.
Rua da Mouraria: This is the most important street in the Mouraria neighborhood, connecting Praça Martim Moniz and Rua do Benformoso. Rua da Mouraria is a wide area where you can observe the multiculturalism, smell the aromas of the neighborhood, notably through the presence of various Chinese, Indian, or Nepalese restaurants, Guinean or Mozambican cafes, Nepalese or Pakistani travel agencies, Halal butcher shops, or through the sale of Asian spices and teas at the Centro Comercial da Mouraria. Rua da Mouraria has some attractions, including the Tram 28 stop and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Saúde. Mouraria is named as such because it was the place where Muslims resided after the Conquest of Lisbon in 1147.
Largo da Severa: This is one of the most important squares in Mouraria because it was the place where Severa Onofriana, the first Portuguese Fado singer, lived and died. Largo da Severa connects Rua do Capelão and Rua da Guia, with the attractions of Casa da Severa and Casa Fernando Maurício.
Rua do Capelão: This is the street where Fernando Maurício was born. Rua do Capelão connects Rua da Mouraria and Largo da Severa, and is named as such due to the presence of a prayer space in the 16th century. The main attractions are the Monument dedicated to “Mouraria – Cradle of Fado”; the restaurant “Os Amigos da Severa”; the Fado House Maria da Mouraria; and the exhibition by artist Camilla Watson, which portrays twenty-six Fado singers connected to Mouraria.
Tourist Developments in Mouraria
- 1908 Lisboa Hotel
- Hotel Mundial
- Inn Possible Hostel
Transport and Access in Mouraria
Mouraria has the following transport options available:
- Martim Moniz Metro Station
- Tram 28
- Martim Moniz Parking Lot
Location of the Parish of Santo António (Mouraria) on the Lisbon Map
