Martim Moniz is one of the oldest districts of Lisbon. The huge square
in the center of the district is the
crucial place between the districts situated on the top of the hills (Graça and Mouraria) and the plain areas of the center (Rossio, Restauradores Baixa). The square
is the symbol of the neighborhood itself,
its strengths and weaknesses. The name
of the district comes from an important historical event, in fact, during the taking
of Lisbon by the Christian troops
(during the Christian reconquest of the Iberian lands),
the knight Martim Moniz sacrificed his life to prevent that the More troops closed the castle's gate. Martim Moniz decided to
sacrifice his life, keeping the door
open with his body, so the Christian knights were able to get into the walls and then win the
battle.
Today the old city walls, called
walls Moura, no longer exists (or almost) in its place there is a rich Mundial hotel, with its magnificent disco / bar
located on the rooftop overlooking
the poor neighborhoods. Across the
square the shopping center “Mouraria”
and "Avenida Almirante Reis" inaugurate
the green metro line (the one
that goes to the poorest neighborhoods of the center). So, here we are, in Martim Moniz square, a place of transition
between the center and the old
poor neighborhoods, history, music, colors and multiculturalism,
but also of degradation. However, these
districts are in the
recovery phase, the municipality of Lisbon is renovating them
one by one with a large and ambitious reconstruction project. Martim Moniz square, and its surrounding buildings, was the first step of
this phase of "reconstruction", but unfinished... In fact, the
modern buildings haven’t yet been completed and the work has been slow due to lack of funds.
In conclusion Martim Moniz
is a historic district, ancient and
modern, degraded and renovated,
alive, charming and with many, many
things to see and stories to hear.
The Martim Moniz Tour is recommended especially for young people,
but also to families, of course accompanied
by a guide, because this district is a labyrinth waiting to be discovered! Let us show the
adventure and the mysteries of Martim
Moniz.
