LIS'BON (Portug. Lisboa; called by the ancient Lusitanians Olisipo or Ulisippo, and by the Moors Lishbuna), the capital of Portugal, is situated in the province of Estremadura, on the right bank of the Taffus, which is here about 6 m. wide, and about 18 from the mouth of the river. eop. 224,063. The eity is built partly on the shores of the Tagus, and partly on three larger and four smaller hills. Its appearance is wonderfully picturesque; and its resemblance, in point of situation and magnificence of prospect, to Constantinople, at precisely the opposite extremity of Europe, has been frequently remarked. Including its suburbs, it extends about 5 m. along the river. The harbor, which is safe and spacious, is protected by strong forts, but the city itself is unwalled and without any fortifications. The eastern and older part, which lies around the Cas tle-hill—an eminence crowned with an old Moorish castle, destroyed by earthquakes— is composed of steep, narrow, crooked, badly-paved streets, with high, gloomy, wretched looking houses; but the newer portiona are well and regularly built. The most beauti ful part is called the New Toton—it stretches along the Tagus. and is crowded with palaces. Among the places or squares, the principal are the Frac.° do Commercio, on the Tams, 565 ft. long, 520 broad, surrounded on three sides with splendid edifices; the Pracoda Bodo, in the new town, forming the market-place, 1800 ft. long and 1400 broad; and the Passel° Publico. The whole of the new town, and the district round the royal castle, is lighted with gas. Lisbon has 70 parish churches, 200 chapels, numerous monasteries, hospices, and hospitals, 6 theaters, and 2 amphitheaters. The most con spicuous public buildings are the church of the Patriarch, the monastery of the Heart of Jesus (with a cupola of white niarble), the church of St. Roque (built of marble), the Foundling hospital (receiving annually about 1600 children), St. James's hospital (capa
ble of receiving 1,600 sick persona), the royal palaces of Ajuda, Nossa Senhara das Neeessidades, and Bemposta, the custom-houses, the arsenal, and the National theater, on the site of the old inquisition. The 'city has numerous educational and scientific institutions, and a national library containing 160,000 vols. Among notable objects, the most important is the Alcantara aqueduct, Os Amos or Aguas liores, finished in 1743, which supplies all the public fountains and wells of the City. It is 18 m. in length, and in one place 260 ft. high, and remained uninjured at the great earthquake. It is the greatest piece of bridge-architecture in the world. Lisbon has a royal arsenal, ship building docks, and powder-mills, besides private manufactories of silks, porcelain, paper, and soap; also iron-foundries, aud jewelry and trinket establishments. Rs chief exports are oranges, citrons, wool, oil, and leather. The shipping accommodation is extensive and commodious, and the trade with Africa is an important and flourishing one. The imports in 1875 were valued at £2,880,295; and the exports at £1,839,50'7. About 30,000 Galegos (Galicians) earn a subsistence here as porters, water-carriers, and laborers.
Lisbon is said to have been founded by the Phenicians, a ndwas flourishing city, the capital of Lusitania, when first visited by the Romans. It was taken by the Moors in 712, from whom it was recaptured by Alfonso I. in 1147. It became the seat of an archbishopric in 1390, and of a patriarchate in 1716. Lisbon has been frequently visited by earthquakes; that of 1755 destroyed a great part of the city and 60,000 inhabitants. It was captured by the French in 1807, but given up to the British in 1808, after which it was protected by the lines of Torres Vedms.