LISBON (Portuguese, Lisboa; an cient Olisipo), the capital of Portugal, province of Estremadura, on the Tagus, near its mouth. The city is partly built on the shores of the Tagus, and on sev eral small hills, and presents a magnifi cently picturesque appearance from the river. The most beautiful part is called the New Town, stretching along the Tagus, and is crowded with palaces. The principal public squares are, the Praga do Commercio, 565 feet long; and the Praga do Rocio, 1,800 feet long. The churches are profusely decorated, and some of them are built of marble. Among other architectural curiosities the most important is the Alcantara aqueduct, which supplies all the public fountains and wells of the city. Its course is partly underground, but as it crosses the deep valley of the Alcantara near Lisbon, it is carried over 35 marble arches for a length of 2,400 feet. Lis bon contains a large number of educa tional and scientific institutions, among which are the Royal Academy of Sci ences, founded in 1778, a naval academy, and an academy of engineering. The
harbor, or road, of Lisbon, is one of the finest in the world; and the quays, which extend nearly 21/2 miles along the banks, are at once convenient and beautiful. The exports comprise wine, oil, fruit, and salt; among the imports are woolens, cottons, silks, metals, colonial produce, and furs. The manufactures of Lisbon are inconsiderable, consisting chiefly of silk fabrics, jewelry, paper, and soap; there are also sugar refineries, tanneries, and potteries; and its jewelers and gold smiths are among the most expert in Europe; but its backwardness is owing principally to a want of energy and in dustry. The climate of Lisbon is vari able, but, on the whole, healthful and genial. Pop. about 436,000.