The USA is 249 years old.
These Lisbon spots? They were already here decades (or centuries!) before 1776 and you can still visit them today.
Livraria Bertrand (Bertrand Bookstore): 1732
Recognised by Guinness as the world’s oldest operating bookstore. It has survived earthquakes, revolutions, and centuries of change and still stamps every book with “1732.”
Feira da Ladra (Thieves’ Market): since the 1200s
Lisbon’s oldest flea market has been trading for over 800 years. From antiques to vintage records, it’s a treasure hunt that hasn’t changed in spirit since medieval times.
Igreja de São Roque (St. Roch Church): 1573
Simple on the outside, but step in and you’ll find one of the richest church interiors in Europe. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist, shipped from Rome in the 1700s, is sometimes called “the most expensive chapel in the world.”
Castelo de São Jorge (St. George’s Castle): 11th Century
Before the USA existed, this castle had already seen Moorish rulers, Christian kings, sieges, and centuries of history. Climbing its walls, you’re looking at the same view Lisbon’s rulers saw 600 years before America’s independence.
Aqueduto das Águas Livres (Aqueduct of the Free Waters): 1731–1748
An engineering marvel built to bring water to the city. Its 65‑metre arches survived the 1755 earthquake and today you can still walk along the top for jaw‑dropping skyline views.
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