Grand structures and architecture, Lisbon

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In common Portuguese conversation, when someone says "that is like the works of St Engrácia" that means a never ending work. That was born when the people got convinced that this church, started in 1568 would never be finished.

Officially, it has been finished in 1966, but the initial plans were revised, and there are still four towers missing, justifying the popular expression. With all the stop and go in its construction, it became a strange building where baroque dominates, but with several interpretations. LOcated in a typical quarter near the centre, since 1916 it is the burial place of some of our great figures, the last one Amalia Rodrigues.

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Built in 1846 upon the ruins of a former palace used by Inquisition, the national theatre D. Maria II suffered a strong fire in 1964 saving only the walls. Being the most emblematic building in Lisbon's main square - Rossio - it was reconstructed respecting the original, reopening in 1978 and being now regularly used with public management.

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Metro is the most reliable transport in Lisbon - fast, with a smart network, and fair price.

The problem for a tourist is that it misses the sights available from buses or trams. Anyway, some stations have artworks, enriching visually the trip.

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Walking to the waterfront in downtown Lisbon you will find the beautiful square Praco Do Comercio. Here you can find places to sit and people watch while enjoying the tranquility of the waterfront. Just behind you will be the bustling city of Lisbon, but for a few moments you forget the city and enjoy the water front. I love to take photos of equestrian statues when I travel. Here in Praco Do Comercio I found the grand Equestrian Statue of King Jose I.

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Built in 1748, this arch transports the aqueduct over a road and into the Mãe d'Água (Mother of the Water) reservoir which is now the Water Museum. Although the project was still unfinished, the aqueduct finally started to bring water to the city of Lisbon, a fact celebrated in the construction of this commemorative arch.

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Built between 1731 and 1748 to bring the city its first clean drinking water, Lisbon's remarkable aqueduct is made up of 109 stone arches, which were the tallest stone arches in the world when they were built. Its total length is 18km (12 miles), but the most visible part are the 35 arches crossing the Alcantara Valley (the best views are from Campolide train station), the tallest of which rise to a spectacular 65m (213ft) from the ground with a span of 29m (95ft). Astoundingly, it all survived the 1755 earthquake.

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Designed by the architect Hungaro Carlos Mardel, in 1752, its construction lasted until 1834. Utilized to receive and distribute the waters of the Aqueduct and for being an essential component of water supply to the city of Lisbon, it has a capacity of 5,500 cubic meters. At its west façade, Amoreiras street, is the house of the Registry, where they measured the flow of water circulating through underground tunnels, into the fountains of the city. You can walk up onto the roof terrace for some great views over the city and see inside the aqueduct. I was the only one visiting when I was there and so had this impressive feat of engineering all to myself.

Open: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, closed Sundays. Admission: €2.50.

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Opening towards Augusta Street, which links the northern part of Commercial Square with the other traditional Lisbon square, the Rossio, the original project by Eugénio dos Santos planned a triumphal arch, but this was only realised in 1875. This arch, usually called the Arco da Rua Augusta, was designed by Veríssimo da Costa. It has a clock on the other side and statues of Glory, Ingenuity and Valour (by the French sculptor Camels) and those of Viriatus, Nuno Álvares Pereira, Vasco da Gama and, of course, the Marquis of Pombal.