Mouraria

Overview

Mouraria is the historic Moorish quarter — the district where Muslim residents were permitted to live after the 1147 reconquest. Today it is Lisbon's most multicultural neighbourhood, with Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, and African communities layering upon Portuguese roots.

Highlights

• Fado origins: Mouraria, not Alfama, is where Fado was actually born, as documented by neighbourhood plaques and murals.
• Martim Moniz square: A multicultural food court and gateway to the neighbourhood.
• Street art: Growing collection of murals celebrating the district's diversity.

History

After the 1147 siege, Afonso Henriques confined the Moorish population to this quarter (mouraria = Moorish quarter). Over the centuries, it became one of Lisbon's poorest neighbourhoods, now undergoing careful revitalization.

Visitor Tips

• Authentic experience: Less polished than nearby Alfama — more genuinely local.
• Food: Diverse and inexpensive restaurants — Chinese, Indian, and African cuisines.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.