Sport
Lisboetas are mad about football and support either of the two major clubs, Sport Lisboa e Benfica (website: www.slbenfica.pt), known as the ‘red devils’, and Sporting Clube de Portugal (website: www.sporting.pt), known as the ‘lizards’, for their green stripes. Both are strong first-division contenders. Benfica play at the enormous Estádio da Luz, Avenida General Norton de Matos (tel: (21) 760 2127; website: www.slbenfica.pt), although they are set to move to a new home in time for Euro 2004. Sporting play at the Estádio José Alvalade, just north of the Campo Grande (tel: (21) 751 4030; website: www.scp.pt).
Sport can get bloodthirsty in Portugal and Lisbon is no exception. Bullfighting can be seen at the Campo Pequeno (tel: (21) 793 2442) during the summer months on Thursday. Surrounding the city are beaches, sailing clubs and watersports facilities – the Estoril Tennis Open, Portuguese Golf Open and the World Windsurfing Championships all take place along the coast.
Tickets to sporting events can be purchased at the Agência de Billetes para Espectáculos Públicos (ABEP). There is a kiosk located in the southeast corner of Praça dos Restauradores. Ticket Line (tel: (21) 712 0300) also offers tickets to many popular events.
Fitness centres: The Health Club Soleil (tel: (21) 383 2908), in the Amoreiras Shopping Centre, has a leisure centre with squash courts.
Golf: There are over a dozen 18-hole courses in the area, notably the Clube de Golf do Estoril, Avenida da República, in Estoril (tel: (21) 468 0176), and Lisboa Sports Club, near Queluz at Casal da Carregueira, in Belas (tel: (21) 432 1474). Fees are around Esc3500/EUR17.50 and membership is not required.
Swimming: The beaches to the west of Lisbon, notably at Estoril and Cascais, are popular, although can become very crowded during the height of summer. At the Cabo da Roca, the water is rougher. Many Lisboetas prefer the beaches south of the Rio Tejo – there are dunes and sandy beaches south of Caparica. The Piscina do Ateneu, Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 102 (tel: (21) 343 0947), is a convenient swimming pool near the Rossio, which is open Monday to Friday 1310-1630 and 2100-2200 and Saturday 1530-1900.
Tennis: Courts are located in the Jardim do Campo Grande, Campo Grande (tel: (21) 758 5192), and at the coastal resorts.
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