Queen of the sea. A history of Lisbon

Lisbon's charm is legendary, but its vibrant 2,000-year history is not widely known, from its Roman legacy to its centuries under Moorish rule. Its journey from port town to Portugal's capital was not always smooth sailing - in 1755 the city was devasted by the largest earthquake ever to strike modern Europe, followed by catastrophic tsunami and a six-day inferno that turned sand to glass. Barry Hatton unearths these forgotten memories in a vivid account of Lisbon;s colourful past and present, bringing to life 1147 siege during the Iberian reconquista, the assasination of the king, the founding of a republic and the darkness of a modern dictatorship.

He reveals the rich, international heritage to Portugal's metropolis - the gateway to the Atlantic and the unrivalled Queen of the Sea.