New Year festivities

Lisbon is one of those European cities where wild celebrations herald the New Year, or Ano Novo. The first of January is an official holiday in Portugal and the evening before is celebrated in style with fireworks, parties and celebrations in many bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs throughout the city. The focal point of the festivities is around the Torre de Belém, where there is usually live music, dancing and a laser light show projected onto the Tagus River, followed by a spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight, after which DJs turn up the volume to keep the large crowds entertained into the wee small hours.