Portugal remained neutral in the 2nd World War and Lisbon became a rendezvous spot for spies, taking advantage of the city’s strategic Atlantic connections, quickly turning into a true “nest of spies” as mentioned in several period chronicles. The “plane to Lisbon”, as an escape route in the movie Casablanca, remains one of the best known examples. Inside the city both the Allies and the Axis kept impressive diplomatic services: probably the only place in war-torn Europe where all sides were able to meet on equal grounds. As a matter of fact, the Portuguese eight centuries of History are rich in stories involving spies, and the most important ones are related with the Discoveries. In the beginning of this period, secret maps, secret devices and obvious upper hand knowledge gave the Portuguese sailors the competitive advantage to lead this worldwide enterprise.

In this walking tour you will visit some of the sites related with the spy stories of the 2nd World War and also learn about: