Which city is the westernmost capital city of mainland Europe?

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is the westernmost capital city of mainland Europe. As of 2020, the city has a population of about half a million people. It is located on the west bank of the Tagus River near the Atlantic Ocean. Its natural harbour has been a site of trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most used harbours in Europe.

Whilst Lisbon is a popular place for tourists, it is also one of the oldest cities in western Europe. The capital was founded by the Phoenicians in c.1200 BCE, who called it Ulissipo. It was then conquered by the Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, who ruled until the Islamic Moors invaded in the 8th century AD. The city was renamed Al-Usbuna, from which the simplified name Lisbon derived.

In 1755, Lisbon was destroyed by an earthquake. The Portuguese ruler, Marquis de Pombal, reconstructed the city. As a result, some of the oldest buildings in Lisbon date to this era. Expansion continued over the following centuries resulting in architecture from a number of art periods, including Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Postmodern. In 1994, the city was designated a European City of Culture.