CASTLE OF ST. GEORGE
Overlooking the city from millennium-old walls
Saint George's Castle can be seen from almost everywhere in the city.
Its oldest parts date from the 6th century, when it was
fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors.
It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king
Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European
crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St.
George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact
dating from 1371, and became the royal palace until another one (that was
destroyed in the Great Earthquake) was built in today's
Comercio Square.
It is now an oasis of peace, but just past the main gate is a statue of King Afonso Henriques and a series of cannons, reminders of the
castle's original purpose. What remains of the Alcaçovas Palace where
medieval kings lived, is a stone building now housing a restaurant, and
round the back, a small archaeological museum in three underground chambers (including the one where Vasco da
Gama was once received by King Manuel).
Most of the castle was destroyed over the years, especially in the Great
Earthquake, but still includes a long extension of walls and 18 towers.
Visitors can climb the towers and walk along the ramparts for the most
breathtaking views of the city, or relax in the gardens where peacocks, geese and ducks strut around. One of the castle's inner
towers, the Tower of Ulysses, holds the Câmara Escura, a periscope
that projects sights from around the city.
Get reduced admission to St. George's Castle and ride Lisbon's metro, buses, and trams for FREE with the Lisboa Card.
How to Visit
Where: Alfama
How: Walk up from Alfama or bus 37.
When: 9AM-9PM (March-Oct.), 9AM-6PM (Nov.-Feb.)
Sights Nearby
The
Cathedral - The city's oldest building.
Miradouro das
Portas do Sol - Standing over Alfama's rooftops, domes, and church towers.
Miradouro de
Santa Luzia - Views of the river and Alfama.
São
Vicente de Fora Church - A 16th century monastery with an exceptional tiled interior.
The
National Pantheon - The domed church that took centuries to complete.
Santo
Antonio Church - Saint Anthony's birthplace.
Graça Church
and Miradouro - A panoramic view to the castle and the city.
Casa
dos Bicos - A 16th century architectural curiosity.
The
Roman Theater - The archaological remains of a once large Roman theater.
Decorative
Arts Museum - A captivating decorative arts collection.
Fado
Museum - The story of the national music.
Military
Museum - A testament to the country's battles.
|
|