Castelo de São Jorge (Lisbon Castle), Lisboa
Lisbon's historic medieval castle is perched atop the highest of Lisbon's seven hills in the Alfama district of the Portuguese capital with great views of the city below.
The walls are up to 10 meters high and 5 meters thick. There are are ten square, defensive towers and a dry moat. The whole fortress forms a rough square about 50 meters long on each side.
History
A fortress has existed on this site in Lisbon since the second century BCE.
The perimeters of the present Lisbon Castle were set out by the Moors during the Islamic period of Portugal's history. Legend has it that the castle was taken from the Moors in 1147, when a certain Martim Moniz, a Portuguese nobleman, threw his body in front of an open door during the bitter siege, to allow the invading Portuguese and Crusader army to storm the fortress. This chivalrous tale is probably just legend, however.
The said gate is now known as the Porta de Martim Moniz (Gate of Martim Moniz) and many streets, parks and monuments throughout Portugal are named after this heroic Portuguese warrior.
Another tale of those times concerns the knight Henry of Bonn, a German warrior killed in the siege. A cult arose around him centered on the church of São Vicente de Fora after a palm tree grew from his grave and was believed to cure sickness. He is also mentioned by Luis de Camões in Os Lusíadas.
Lisbon Castle served as the royal palace - the Alcaçovas Palace - during the medieval period and was dedicated to São Jorge (Saint George) in the late 14th century by King João I.
Lisbon Castle gradually lost its importance as the royal palace moved elsewhere and the buildings suffered damage in the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.
Lisbon Castle now consists of a series of open courtyards within the perimeter walls. The Olisipónia, within the castle grounds, is all that now remains of the palace and has displays on the history of Lisbon.
A câmera escura (camera obscura) in the old Tower of Ulysses (once the Royal Treasury) offers 360 degree views of the city projected from a periscope.
There is a castle shop and cafe and a separate gallery housed in the old prison (where once the cobble stones of Lisbon were produced by the unfortunate prisoners). The gallery hosts exhibitions on the history and culture of Lisbon.
Access
The Lisboa Card offers a 30% reduction on the price of admission to the castle.
Lisbon Castle
Castelo de S. Jorge
1100-129 Lisboa
Tel: 21 800 620
Hours: March-October 9 am - 9 pm;
November to February from 9 am - 6 pm
Admission: 30% off with Lisboa Card
Nearby
Lisbon's castle is in the Alfama district of the Portuguese capital west of Santa Apolónia Station. Within reasonable walking distance are the the Museu Militar and the Museu Nacional do Azulejo.
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