CASTELO DE SÃO JORGE
This hilltop castle is traditionally regarded as the site of Lisbon’s founding settlement. Archaeological finds dated to the 7th century BCE support this theory, although the oldest castle remains are from the Moorish era. Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, captured the Moorish citadel in 1147 and his successors added the Alcáçovas palace, which remained the royal residence until 1511. Following centuries of neglect, the castle was imaginatively restored in 1938, providing the city with one of its most attractive viewpoints.
The restored battlements at Castelo de São Jorge
Map of the Castle
NEED TO KNOW
Porta de São Jorge, Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo • 218 800 620 • www.castelodesaojorge.pt
Main castle complex: 9am–9pm (6pm Nov–Feb) daily
Torre de Ulisses camera obscura: 10am–5pm daily (depending on visibility)
Castle museum: 9am–9pm daily (6pm Nov–Feb); adm $12.50; over 65 $11; reduced $6; under 12 free
- The west-facing esplanade is best in the late afternoon, when the sun is low.
- The bar at Chapitô (Costa do Castelo 7) is a good place to relax after a visit to the castle.
1. Porta de São Jorge
This grand gate leads onto the final steep climb up to the castle grounds. In a wall niche to the left is a figure of St. George. His local connection may derive from the role played by English troops in the conquest of Moorish Lisbon.
2. Casa do Leão
This restaurant, in one of Lisbon’s most exclusive locations, serves traditional Portuguese and international food. Although the interior is very impressive (it was part of the 13th-century Alcáçovas palace), try to sit outside if you can—the views are superb.
3. Castle Museum
On the site of the Alcáçovas palace, the museum contains a collection of artifacts excavated from the hilltop, such as Iron Age cooking pots and 15th-century tiles.
Castle Museum
4. Torre de Ulisses
In one of the inner battlement towers, a camera obscura attached to a periscope projects images of the city. The castle has a history of distant gazing: Lisbon’s first observatory was set up there in c.1788.
5. Torre de São Lourenço
Connected to the castle by a long series of steps, this tower once formed part of the outer fortifications. Today, it offers another angle from which to view the castle.
Torre de São Lourenço
6. Santa Cruz Neighborhood
The tiny neighborhood of Santa Cruz do Castelo, within the old citadel, is one of the most picturesque parts of Lisbon. It is home to aging residents, younger investors, and luxury hotels.
7. Inner Battlements
The reconstruction of the inner castle is one of the great achievements of the 1938 restoration. With 11 towers and a dividing inner wall, the restored castle closely matches the layout and size of the original.
8. Archaeological Site
This site features traces of the most significant periods in Lisbon’s history, including settlements from the Iron Age.
9. Statue of Afonso Henriques
This bronze statue of Portugal’s first king was added to the esplanade in 1947. It is a copy of an 1887 work by Soares dos Reis (the original is in Guimarães).
Statue of Afonso Henriques
10. Esplanade
The esplanade on top of the outer fortifications is one of the main rewards of a climb up to the castle. Dotted with archaeological remains and shaded by pines, it follows the castle’s western perimeter, offering views of the river and lower city.
Esplanade
MYTHICAL MARTYR
The myth of Martim Moniz, a soldier who is said to have given his life as a doorstop in 1147—allowing Afonso Henriques and his crusaders to enter the castle—has a durable grip on the Lisbon imagination. The gate where his unverified deed took place bears his name, as does a square below the castle.
