Castle of San Giorgio

São Jorge Castle, located on the highest hill in Lisbon, is a majestic symbol of the city and a silent witness to its long and tumultuous history. Its origins date back to at least the 8th century BC, when the site was inhabited by various civilizations, including Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Visigoths. However, the structure we see today was mainly developed by the Moors in the 11th century, during their occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. This castle was originally built as a military fortress to defend Lisbon from invaders. In 1147, during the siege of Lisbon, the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, with the help of the Crusaders, conquered the castle from the Moors. From that moment on, the castle became a royal residence and an administrative center, undergoing numerous changes and expansions over the centuries. In the 15th century, the castle was dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of knights and warriors, by King John I, in commemoration of the Anglo-Portuguese treaty of 1371. This period also marked the construction of the famous “Casa dos Leões” where King John I installed two Barbary lions brought from the conquest of Ceuta in 1415. The structure housed the royal palace, where Vasco da Gama was received upon his return from India in 1498, and where the playwright Gil Vicente staged his “Monólogo do Vaqueiro” in 1502. The castle continued to be a royal residence until the early 16th century, when King Manuel I transferred the court to the Ribeira Palace, near the Tagus River. This transfer marked the beginning of the castle’s decline, further exacerbated by the earthquakes of 1531 and 1755. During the Spanish domination in the 17th century, the castle was transformed into a military barracks and prison. In the 20th century, the castle underwent extensive restoration to restore its original structure and was opened to the public as a national monument and museum. Today, São Jorge Castle offers visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Lisbon and the Tagus River, thanks to its privileged location. The architecture of the castle is a fascinating fusion of Moorish and medieval influences. Visitors can explore its sturdy walls, defensive towers, and charming courtyards. Within the walls, there are remains of Moorish and medieval walls, as well as Gothic and Manueline architectural elements added during various renovations. Particularly noteworthy are the Tower of Ulysses, which offers a panoramic view of the city, and the medieval cistern, a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering.