Lisbon - This is the visit of the castle of San Jorge and its viewpoints

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Panoramic views of the Castle of San Jorge from the Elevador de Santa Justa in Lisbon

One of the essential visits in you tourist trip to Lisbon is undoubtedly the St. George's Castle.

More than the dependencies that you will be able to discover in the castle, the main attraction of your visit will be to walk through a fortified enclosure that has been a key protagonist in the history of Lisbon and Portugal.

And, above all, for the excellent panoramic views of Lisbon and the Estuary of the Tagus River that you will be able to enjoy from their viewpoints.

Viewpoints of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

When during your visit to Lisbon you go up toSt. George's Castle it will be easy for you to understand why it is of one of the most visited monuments of Portugal nowadays.

San Jorge Castle history

Among the historical curiosities of St. George's Castle I will tell you that it was initially known as the Castle of the Moors.

While already in the Iron Age there was a fortified village on the hill where it is located, and in it all the occupants of the Iberian Peninsula settled, from the Phoenicians to the Romans and the Visigoths, it is known that at the time of the Muslims there was a citadel.

Viewpoints of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

This Muslim citadel was composed of a first fortified square-shaped enclosure about 50 meters side, which was surrounded by surrounding walls.

During the twelfth century, the citadel was conquered for Christians by Alfonso I, who in 1139 proclaimed himself King of Portugal.

From the thirteenth century, the fortification became the Royal Palace enclosure, and had a great boom until the 16th century. But in that century the decision was made to transfer the King and the Court to Ribeira Palace, located on the banks of Tagus river.

Viewpoints of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

Since then, the St. George's Castle It became a military barracks.

Behind the Lisbon earthquake of 1755the old Royal Palace, the castle, the walls and the churches were in ruins.

Although some buildings were built on them, the rebirth of St. George's Castle It did not occur until the early twentieth century, when it was declared National Monument.

Statue in St. George's Castle in Lisbon

Subsequently, at the end of the 30s archaeological work began to recover the monument, which finally happened after the new remodeling works of the 60s.

Visit of the castle of San Jorge

When you arrive at the castle grounds you will be on a first line of walls that is really a long succession of lookouts from where you have the cited panoramic views of the Lisbon city.

Castillejo on the grounds of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

Next to the viewpoints you will find a built set, which is the exponent of what was once the Royal Palace. It currently houses a museum area, as well as the cafe and the restaurant of the castle.

As you progress you will reach the inner fortification known as Castillejo, which is actually the old Muslim citadel of the eleventh century.

From it you can see that there are still eleven towers that you can climb as you walk through its wall. The most prominent and highest is the tower of tribute.

Castillejo on the grounds of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

As a curiosity, in the Ulysses Tower, just that of the entrance to this fortified enclosure, is the periscope, an optical system invented by Leonardo da Vinci It offers you in real time a 360 degree panoramic view of the city of Lisbon.

Is a dark camera similar to the one you can see, for example, in the Tavira Tower of Cádiz.

Finally, next to the enclosure of Castillejo you will see an archeological zone where remains of the Iron Age (VII century BC), as well as the remains of what used to be the Islamic residential neighborhood.

Castillejo on the grounds of St. George's Castle in Lisbon

Finally, for your visit it will be useful to know theschedules and entrance prices of the Castle of San Jorge.

Pictures Castle San Jorge in Lisbon

Here you have more photos of the enclosure of the castle of San Jorge from Lisbon




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Video: LISBON Castle Tour! Exploring Sao Jorge. Travel to Lisbon. (March 2024).