The Castle of St. George is located in (Portugal) and is considered the heart of the capital, from which the history of the city began. According to archaeologists, 2 walls to protect against attack, 18 observation towers and a church were built by the Arabs in the 8th century.
At the center of this masterpiece of ancient architecture is the citadel. You can get to it via a rising bridge over the moat. In 1147, the Crusader army led by Afonso I conquered it as the Temple of the Lord. Now hundreds of pilgrims visit this place in the Holy Land. In 1255 Afonso III built the palace as the residence of the Portuguese monarchs. During its difficult history, the building experienced attacks and fires, and was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. After the earthquake of 1531, only separate rooms remained from the palace, which now house the archaeological museum. Among its exhibits are decorative elements of the ancient royal palace and household items discovered during excavations. The pavilion on the site of the library contains scraps of ancient books, military maps and government documents found by archaeologists. The exterior and interior of the museum will immerse visitors in the atmosphere of medieval Portugal.
In the old wing of the palace, the menagerie housed lions that King Afonso V brought from Africa as trophies from hunting. Nowadays the restaurant “” (“House of the Lion”) is open there, the interior decoration of which is stylized in the Middle Ages. The waiters' clothing also corresponds to the fashion of the time.
On the territory of the castle there are luxurious gardens laid out by royal gardeners in the 17th century. Peacocks with long beautiful tails are not at all afraid of guests and allow you to take pictures with them.
In the front park there are monuments to Afonso I and other rulers of the country, and cannons symbolize strength and power
On weekends and holidays, artists stage theatrical interactive performances. Thanks to the “live” scenery and acting, viewers can feel like residents of ancient Lisbon.
Climbing onto the high fortress wall, you can see all the beauty of the capital.
How to get there?
From the center of Lisbon you can walk to the fortress or take bus 737 and trams 12, 28.
Open daily from 9.00 to 21.00
Ticket prices
For Adults - 8.50 €
For visitors over 65 years old - 5 €
Admission for children under 10 years old is free.

Alfama is the oldest historical district of Lisbon, located on a steep hillside between the Castle of St. George and the Tagus River (known in Spain as the Tagus). In the photo below, São Jorge Castle stands out as a large green spot:

The name Alfama comes from the Arabic Al-hama, which means "warm spring". In the ancient times of the rule of the Moors (until the 12th century), Lisbon was limited to Alfama, then the city began to expand to the west (the Baixa region). Since the 16th century, Alfama experienced decline, wealthy citizens moved to other, more prestigious areas, as a result of which Alfama became a quarter of the poor. Thanks to its rocky soil, Alfama survived the catastrophic Lisbon earthquake of 1755 better than other areas of the city; The medieval chaotic street layout has been preserved here.

Many tours to Lisbon include a sightseeing tour of the city, which does not include the Alfama district at all, which is a serious omission when exploring the Portuguese capital. It is in this area that there are several extremely important historical sites. And one cannot consider a full acquaintance with the history and spirit of this city without wandering through the winding streets of Alfama.

In the Alfama area there are several observation platforms called miradouro. I visited several; I find it difficult to compare their convenience for a wide view of Lisbon (for this, it is probably best to use the hill on which the statue of Christ stands). One of the sites is located near the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça:

Another site is located near the Church of Santa Luzia, founded in the 18th century by the Order of Malta:

The current building was built already in the 18th century. On the side façade of the church facing the observation deck there are two panels made of azulejos (tiles characteristic of Portugal). The first depicts the feat of the crusader knight Martin Moniz in 1147 during the Portuguese Reconquista. It happened during the siege of the castle of St. George, held by the Moors. Taking the castle was not easy. Martin Moniz and his squad patrolled the area around the besieged castle. The knight noticed a small door in the fortress wall, which the Moors were trying to close. Martin sent a messenger to King Afonso I, and he himself entered into an unequal battle. He sacrificed his life for the sake of victory, preventing the door in the fortress wall from being closed with his body. The second panel depicts Palace Square before the 1755 earthquake.

Also on the observation deck of Santa Luzia you can admire the large azulejo overlooking Lisbon and the Tagus River from the 19th century:

A few views from above of Alfama:

It looks a bit poor in places. But in the south the area faces the pier of giant cruise ships:

If you have a lot of free time, you can wander through the streets and alleys of Alfama, gawk at the ceramic tiles, “classically” hung linen (as if to soak in the fresh sea air), openwork balconies and much more.

Monastery of San Vicente de Fora

My further path lies to one of those places for which I came to Lisbon - the monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Igreja de São Vicente de Fora), the majestic building of which rises above the residential areas (on the right is the National Pantheon, about which (discussed in the next section).

The monastery was founded in 1147 by the first King of Portugal, Afonso I the Great, and dedicated to Vincent of Zaragoza, the patron saint of Lisbon.

The current monastery church was built in 1582–1629. In the interior of the church, in addition to numerous statues, paintings on metal attract attention:

Approaching the façade of the church, you must definitely pay attention to the wall on the right, through which there is a passage. After getting acquainted with the interior of the church, you need to make your way to this door.

Behind the door there is a cozy, beautiful courtyard:

From there the path goes to the interior of the monastery, which includes a small museum (in which, unfortunately, photography is not allowed), two cloister courtyards, chapels and several other important places.

The courtyards are decorated with 81 Azulejo panels from a total of 14,521 tiles, which were created in 1737 during the reign of King John V.

In addition to them, the monastery displays several dozen panels illustrating the fables of the 17th century French writer Jean de La Fontaine (some of whose creative ideas were used by the Russian fabulist I.A. Krylov):

I also got acquainted with a large collection of sea shells (Portugal is a sea country):

In the above-mentioned museum, I learned new information that the archbishops of Lisbon bore, in addition to the title of cardinal, the title of patriarch (along with the archbishops of Venice and Jerusalem). The Patriarchs of Lisbon can use a three-crown tiara in their coat of arms (though without keys, like the Pope), which sets them apart from other Latin patriarchs. This title was granted by the Pope in the 17th century (1716) for the services of Portugal in the fight against the Ottoman Empire.

The Lisbon patriarchs were buried in a very modest pantheon:

Also in the monastery is the tomb of most of the Portuguese Kings and Kings from the Braganza dynasty (along with representatives of the Braganza-Coburg branch). It was founded in 1855 by order of King Consort Fernando II.

A figure in white mourns King Carlos I and his son Luis Felipe, who were killed by terrorists in 1908 at:

The sarcophagus of Queen Amelia, wife of King Carlos I, stands out prominently; During the assassination attempt, Amelia managed to protect their youngest son, Manuel. And in 1910, after the revolution in Portugal, Amelia, together with King Manuel II and Queen-grandmother Maria Pia of Savoy (their remains, by the way, also rest in Sao Vincente de Fora, having been returned from a foreign land) went into exile. Amelia lived the rest of her life in France.

Blue and white colors are characteristic of the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarve:

I will complete the review of the monastery of San Vincente de Fora with the interior of the amazingly beautiful chapel:

National Pantheon of Portugal

The National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional) of Portugal is located in the Church of Santa Engrácia (Igreja de Santa Engrácia), which was built over almost 300 years - from the 1670s until 1966, when the dome was completed and the church was inaugurated.

Unique to Portuguese church architecture is the fact that the roof of Santa Engracia is shaped like a Greek cross. Since 1966, this church has served as the National Pantheon of Portugal. Here you can see both tombs and cenotaphs (a funerary monument in a place that does not contain the remains of the deceased; a kind of symbolic grave). For example, the cenotaphs are the sarcophagi of six outstanding heroes of Portugal: Prince Henry the Navigator, traveler and colonizer Vasco da Gama (discoverer of the sea route from Europe to India), Admiral Pedro Cabral (discoverer of Brazil), second Viceroy of India and builder of the Portuguese colonial power Afonso de Albuquerque, commander Nuno Alvares Pereira, poet Luis de Camões. These cenotaphs are located in the central hall.

Among those closer to our era, I drew attention to the tombs (real, not cenotaphs) of the famous football player Eusebio and Fadista (performer of Portuguese fado songs) and film actress Amalia Rodrigues:

By the way, about fado . This is a musical movement that appeared in Portugal around the 17th century. Translated, fado means “fate”; originally it was the song of fishermen who went to sea. The most popular fado restaurants in Lisbon are located in Alfama. I had a chance to visit one of them (unfortunately, I don’t remember its name). I can say without hesitation that attending a Fado concert is truly a must when visiting Portugal. In addition, at the concert I witnessed, there was a song and dance performance by representatives of a small nation Mirandes , who lives in northeastern Portugal (the only indigenous ethnic minority in that country). The Mirandes are somewhat similar to the Scots - they wear plaid clothes, men wear skirts, and their dances are full of jumping up and down.

Leaving the Church of Santa Engracia, I noticed a group of teenagers taking a tour near the 18th-century organ. This is how national history and culture are absorbed from childhood.

St. George's Castle

The next place on my route is not in the Alfama area, but nearby; this is the Castle of St. George (São Jorge). It is located on a high hill; undoubtedly a very advantageous strategic position.

The first fortification structure appeared here in 48 BC. under the Romans; Subsequently it was used by other peoples, and in the 10th century the fortress was reconstructed by the Berber Moors.

The entrance to the castle of St. George is decorated with the Portuguese coat of arms - on the [white] heraldic shield there are five small [blue] shields depicted in the shape of a cross. The small shields depict five [silver] bezants (a simple armorial figure, the origin of a Byzantine coin; it is a gold-painted circle (ball), symbolizing in a broad sense warmth, luck and joy). Along the edges of the large shield there is a wide [red] border with seven [golden] locks. The shield is topped with the Royal Crown, and under it is the Order of Christ (spiritual knightly order, successor to the Templars in Portugal. Established in 1318 by the Portuguese King Dinis).

In 1147, the fortress (like the whole of Lisbon) was taken by the army of the Portuguese King Afonso I, which became the only success of the Second Crusade. The sculpture of the great King adorns the park behind the entrance to the fortress complex.

After liberation from the Moors, the fortress became a royal residence. The castle received its name in honor of St. George after the conclusion of the Treaty of Windsor by Portugal and England (St. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of England). In 1386, the marriage of John I, the first Portuguese King of the House of Aviz, to Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, marked the beginning of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which is the longest in diplomatic history and lasted until the World Wars of the 20th century.

Vasco da Gama's return from India was celebrated here, and after the Royal residence moved to the luxurious Ribeira Palace in Lisbon's Baixa district in 1511, St. George's Castle was used at various times as a theatre, prison and arsenal. Gradually it fell into disrepair, and the earthquake of 1755 turned it into ruins (as did Ribeiro, by the way). These ruins can still be seen today.

Some fragments of the walls, towers and barbicans are quite well preserved (or restored - I'm not sure).

It is convenient to wander along them, contemplating the surrounding views of Lisbon and breathing wonderful fresh air. I really liked the fact that São Jorge Castle is literally surrounded by forests, which gives it an extremely vibrant character.

That's why there are a lot of guests here; Streams and streams of tourists flow abundantly over all the walls.
Cathedral, Church of St. Anthony and Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

I return to the Alfama area. In the last section of the article I will pay attention to three churches in this part of Lisbon.

I'll start with the Cathedral. In Portugal, all cathedrals are called Sé, which is derived from the initials of the words Sedes Episcopalis, meaning "the place where the bishop sits" (in modern Portuguese the word Sedes means "office").

The Cathedral looks very archaic (and, by the way, from its appearance it’s even difficult to believe that this building is the main church of the capital of a rather large state).

It is assumed that in ancient times a Roman temple stood on this site, which was converted by the Visigoths into a Christian church in the 4th–5th centuries. After the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, although Christians were allowed to live in Lisbon, the church was destroyed and a mosque was built in its place. After the siege of 1147, the city was liberated by Christians, the mosque was destroyed, and in its place a new cathedral began to be built, the building of which was built already in 1150. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 seriously damaged the cathedral, but it was restored.

Active archaeological work is still underway in the courtyard (cloister).

Each Gothic window has its own unique pattern configuration:

King Afonso IV the Brave (1291–1357) and his wife Beatrice are buried in a special chapel of the Cathedral. This King is known for his, to put it mildly, difficult relationship with his son Pedro, which can be found out in the article about. Three sarcophagi caught my eye:

In general, the interior of the Lisbon Cathedral is surprisingly ascetic. In my opinion, the only thing that stands out from the overall harsh series is the Christmas nativity scene:

Next to the Cathedral is the Church of St. Anthony (Igreja de Santo António):

Alfama is the birthplace of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon along with Saint Vincent, in 1195. He is better known as the Franciscan Anthony of Padua. On the spot where it is believed he was born, there is a church built in 1767. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of the poor and travelers. They turn to him as an assistant in finding lost values. Since the end of the 19th century, the custom has spread to call donations for the poor collected in the church “St. Anthony’s bread.”

I conclude my story about the Alfama district of Lisbon with a mention of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha) on Alfandega Street. The façade of the building is considered one of the best works of Manueline style to survive the 1755 earthquake. This is a fabulously beautiful style, which has a little bit of Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish architecture. It got its name in honor of King Manuel I, under whom Portugal established a sea route to India and entered its Golden Age.

Every major city has its own heart. Castle of St. George is the historical center of Lisbon, the Kremlin of the Portuguese capital. For many centuries, it has been observing thousands of years of European history from behind its stone walls. The ancient fortress was first in the possession of the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. In 1147, the castle passed to the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques. Since then, the Portuguese have considered it one of the symbols of statehood. Nowadays, the castle introduces tourists to medieval history; there is an impressive collection of cannons and an archaeological museum. The complex is remembered for its calm atmosphere and coolness. Mesmerizes with gorgeous panoramic views of the whole of Lisbon with red tiled roofs and the Tagus River.

The history of St. George's Castle begins at the turn of two eras. At different times it belonged to the Romans and Visigoths. Then in 1147 it was liberated by the Crusaders from the Moors. The commander of the crusaders, Afonso Henriques, became the first ruler of the country. Until the 16th century, the castle was the residence of the ruling people.

The castle is clearly visible from anywhere in Lisbon. The battlements of the fortress walls are clearly visible against the background of the blue sky, and the foundation of the building seems to be a single whole with the hill on which it is located.

The architecture of the castle is truly impressive. It is distinguished by its special massiveness and restrained symmetry of the entire structure. The appearance is complemented by many architectural elements. The fortress is surrounded by a moat with an arch-shaped bridge and two rows of walls. Along the perimeter there are 18 watch and corner towers and an external fortification - a barbican.

The entrance to the fortress territory is closed by massive gates. After them, you find yourself in a courtyard with its own atmosphere. It is calm here, there is a lot of lush greenery, there are benches in the shade, birds are walking around. Attention is immediately drawn to the statue of Afonso Henriques (the first Portuguese king who expelled the Moors from the fortress). A whole collection of medieval weapons testifies to the glorious and formidable history of the medieval castle. The original residence of the rulers has practically not been preserved; now there is a restaurant in this inner palace. If you go around the palace, you can see the entrance to the archaeological museum. Its halls contain exhibits from the territory of the fortress from the beginning of its history to the 18th century. An educational program has been prepared for visitors - the museum is showing a multimedia historical show about Lisbon, “Olyssiponia”. There is evidence that a meeting between the legendary traveler Vasco da Gama and King Manuel took place in the museum hall.

Don’t miss the opportunity to stand on the fortress walls and walk around the castle’s perimeter; from above you will have an incredible view of Lisbon. Using the camera obscura, located in the Odysseus tower and projecting 360 degrees, you will see the city in full view.

Walking through the streets of ancient Lisbon, it is impossible not to pay attention to the prominent hill, “crowned” by the main fortress of the Portuguese capital, visible even from the outskirts of the city. The Castle of St. George is located in such a prominent place that it inevitably attracts the attention of tourists, whose undying interest has made the “flagship” of Portuguese castles one of the most visited attractions in Lisbon.

From time immemorial, the highest of the seven hills of Lisbon was considered a strategic hill, so from ancient times it was “crowned” with fortifications that belonged to the Romans, then the Visigoths, then the Moors. The fortified “height” came under the rule of Portugal thanks to the first king of the state, who actively carried out the Reconquista. Afonso I Enriques in 1147, with the support of the crusaders, took the castle of the Moorish emir after a three-month siege. From then until the appearance of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century, the liberated fortress served as a royal palace, and the liberator Afonso I Henriques was immortalized in the form of a statue located on the castle grounds.

The castle, whose name in Portuguese sounds like Castelo de São Jorge, in the 14th century under King João I received the name of St. George the Victorious, patron of knights and crusades. And such a renaming is considered no coincidence, associating it with the establishment of close relationships with England, whose patron saint is traditionally considered St. George.

After the more elegant Ribeira Palace was preferred to the rough fortress, the Castle of St. George was allocated for military needs and was used as barracks, and over time it was completely reclassified as a prison, which did not have the best effect on the safety of the ancient structure. After all this, as well as after the devastating earthquake of 1755, the fortification structure needed restoration, which was carried out twice in the 20th century.

Severe rectangular towers, wide battlements, an impenetrable dry ditch - here it is, a formidable castle with a genuine military past. And hidden inside it is a real oasis - on an area of ​​6,000 square meters there are two parks where different types of trees coexist: pines, oaks, olive trees and many other types of vegetation. Among all this park greenery, peacocks flash with their motley plumage, and white swans slowly sway on the glittering surface of the reservoirs.

In 1910, the Castle of St. George was recognized as a National Monument of Portugal. Now, in addition to regular excursions, ceremonial events, various performances and exhibitions are held here, among which a wide collection of iconography is of particular interest.

The Castle of St. George, which the Portuguese call the Castle of São Jorge, has long lost its purpose: behind its powerful two-tier walls with loopholes and 18 watchtowers, the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors once sought protection and defended themselves from enemies. The fortification, built on a high hill, performed this function perfectly.

The castle is still clearly visible from everywhere. Just like the observation decks of the castle offer one of the best views of the Portuguese capital.

Lisbon began to develop in the space between the castle and the Tagus River - this area was called Alfama.

In 1147, the castle was captured by Afonso I Henriques, nicknamed Afonso the Conqueror. Afonso Henriques became the first Portuguese king to proclaim the country's independence. The grateful Portuguese erected a monument to him in the castle: he is depicted with a sword and shield in his hands. Afonso Henriques is one of Portugal's national heroes.

The castle began to be named after St. George, the patron saint of England, after the conclusion of the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, which cemented the alliance of Portugal with England through the marriage of the Portuguese king with the daughter of an English duke.

After the conquest of the castle, it served as a royal residence until the 16th century. However, in 1511 it moved to the Ribeira Palace, specially built for the king and the royal court in Lisbon's Palace Square. Two and a half centuries later, the Ribeira Palace, located in the lower part of the city, will be completely destroyed by an earthquake. But the castle of St. George on a high hill will stand. King Jose I and his family were outside the capital at that time and were not injured.

After the royal court moved, the purpose of the castle changed: an arsenal, a prison and even a theater were located here. Of course, time has not passed without a trace for the castle. In 1938, extensive restoration work was carried out here, a park was laid out, and monuments were erected.

Now St. George's Castle attracts not only tourists, but also townspeople who come here to relax. The castle regularly hosts multimedia performances, thanks to which those present can be transported into the past of their capital and experience the most significant events for it.

There are always a lot of tourists in the castle. To get inside, they first cross an arched bridge spanning the moat surrounding the castle. Behind the massive fortress gates is a courtyard. Guests are greeted by Afonso Henriques - however, this is just a monument. There is a lot of greenery in the courtyard, where you can relax a little while watching peacocks and other rare birds walking freely.

Male tourists will certainly be interested in the collection of ancient tools located in the courtyard. In one of the basements of the castle there is an archaeological museum: its exhibits were found during excavations on the territory of the castle. In ancient times, the castle was visited by another national hero of Portugal - the navigator Vasco da Gama. Here he was greeted by the king after returning from a successful expedition to India.

The building of the royal residence itself, once hidden behind the fortress walls, has hardly survived. The surviving part is now a restaurant.

Another object that attracts the attention of visitors is the reflex camera obscura, which is located on the Ullis Tower. With its help you can better see the sights of Lisbon.

Helpful information

How to get to St. George's Castle

The most popular tram among tourists, tram No. 28, takes you to St. George's Castle and goes around almost all the city's attractions. Bus route No. 737 passes near the castle. Stop - Castelo.

Opening hours of St. George's Castle

The castle is open daily: in summer from 9:00 to 21:00, in winter from 9:00 to 18:00.

Entrance fee

Entrance to the castle will cost 8.50 euros, for students and pensioners - 5 euros. For children under 10 years of age admission is free.