Castelo de São Jorge

Castelo de São Jorge Review

Although St. George's Castle was constructed by the Moors, the site had previously been fortified by Romans and Visigoths. To your left as you pass through the main entrance is a statue of Dom Afonso Henriques, whose forces in 1147 besieged the castle and drove the Moors from Lisbon. The ramparts offer panoramic views of the city's layout as far as the towering Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge; be careful of the uneven footing. Remnants of a palace that was a residence of the kings of Portugal until the 16th century house a snack bar, a small museum showcasing archeological finds, and beyond them a cozy, stately restaurant, the Casa do Leão (21/888-0154). From the periscópio (periscope) in the Torre de Ulísses, in the castle's keep, you can spy on visitors going about their business below; technical explanations are given in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Beyond the keep, traces of pre-Roman and Moorish houses are visible thanks to recent archeological digs, as well as the remains of a palace founded in the 15th-century. The castle's outer walls encompass a small neighborhood, Castelo, the medieval church of Santa Cruz, restaurants, and souvenir shops.