Castelo de Sao Jorge

The Castelo de Sao Jorge (St George’s Castle) is the fortification built by the Moors in mid 11th century as a defensive stronghold for the Governor & the elite administrators who resided on the citadel. After Lisbon was conquered by Alfonso I in 1147 the old buildings were modified & enlarged to receive the royal court & the bishop as well as the Royal Archives. After the 13th century, the Castela was officially the Royal Palace used until the 16th when it became mostly a military castle. The site of the castle has signs of life since the Iron Age (7th century BC).

The garden of the Castelo de S. Jorge is the only remaining green space in Lisbon where the primary native species of Portuguese forest predominate. Visitors can observe such trees as cork oak, olive, carob, strawberry, umbrella pine and various fruit trees, in memory of the vegetable garden of the Royal Palace of the Alcáçova. Ruins of older structures and a cistern still remain in a second courtyard. Also found here is a small door on the northern wall called the Door of Treason which allowed secret messengers to enter or exit when needed.

Today this National monument of the old alcáçova (citadel) still retains 11 towers & has 3 archaeological sites: the iron age archaeological site, the Moorish quarter & the Palace. A permanent exhibition consisting of objects found in the archeological site & an optical system that provides a 360° detailed view of the city’s monuments in real time is also on the site. The panoramic views over Lisbon are beautiful & of course, the whole scenery is idyllic. More