Imagine Lisbon in the 8th century BC. Human occupation began on this very hill where Castelo de São Jorge now stands.
Hello everyone. Welcome to Castelo de São Jorge. Sometimes it is known as Saint George’s Castle. This historic castle is in Lisbon. It sits in the Santa Maria Maior area.
The hill has been key to Lisbon’s story. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors all used it for defense. In 1147, the Portuguese conquered it during the Siege of Lisbon. Since the 12th century, the castle has been a royal palace and military base. It even housed the Torre do Tombo National Archive. Now, it is a national monument and museum.
Celtic tribes first used this hill. Then came the Phoenicians. Greeks and Carthaginians followed. Romans, Suebi, Visigoths, and Moors each took their turn. Berber forces built walls here in the 10th century. They called it Cerca Moura.
In 1147, Afonso Henriques and northern European knights freed Lisbon from Moorish rule. This happened during the Second Crusade. Legend says that knight Martim Moniz sacrificed himself. He blocked a castle door, allowing Christian soldiers to enter.
In 1255, Lisbon became Portugal’s capital. The castle became a fortified residence for Afonso III. King Denis I renovated it around 1300. He turned the Moorish alcáçova into the Royal Palace of the Alcáçova.
King Ferdinand I ordered the building of the Cerca Nova between 1373 and 1375. This wall enclosed most of the castle. Master builders João Fernandes and Vasco Brás oversaw the construction. The wall had 77 towers and 34 gates.
King John I dedicated the castle to Saint George in the late 14th century. He married the English princess Philippa of Lancaster. Saint George was a warrior-saint popular in both countries.
From 1378, the Torre do Tombo housed the kingdom’s records. It was later known as the Tower of Ulysses. Fernão Lopes and Gomes Eanes de Zurara worked here.
In the early 15th century, a royal menagerie was near the Castelo de São Jorge. King John I brought two Barbary lions from Ceuta in 1415. They lived in the Palace of Lisbon. People called the area Casa dos Leões.
King Manuel I received Vasco da Gama at the castle in 1498. This was after Gama discovered the sea route to India. Gil Vicente staged his Monólogo do Vaqueiro here in 1502. He honored the birth of Manuel I’s son.
Around the early 16th century, the Palace of Alcáçova declined. The Ribeira Palace was constructed beside the Tagus river. An earthquake in 1531 damaged the castle further. King Sebastian ordered rebuilding in 1569. He wanted to use it as his residence. But the works were never completed. The castle became military barracks and a prison.
Nicolau de Langres designed new fortifications in 1648. Mateus do Couto became master builder in 1650. The Soldiers’ Hospital was built in 1673.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake severely damaged Castelo de São Jorge. From 1780 to 1807, Casa Pia was established here. It was dedicated to educating poor children. The first geodetic observatory in Portugal was constructed in 1788. It was at the top of one of the castle’s towers.
By the 1930s, the castle was obscured by later additions. António de Oliveira Salazar initiated renovations. Incongruous structures were demolished. A monument to Afonso Henriques was installed in 1947.
The Castelo de São Jorge is roughly square. It was encircled by a wall. The complex includes the castle, ancillary buildings, gardens, and a terraced square. The main entrance has the coat-of-arms of Portugal. The statue is a copy of António Soares dos Reis’ original.
The royal palace remnants are near the main square. The Casa Ogival hosts the Olissipónia. The medieval castle is at the northwest corner. It has ten towers. A walkway atop the wall offers magnificent views.
The Tower of Ulysses has a camera obscura since 1998. This allows a 360-degree view of the city. A barbican protects the southern and eastern sides. The northern and western sides are naturally protected.
Today, Castelo de São Jorge offers amazing views. You can see all of Lisbon from here. It stands as a testament to Lisbon’s rich history. It has witnessed centuries of change and remains a symbol of Portuguese resilience.