Point of interest
Castelo de São Jorge
in Lisboa, Portugal
Moorish hilltop castle above the old town with the best 360° view over Lisbon and the river.
Where it is
On the highest hill of the old town, above the Alfama district, overlooking the whole city and the Tagus.
Address: Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-478 Lisbon
What it is
Within the walls visitors find eleven towers, the ramparts, archaeological remains and shaded gardens roamed by peacocks. Above all, the castle offers one of the finest panoramic views over Lisbon's red rooftops and the river. It is especially striking at sunset.
History
The earliest fortifications on the hill date back to antiquity; the present castle was laid out in the 10th and 11th centuries during Moorish rule. In 1147 Dom Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, captured the castle and the city from the Moors. It served as a royal residence between the 13th and 14th centuries and was declared a National Monument in 1910.