t The citadel is set on a hilltop location above Lisbon's colourful rooftops.
W2 ⌂ Porta de São Jorge (entrance on Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo) @ 737 v 28 # Mar–Oct: 9am–9pm daily; Nov–Feb: 9am–6pm daily (check website for further details) ∑ castelodesaojorge.pt
Towering above central Lisbon, this Moorish citadel is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Though much of the present castle dates from a 1930s restoration, visitors still flock to the top of the hill to seek out traces of the city’s history and enjoy the spectacular views laid out below.
Following the recapture of Lisbon from the Moors in 1147, Dom Afonso Henriques transformed their hilltop citadel into the residence of the Portuguese kings. In 1511, Manuel I built a more lavish palace in what is now the Praça do Comércio and the citadel castle was used variously as a theatre, prison and arms depot. After the 1755 earthquake, the ramparts remained in ruins until 1938, when António Salazar began a complete renovation, rebuilding the “medieval” walls and adding gardens and wildfowl. The castle may not be authentic, but the gardens and the narrow streets of the Santa Cruz district within the walls make a pleasant stroll, and views from the observation terrace are some of the finest in Lisbon. Other attractions on-site include the city’s only camera obscura and the Casa do Leão restaurant, built within part of the former royal residence. Book a table for dinner; the restaurant is also open at lunchtime to those with a ticket for the castle.
t The citadel is set on a hilltop location above Lisbon's colourful rooftops.
Experience Alfama
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Named after the Greek hero Ulysses, who supposedly founded Lisbon on his meander home from Troy, this tower contains a camera obscura – a complicated system of lenses and mirrors that projects 360° views of the city onto the walls in real time. Views are weather-dependent; sunny mornings, when the light is soft, yield the clearest images.