São Jorge Castle

People have lived on this hill for a very long time: excavations have found traces going back to the 8th century BC. The Moors built major fortifications here in the 10th century, and in 1147 Afonso Henriques, helped by crusaders of the Second Crusade, captured the castle from the Almoravids. After Lisbon became the capital in 1255, the alcáçova served as a royal residence; King Denis renovated it around 1300, and in 1498 Vasco da Gama was received here.

The earthquake of 1755 badly damaged the castle and left it to decay. In the 1930s and 1940s it was extensively restored, with later additions removed to bring back its medieval outline.

Today you walk along the walls and between ten towers, through courtyards and an archaeological site, and past exhibits with Roman and Moorish finds. The Tower of Ulysses has housed a camera obscura since 1998, and from the ramparts the views take in the rooftops of Lisbon and the Tagus estuary.