{"id":17692,"date":"2024-09-16T14:09:53","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T14:09:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/castelo-de-sao-jorge-lisbon\/"},"modified":"2024-09-16T14:10:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T14:10:35","slug":"castelo-de-sao-jorge-lisbon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/castelo-de-sao-jorge-lisbon\/","title":{"rendered":"Castelo de S\u00e3o Jorge in Lisbon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Perched in the heart of the Alfama district, atop Lisbon’s highest hill, S\u00e3o Jorge Castle (Castelo de S\u00e3o Jorge in Portuguese) offers visitors a captivating journey through more than 2,000 years of Portuguese history.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, this ancient fortress is a must-visit destination. Ready to explore? Follow the guide! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f Heads up!<\/strong> The queue at the entrance to S\u00e3o Jorge Castle can get frustratingly long. To avoid wasting time,<\/strong> Captain Ulysse highly recommends getting a skip-the-line ticket: Skip-the-line ticket for S\u00e3o Jorge Castle<\/a><\/strong> or<\/strong> Lisboa Card<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong>
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Table of Contents:<\/strong>
> A Brief History of Castelo S\u00e3o Jorge<\/a>
> Visiting Castelo S\u00e3o Jorge<\/a>
> Practical Information
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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Tip<\/strong>: Free guided tour of the capital<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels accommodation: a<\/strong> selection of value-for-money accommodation. <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A brief history of Castelo S\u00e3o Jorge, Lisbon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Iron Age <\/strong>
(6th century BC)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Evidence suggests the site was first inhabited<\/strong> by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Roman Occupation <\/strong>
(2nd century BC \u2014 5th century AD)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In the 2nd century BC, the Romans conquered Lisbon<\/strong>, renaming the city Olisipo<\/em>. During the 1st century AD, Caesar renamed it Felicitas Julia. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Barbarian Invasions <\/strong>
(From the 5th century)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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By the 5th century, the city was conquered by the Suevi<\/strong>, a Germanic tribe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, it fell under the control of the Visigoths.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Moorish Domination <\/em><\/strong>
(8th century)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Au 8\u00e8me si\u00e8cle, Lisbonne tombe entre les mains des Maures<\/strong> qui renomment la ville Lissabona<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They constructed large fortifications<\/strong> around the qasbah<\/em>, on the site of the current Castelo S\u00e3o Jorge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Reconquista<\/strong><\/em>
(8th century \u2014 12th century)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Control of S\u00e3o Jorge Castle alternated between Christian and Muslim forces<\/strong> during the period of the Reconquista. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the mid-12th century, Afonso I of Portugal reclaimed the city<\/strong> with the help of Norman, Flemish, German, and English crusaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legend has it that knight Martim Moniz<\/strong> sacrificed his life to hold the castle gates open, allowing the Christian forces to storm in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To honor the crusaders’ role, the castle was dedicated to Saint George<\/strong>, their patron saint.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Royal Palace of the Portuguese Kings <\/strong><\/em>
(13th century \u2014 16th century)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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From the 13th to the 16th century, Castelo de S\u00e3o Jorge served as the royal residence,<\/strong> known as the Pa\u00e7o Real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the castle withstood several attacks from Castilian forces<\/strong> attempting to conquer the city, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

but it was repeatedly damaged by earthquakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Decline of S\u00e3o Jorge Castle <\/strong><\/em>
(16th century \u2014 20th century)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Severely damaged by earthquakes, the castle was abandoned by the royal family<\/strong> in favor of the new royal residence, the Pa\u00e7o da Ribeira. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the centuries, it served various roles, including a barracks, prison, orphan and beggar training center, and headquarters for Napoleonic forces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Restoration Renewal <\/strong><\/em>
(20th century \u2014 today)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In 1910, S\u00e3o Jorge Castle was designated a national monument.
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It underwent extensive restoration in the 1940s and again in the 1990s<\/strong>, eventually opening to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, it is one of Lisbon’s most visited landmarks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting Castelo de S\u00e3o Jorge in Lisbon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u26a0\ufe0f Tip! <\/strong>To avoid long lines, consider booking skip-the-line tickets<\/strong><\/a> or using the Lisboa Card<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Archaeological Site of S\u00e3o Jorge Castle<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The archaeological site offers visitors a chance to explore three key historical periods that shaped the castle\u2019s history: <\/p>\n\n\n\n