Lisbon Castle is a charming palace, located on the top of a hill. The castle was earlier used as a fortress, but presently it is the residence of a number of local families. The castle is also known as Saint George’s Castle. The castle of Lisbon can be viewed from all parts of the city. Tourists can enjoy the amazing views of the city of Lisbon and the Tagus River from the castle towers. One can even climb the towers of the Lisbon Castle and walk all along the renovated ramparts of the castle walls.
Architecture of Lisbon Castle
This majestic castle sprawls over an area of nearly 6000 square meters with numerous lookouts, towers, and two plazas that are separated by an internal wall with a connecting door. After entering the main gate, the statue of King Afonso Henriques stands majestically. A series of cannons are also installed in the castle. The Ogival House of the Lisbon Castle is a must see for the visitors because of its excellent architectural dexterity. It has five ogival arches and the 17th-century door connects it to the jails located here. Over the years, a large part of the castle has been destroyed, especially in the Great Earthquake. Only the remains of the long extension of walls and 18 towers are still present on the site.
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History of Lisbon Castle
The oldest parts of Saint George's Castle date back to the 6th century, when it was established by the Romans, Visigoths, and then the Moors. Until Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal captured the castle in 1147 it was used as a Moorish royal residence. To commemorate the Anglo-Portuguese pact of 1371, the castle was dedicated to St. George, who was the patron saint of England. Finally, the royal palace was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and a new castle was built at the present Comercio Square.
This majestic stone building presently houses a restaurant and Olissiponia, which is an excellent multimedia exhibit on the history of Lisbon. The show is organized in the three underground chambers. One of these chambers are named after Roman Lisbon, and the images are projected on a 3m(10ft) wall and different stories are narrated to give an overview of Lisbon’s history.
The castle is open for visitors from 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM from the months of March to October, while in the months of November to February it remains open from 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM. The royal Lisbon Castle is one of the most splendid castles of the city that reflects the grandeur and glorious past of the Portuguese city.
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