Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon

ST. GEORGE'S CASTLE (Castelo de São Jorge), Lisbon

From the Elevador of San Justa I walked down the narrow streets leading to Saint George's Castle. It was about 25 mts away, but weaving through the narrow cobblestone roads took me longer than usual. Watching the trams amble past me, I also came across a minor accident as I climbed up the hill. A small car that came zipping down the curves manged to scrape one going in the opposite direction. It was amusing to watch the 2 drivers argue as to who was at fault, but if you are a tourist walking up or down those roads, make sure you use the sidewalks. Narrow but safer.

The Castle can be seen from most of the vantage points in the city. Once you walk up the narrow roads leading to the castle you have to ask a few people before you find the right one that leads into the Castle. Once in you can walk the length and breadth of the Castle surveying the architecture and the magnificence of this piece of history.

Historical information on the Castle
The oldest parts of the Castle date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors. It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from 1371, and became the royal palace until another one (that was destroyed in the Great Earthquake) was built and still survives today.