Seven nights in Lisbon: St. George's Castle - "This island is not marked on the map - the real places are never marked on maps." Castle St
The Castle of St. George is located in (Portugal) and is considered the heart of the capital, from which the history of the city began. According to archaeologists, 2 walls to protect against attack, 18 observation towers and a church were built by the Arabs in the 8th century.
At the center of this masterpiece of ancient architecture is the citadel. You can get to it via a rising bridge over the moat. In 1147, the Crusader army led by Afonso I conquered it as the Temple of the Lord. Now hundreds of pilgrims visit this place in the Holy Land. In 1255 Afonso III built the palace as the residence of the Portuguese monarchs. During its difficult history, the building experienced attacks and fires, and was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. After the earthquake of 1531, only separate rooms remained from the palace, which now house the archaeological museum. Among its exhibits are decorative elements of the ancient royal palace and household items discovered during excavations. The pavilion on the site of the library contains scraps of ancient books, military maps and state documents, found by archaeologists. The exterior and interior of the museum will immerse visitors in the atmosphere of medieval Portugal.
In the old wing of the palace, the menagerie housed lions that King Afonso V brought from Africa as trophies from hunting. Nowadays the restaurant “” (“House of the Lion”) is open there, the interior decoration of which is stylized in the Middle Ages. The waiters' clothing also corresponds to the fashion of the time.
On the territory of the castle there are luxurious gardens laid out by royal gardeners in the 17th century. Peacocks with long beautiful tails are not at all afraid of guests and allow you to take pictures with them.
In the front park there are monuments to Afonso I and other rulers of the country, and cannons symbolize strength and power
On weekends and holidays artists stage theatrical interactive performances. Thanks to the “live” scenery and acting, viewers can feel like residents of ancient Lisbon.
Climbing onto the high fortress wall, you can see all the beauty of the capital.
How to get there?
From the center of Lisbon you can walk to the fortress or take bus 737 and trams 12, 28.
Open daily from 9.00 to 21.00
Ticket prices
For Adults - 8.50 €
For visitors over 65 years old - 5 €
Admission for children under 10 years old is free.
Alfama is the oldest historical district of Lisbon, located on a steep hillside between the Castle of St. George and the Tagus River (known in Spain as the Tagus). In the photo below, São Jorge Castle stands out as a large green spot:
The name Alfama comes from the Arabic Al-hama, which means "warm spring". In the ancient times of the rule of the Moors (until the 12th century), Lisbon was limited to Alfama, then the city began to expand to the west (the Baixa region). Since the 16th century, Alfama experienced decline, wealthy citizens moved to other, more prestigious areas, as a result of which Alfama became a quarter of the poor. Thanks to its rocky soil, Alfama survived the catastrophic Lisbon earthquake of 1755 better than other areas of the city; The medieval chaotic street layout has been preserved here.
Many Lisbon tours include sightseeing tour around the city, which does not affect the Alfama district at all, which is a serious omission when getting to know the Portuguese capital. It is in this area that there are several extremely important historical sites. And one cannot consider a full acquaintance with the history and spirit of this city without wandering through the winding streets of Alfama.
In the Alfama area there are several observation platforms called miradouro. I visited several; I find it difficult to compare their convenience for a wide view of Lisbon (for this, it is probably best to use the hill on which the statue of Christ stands). One of the sites is located near the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça:
Another site is located near the Church of Santa Luzia, founded in the 18th century by the Order of Malta:
The current building was built already in the 18th century. On the side façade of the church facing the observation deck there are two panels made of azulejos (tiles characteristic of Portugal). The first depicts the feat of the crusader knight Martin Moniz in 1147 during the Portuguese Reconquista. It happened during the siege of the castle of St. George, held by the Moors. Taking the castle was not easy. Martin Moniz and his squad patrolled the area around the besieged castle. The knight noticed a small door in the fortress wall, which the Moors were trying to close. Martin sent a messenger to King Afonso I, and he himself entered into an unequal battle. He sacrificed his life for the sake of victory, preventing the door in the fortress wall from being closed with his body. The second panel shows Palace Square before the earthquake of 1755.
Also from the observation deck of Santa Luzia you can admire the large azulejo overlooking Lisbon and the river Tagus XIX century:
A few views from above of Alfama:
It looks a bit poor in places. But in the south the area faces the pier of giant cruise ships:
If you have a lot of free time, you can wander through the streets and alleys of Alfama, gawk at the ceramic tiles, “classically” hung linen (as if to soak in the fresh sea air), openwork balconies and much more.
Monastery of San Vicente de Fora
My further path lies to one of those places for which I came to Lisbon - the monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Igreja de São Vicente de Fora), the majestic building of which rises above the residential areas (on the right is the National Pantheon, about which (discussed in the next section).
The monastery was founded in 1147 by the first King of Portugal, Afonso I the Great, and dedicated to Vincent of Zaragoza, the patron saint of Lisbon.
The modern church of the monastery was built in 1582–1629. In the interior of the church, in addition to numerous statues, paintings on metal attract attention:
Approaching the façade of the church, you must definitely pay attention to the wall on the right, through which there is a passage. After getting acquainted with the interior of the church, you need to make your way to this door.
Behind the door there is a cozy, beautiful courtyard:
From there the path goes to the interior of the monastery, which includes a small museum (in which, unfortunately, photography is not allowed), two cloister courtyards, chapels and several other important places.
The courtyards are decorated with 81 Azulejo panels from a total of 14,521 tiles, which were created in 1737 during the reign of King John V.
In addition to them, the monastery displays several dozen panels illustrating the fables of the 17th century French writer Jean de La Fontaine (some of whose creative ideas were used by the Russian fabulist I.A. Krylov):
I also got acquainted with a large collection of sea shells (Portugal is a sea country):
In the above-mentioned museum, I learned new information that the archbishops of Lisbon bore, in addition to the title of cardinal, the title of patriarch (along with the archbishops of Venice and Jerusalem). The Patriarchs of Lisbon can use a three-crown tiara in their coat of arms (though without keys, like the Pope), which sets them apart from other Latin patriarchs. This title was granted by the Pope in the 17th century (1716) for the services of Portugal in the fight against the Ottoman Empire.
The Lisbon patriarchs were buried in a very modest pantheon:
Also in the monastery is the tomb of most of the Portuguese Kings and Kings from the Braganza dynasty (along with representatives of the Braganza-Coburg branch). It was founded in 1855 by order of King Consort Fernando II.
A figure in white mourns King Carlos I and his son Luis Felipe, who were killed by terrorists in 1908 at:
The sarcophagus of Queen Amelia, wife of King Carlos I, stands out prominently; During the assassination attempt, Amelia managed to protect their youngest son, Manuel. And in 1910, after the revolution in Portugal, Amelia, together with King Manuel II and Queen-grandmother Maria Pia of Savoy (their remains, by the way, also rest in Sao Vincente de Fora, having been returned from a foreign land) went into exile. Amelia lived the rest of her life in France.
Blue and white colors are characteristic of the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarve:
I will complete the review of the monastery of San Vincente de Fora with the interior of the amazingly beautiful chapel:
National Pantheon of Portugal
The National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional) of Portugal is located in the Church of Santa Engrácia (Igreja de Santa Engrácia), which was built over almost 300 years - from the 1670s until 1966, when the dome was completed and the church was inaugurated.
Unique to Portuguese church architecture is the fact that the roof of Santa Engracia is shaped like a Greek cross. Since 1966, this church has served as the National Pantheon of Portugal. Here you can see both tombs and cenotaphs (a funerary monument in a place that does not contain the remains of the deceased; a kind of symbolic grave). For example, the cenotaphs are the sarcophagi of six outstanding heroes of Portugal: Prince Henry the Navigator, traveler and colonizer Vasco da Gama (discoverer of the sea route from Europe to India), Admiral Pedro Cabral (discoverer of Brazil), second Viceroy of India and builder of the Portuguese colonial power Afonso de Albuquerque, commander Nuno Alvares Pereira, poet Luis de Camões. These cenotaphs are located in the central hall.
Among those closer to our era, I drew attention to the tombs (real, not cenotaphs) of the famous football player Eusebio and Fadista (performer of Portuguese fado songs) and film actress Amalia Rodrigues:
By the way, about fado . This is a musical movement that appeared in Portugal around the 17th century. Translated, fado means “fate”; originally it was the song of fishermen who went to sea. The most popular fado restaurants in Lisbon are located in Alfama. I had a chance to visit one of them (unfortunately, I don’t remember its name). I can say without hesitation that attending a Fado concert is truly a must when visiting Portugal. In addition, at the concert I witnessed, there was a song and dance performance by representatives of a small nation Mirandes , who lives in northeastern Portugal (the only indigenous ethnic minority in that country). The Mirandes are somewhat similar to the Scots - they wear plaid clothes, men wear skirts, and their dances are full of jumping up and down.
Leaving the Church of Santa Engracia, I noticed a group of teenagers taking a tour near the 18th-century organ. This is how it is absorbed from childhood national history and culture.
St. George's Castle
The next place on my route is not in the Alfama area, but nearby; this is the Castle of St. George (São Jorge). It is located on a high hill; undoubtedly a very advantageous strategic position.
The first fortification structure appeared here in 48 BC. under the Romans; Subsequently it was used by other peoples, and in the 10th century the fortress was reconstructed by the Berber Moors.
The entrance to the castle of St. George is decorated with the Portuguese coat of arms - on the [white] heraldic shield there are five small [blue] shields depicted in the shape of a cross. The small shields depict five [silver] bezants (a simple armorial figure, the origin of a Byzantine coin; it is a gold-painted circle (ball), symbolizing in a broad sense warmth, luck and joy). Along the edges of the large shield there is a wide [red] border with seven [golden] locks. The shield is topped with the Royal Crown, and under it is the Order of Christ (a spiritual knightly order, the legal successor of the Templars in Portugal. Established in 1318 by the Portuguese King Dinis).
In 1147, the fortress (like the whole of Lisbon) was taken by the army of the Portuguese King Afonso I, which became the only success of the Second Crusade. The sculpture of the great King adorns the park behind the entrance to the fortress complex.
After liberation from the Moors, the fortress became a royal residence. The castle received its name in honor of St. George after the conclusion of the Treaty of Windsor by Portugal and England (St. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of England). In 1386, the marriage of John I, the first Portuguese King of the House of Aviz, to Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, marked the beginning of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which is the longest in diplomatic history and lasted until the World Wars of the 20th century.
The return of Vasco da Gama from India was magnificently celebrated here, and after the Royal residence moved to luxurious palace Ribeira in the Baixa district of Lisbon, the castle of St. George was used in different time like a theater, a prison and an arsenal. Gradually it fell into disrepair, and the earthquake of 1755 turned it into ruins (as did Ribeiro, by the way). These ruins can still be seen today.
Some fragments of the walls, towers and barbicans are quite well preserved (or restored - I'm not sure).
It is convenient to wander along them, contemplating the surrounding views of Lisbon and breathing wonderful fresh air. I really liked the fact that São Jorge Castle is literally surrounded by forests, which gives it an extremely vibrant character.
That's why there are a lot of guests here; Streams and streams of tourists flow abundantly over all the walls.
Cathedral, St. Anthony's Church and Church Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary
I return to the Alfama area. In the last section of the article I will pay attention to three churches in this part of Lisbon.
I'll start with Cathedral. In Portugal, all cathedrals are called Sé, which is derived from the initials of the words Sedes Episcopalis, meaning "the place where the bishop sits" (in modern Portuguese the word Sedes means "office").
The Cathedral looks very archaic (and, by the way, according to appearance It’s even hard to believe that this building is the main church of the capital of a rather large state).
It is assumed that in ancient times a Roman temple stood on this site, which was converted by the Visigoths into a Christian church in the 4th–5th centuries. After the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, although Christians were allowed to live in Lisbon, the church was destroyed and a mosque was built in its place. After the siege of 1147, the city was liberated by Christians, the mosque was destroyed, and in its place began to be built new cathedral, the building of which was built already in 1150. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 seriously damaged the cathedral, but it was restored.
Active archaeological work is still underway in the courtyard (cloister).
Each Gothic window has its own unique pattern configuration:
King Afonso IV the Brave (1291–1357) and his wife Beatrice are buried in a special chapel of the Cathedral. This King is known for his, to put it mildly, difficult relationship with his son Pedro, which can be found out in the article about. Three sarcophagi caught my eye:
In general, the interior of the Lisbon Cathedral is surprisingly ascetic. In my opinion, the only thing that stands out from the overall harsh series is the Christmas nativity scene:
Next to the Cathedral is the Church of St. Anthony (Igreja de Santo António):
Alfama is the birthplace of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon along with Saint Vincent, in 1195. He is better known as the Franciscan Anthony of Padua. On the spot where it is believed he was born, there is a church built in 1767. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of the poor and travelers. They turn to him as an assistant in finding lost values. Since the end of the 19th century, the custom has spread to call donations for the poor collected in the church “St. Anthony’s bread.”
I conclude my story about the Alfama district of Lisbon with a mention of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha) on Alfandega Street. The façade of the building is considered one of the best works of Manueline style to survive the 1755 earthquake. This is a fabulously beautiful style, which has a little bit of Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish architecture. It got its name in honor of King Manuel I, under whom Portugal established a sea route to India and entered its Golden Age.
St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) or the best observation deck in Lisbon
Knowing that St. George's Castle is one of the main attractions of Lisbon, we definitely decided to visit it. The castle stands on top of a hill in the historical part of the city, at an altitude of more than 100 meters and is therefore visible from almost everywhere.
Path to the castle
Initially, our ascent to the fortress was planned in a lightweight version, namely on the red tourist tram from the stop in Figueira Square. In addition, travel on it is free if you have a valid tourist ticket. Yellow bus. But at the stop we met an incredible queue of people wanting to ride. Deciding not to waste time, we went on foot and didn’t regret it for a second.
Turning from Figueira Square onto the street Rua da Madalena and after passing several houses, we saw a funny staircase-street with graffiti.
A miraculous staircase took us several tiers higher, from where we slowly continued our ascent to the castle, without ceasing to enjoy the local flavor of the quarter Bairro do Castelo.
Other ways to get to the castle: trams 12 and 28 (Miradouro de Santa Luzia stop), metro (Martim Moniz station).
Impressions of the castle
I will not go into historical details, which many reviews are full of even without me, but will tell you about my impressions from the point of view of a lazy contemplative tourist. Sometimes you really don’t want to load your head with information that is useful, but so quickly forgotten by many of us, right?
The fortress itself does not make much of an impression. Of the buildings, mostly only the walls and towers themselves have been preserved. And even then they were restored after the devastating earthquake of 1755 only during the restoration in 1938. 
But at the same time, the atmosphere inside is very pleasant and peaceful. The area has a lot of greenery, courtyards and.....peacocks! Yes, they casually walk around the entire territory with absolutely royal equanimity. They are not afraid of people and beg food from tourists. Well, just like pigeons. And it turns out they can fly))
To fully experience the magnificence of the opening views of the city, sit down at the stone tables on the fortress wall, break away from the bustle of the city and be alone with this peaceful beauty.
A glass of port from the “Wine with view” kiosk will put you in an even more romantic mood.
Is it worth a visit?
Definitely “YES”! Castle of St. George is worth a visit for the fantastic views of Lisbon. Walking along the fortress walls, you will get a panoramic view of this magnificent, calm and unique city.
The views are simply breathtaking. Cozy tiled roofs basking under southern sun, narrow streets, the Tagus River hugging Lisbon. I want to look at all this and look at it. And if you are already a little familiar with the city, then, like on a three-dimensional map, it will be easy for you to find its main attractions. This is Commerce Square, Rossio and Figueira squares, the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the Tagus River, the Santa Justa elevator, the ruins of the church of the Monastery do Carmo and some others.
And in the evening you can still see a beautiful sunset from here.
Here you can see the Commerce Square and the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the river. Tagus 
In the center you can see the ruins of the church of the Monastery of Do Carmo and the Santa Justa elevator 
The 25th of April Bridge leading to the statue of Christ is visible 
- Address: 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
- Telephone:+351 218 800 620
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost of visit: $6,17
The Castle of St. George is located right on top of the highest of the seven hills in Alfama above the old Moorish quarter. The castle is clearly visible from afar. It is famous for its panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas of the capital. Behind you can see the Atlantic Ocean, and on clear days you can see in the distance.
Stories of a Portuguese castle
The oldest parts of the fortress's buildings date back to the 6th century, when it was founded by the Romans, then completed by the Visigoths, and later by the Moors. The castle served as the residence of the Moorish kings until 1147, when it was conquered by Afonso Henriques, the first king, with the active participation of British crusader knights in the Second Christian Crusade. The castle was named in honor of St. George, the patron saint of England. The palace became the residence of the kings of Portugal and served this function until the construction of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century. One of the chambers of the palace was reserved for Vasco da Gama during his stay in Lisbon after returning from sea voyages.
After the transition of Portugal to the rule of the Crown of Spain in 1580, the fortress of St. George in Lisbon acquired a military-defensive character, which was maintained until the beginning of the 20th century. After the earthquake in 1755, many new buildings appeared on the site of the old ruins. Restoration work carried out in 1938-40 once again revealed the fortress and the remains of the old royal palace.
St. George's Castle today
The castle complex, surrounded by a citadel, consists of the castle itself, the royal palace and several other buildings, gardens and a terraced area. The main entrance to the citadel (19th century gate) leads to main square(Praça d'Armas), which is decorated with old cannons and a bronze statue of Afonso Henriques. The medieval Moorish castle with its 10 towers is located on the very high point hill. A wall with a tower and a connecting door bisects the castle courtyard, and stairs allow visitors to reach a walkway on the wall and towers, which offers magnificent views of Lisbon. The long fortress wall on the western part of the hill slopes down, ending at the Torre de Curaza tower.
Open to the public 7 days a week, St. George's Castle is now Lisbon's most popular tourist attraction, where you can visit:
Features of the visit
Opening hours of St. George's Castle in Lisbon.
Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge, Castelo de São Jorge) is a sacred place for the Portuguese. It was with the conquest of the Moorish fortress, standing on a high hill at the mouth of the Tagus, by Don Alfonso Henriques on October 25, 1147, that a country called Portugal and a city named Lisbon began, and Don Alfonso Henriques, as expected, became the first king, the founder of the dynasty. The most ancient Portuguese legends are associated with this place. However, many tourists consider visiting the castle not a mandatory point of visiting Lisbon, as they say it is just another observation deck from which another wonderful view of Lisbon opens, and this observation deck, unlike many others, is paid.
But as an eyewitness who examined the fortress, I will tell you that a certain charm is still hidden in the castle of St. George. The view from the castle walls is truly stunning; only from the hill you can view Lisbon from almost all sides, look into the small courtyards located under the very walls of the castle, and touch truly ancient stones. Despite all the tourist hype of the castle, at the top of the hill there is a feeling of peace, solemnity and slowness of what is happening. Next, I will share my impressions of visiting the fortress, so that you can decide for yourself whether this is what you need?
St. George's Castle on top of a hill
The Castle of St. George is clearly visible from anywhere in Lisbon, it stands on a high hill above the city. We walked up to the castle from Plaza Commerce, you will have to walk uphill, but along the way you can see the Lisbon Cathedral and admire the views of the city from observation deck Santa Luzia, look at the magnificent azulejo panels decorating it, if desired, go down to Alfama and walk through the oldest district of the city, which has preserved medieval buildings.
If you don’t want to walk at all, then you can drive up to the entrance to the castle by bus No. 37 or trams No. 28 and 12. Only a bus drives up to the entrance itself from the tram stop and continue on.
Counter opposite the bus stop Ticket prices for St. George's Castle
A ticket to the castle costs €8.5, free for children under 10 years old. The castle is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm, entry closes 30 minutes before 9 pm. During the high tourist season, there may be queues for tickets. Near the ticket office you can pick up a brochure with explanations for the inspection in Russian.
Map of St. George's Castle The price of the ticket to the fortress includes a visit to the camera obscura and the archaeological area with a guide. These events are held in Portuguese and English language by session, so immediately upon entering, ask when the next session will be in English to plan your visit. The official website of the Castle of St. George does not indicate the time of the sessions; the Portuguese websites leave much to be desired.
Gate to the castle, 1842 History of St. George's Castle
Naturally, as confirmed archaeological excavations, people lived on a high hill above the Tagus River from the 7th-8th centuries BC, long before the appearance of the first states, cities and borders. There is written evidence that protective walls stood on the top of the hill during the time of the ancient Romans. But we are still more interested in the moment of formation of Portuguese statehood.
The already mentioned Don Alfonso Henriques (Enriques means son of Henry, i.e. in those distant times, almost patronymic names were in use on the Iberian Peninsula), born Count of Portugal, at the age of only 14 years old, expelled his mother from her lands, who was not eager to cede power to the grown-up son, defeated her ally the Castilian king, thus achieving the independence of his county and devoted many years of his life to wars with the Moors, who were firmly established in the south of his possessions.
Monument to Don Alfonso Henriques on the grounds of the castle Don Alfonso was not only a skilled warrior, but also a clever politician. He managed to win over the French knights who went on the Second Crusade. Instead of liberating the Holy Sepulcher, the knights began to fight against the Moors on the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. The siege of the Moorish castle, standing on the site of the current Castle of St. George, lasted for 4 long months.
Of course, the capture of the last stronghold of the Moors would not have been possible without the legendary hero. They say that the crusaders managed to break into the fortress thanks to the self-sacrifice of the knight Martim Moniz. The hero found a secret door to the fortress, and with a small detachment of knights entered into an unequal battle with the Moors. Martim Moniz literally prevented this door from being closed with his body until the main forces arrived. The same gate is still shown in the castle. I personally am quite skeptical about such statements; more than 9 centuries have passed since then, according to the official chronology. Are there real objects on earth, created by human hands, that can withstand such a period of time, survive a devastating earthquake?
Martim Moniz Gate, photograph from 1908 We did not see the Moniz gate because it was undergoing renovations at the time of our visit, modern photographs Gates on the Internet no longer show the bust of the beardless young man and the memorial plaque dedicated to him. Martim Moniz bears the name of the legendary knight big square in the city center and the metro station located there. Those. Until now, the hero is respected by both those in power and the common people.
From the moment the fortress was taken, a golden age began for the Castle of St. George. All the Portuguese kings keep their official residences in the castle for four centuries, from the 13th to the 16th centuries.
Illustration for a manuscript from 1505, it is clear that the castle is significantly different from what we see now Naturally, during this time a lot was built and a lot was demolished. Almost nothing remains of the royal palaces. Nowadays, in the building that previously belonged to the royal residence, a rather expensive restaurant is open, but the interior is extremely simple; only Gothic brick vaults have been preserved from the old days. And with such views from the observation deck, lunch in the interior looks strange; even the most luxurious ambiance of the restaurant cannot surpass the view of Lisbon from the castle walls.
Ruins of the former royal palace At the end of the 16th century, the royal court left the Castle of St. George, the era of the great geographical discoveries, money poured into Portugal with unprecedented force. The king feels so confident in his country that he no longer needs to protect his residence with the help of thick castle walls. New huge Royal Palace Ribeira in the style a la Versailles is being built on the very banks of the Tagus River, on the site where the Plaza de Commerce is now located. From this moment the decline begins. Barracks are being built on the castle grounds and for a long time The castle belongs to the military. The earthquake of 1755 caused significant damage to the fortress walls.
Only at the beginning of the 20th century was the Castle of St. George awarded the honorary title national monument and restoration work begins. It is difficult to say how old exactly those walls that we can see now are; they were almost certainly thoroughly renovated quite recently; nothing lasts forever under the moon. The restoration also included the demolition of barracks buildings and institutions of later construction.
This is what the castle looked like in the 19th century Archaeological excavations were carried out confirming the antiquity of the castle. Now what was found during excavations is exhibited in a special archaeological museum, but all these shards and fragments of bygone times are unlikely to impress anyone. Archaeological museums Portugal can only interest narrow specialists in archeology; most tourists will not find anything interesting there.
What to do at St. George's Castle?
You just need to walk around the castle and enjoy the views from its walls. Perhaps having lunch at one of the stone tables is a great idea. There is only one restaurant on the territory, the prices there are a little high due to the popularity of the place, but nothing prevents you from taking sandwiches bought in the store with you.
Tables and benches on the castle walls We bought ourselves a glass of port at the mobile kiosk “Wine with view”, sat and enjoyed the excellent view of the city.
At St. George's Castle 
Tagus River, 25 April Bridge and Cristo Rei 
Rooftops of Lisbon, Figueira Square included in the frame 
Yards local residents under the very walls of the castle I highly recommend visiting the Camera Obscura. The camera obscura is located in the treasury tower or archive tower. Consistently, all royal wealth (tax revenues and royal rent) and valuable government securities were kept in Torre do Tombo. To this day, the national archive of Portugal bears the name Torre do Tombo, which literally means archive tower.
As I already mentioned, the visit to the Camera Obscura is organized in sessions in Portuguese and English. The essence of the attraction is that a clever, purely mechanical device of lenses and mirrors projects the image of Lisbon onto a concave mirror. The camera employee shows the audience various monuments and buildings in Lisbon and talks about them. Using a lever, the guide moves the image across the mirror, so in reality we saw the whole city in 20 minutes. Since the process occurs in real time, the camera obscura may be closed in bad weather.
Camera obscura, photo from the official website of the Castle Of course we climbed all the fortress walls. We took 10,000 photos.
Castle walls But we didn’t have time to visit the Moorish quarter (XI-XII centuries) with a guide; the last session had already ended. The archaeological zone itself does not look interesting at all; you can only see foundations there.
Archaeological zone Castle 
Archaeological area of the castle Main treasures Moorish Quarter are hidden under a reinforced concrete case, so you won’t be able to see anything on your own. The brochure promises to show 2 buildings, with total area 160 and 190 sq. m, decorated with geometric patterns in the Moorish style. The main value of these buildings is that they date from the 11th-12th centuries, i.e. This is even before the Portuguese period. If anyone has been on this excursion, please share the details in the comments. Portuguese cat 
Tourists have nothing to give the peacock
In general, St. George's Castle is certainly very ancient place, very significant for the Portuguese, but you need to soberly assess the nature of the exposure. Usually ancient artifacts do not look very beautiful and the antiquity of the relics itself is not able to amaze the vast majority of tourists. However, we really enjoyed the walk around the castle; we don’t at all regret the money spent on entrance tickets.
Later we visited the Moors' castle in Sintra and concluded that both of these castles were built in the same style, the main thing there being the impressive views from the walls and the surrounding nature. In the Moors' Castle in Sintra, the concept of nature includes forest, plants and flowers, and in the Castle of St. George in Lisbon - peacocks, cats and Mediterranean pines.
In the next article I will tell you. The article will be prepared based on materials from a travel brochure that came into my hands in Lisbon.
Want to travel to Lisbon on your own? Read in one short article. You will learn: about all types of transfer from the airport (cost), about the cost of tickets for public transport, get a plan for exploring the city for 6 days, find out which museums are worth visiting and which ones to skip.
