Sao Jorge Castle to Lisbon Cathedral Walking Tour (Self Guided), Lisbon

The São Jorge Castle occupies a commanding position overlooking the city of Lisbon and the broad Tagus River beyond. The strongly-fortified citadel, which, in its present configuration, dates from medieval times, is located atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city. Its footprint is roughly square in shape and was originally encircled by a wall.

The complex consists of the castle proper ('castelejo'), some ancillary buildings (including the ruins of the royal palace), gardens, and a large terraced square from which impressive panoramas of Lisbon are afforded. The main entrance to the citadel is a 19th-century gate surmounted by the coat-of-arms of Portugal, the name of Queen Maria II, and the date, 1846.

Restaurants, cafes, wine bar, ice cream stand, and public restrooms are available once inside. Peacocks live and run wild throughout, especially around one of the main dining areas. The food is more expensive in the castle walls than in areas outside, but not terribly expensive; you can also pack your own foods and beverages and walk around with open containers. €10 per adult; kids are free. A great activity for international guests!

Why You Should Visit:
The castle certainly offers commanding views of the entire city, can be a very peaceful place first thing in the morning, and a magical one at sunset. There is also a permanent exhibition worth looking at, as well as an excellent 'camera obscura' in one of the Moorish towers (shows every 20min with languages rotating between English/Portuguese/Spanish).

Tip:
Walking to the site is very much uphill, but still a wonderful walk through the narrow streets of old Lisbon, and there are plenty of places to stop to eat. Alternatively, take the cable car #28 to admire the neighborhood with its cute and varied architecture (great photo ops!).

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am–6pm

Housed in an aristocratic 17th-century palace that was once the city residence of the Count of Azurara, the Decorative Arts Museum showcases the life of wealthy citizens of Lisbon in the 18th and 19th centuries. The magnificent interiors still have their original 17th-century wooden floors, painted ceilings and mosaics of 'azulejos', a typical Portuguese painted tin-glazed form of tile work. Some azulejos formed part of the palace while others were added while restoring the building.

The museum has tastefully arranged collections of Indo Portuguese, Portuguese, English and French furniture, a large collection of silver objects, faience tin-glazed pottery, original Chinese porcelain, Flemish tapestry from the 16th and 18th centuries, an ancient grandfather clock and a horse-drawn carriage. There are unique objects from almost every country ruled by the Portuguese when they were a colonial power, including wonderful pieces from Goa, Brazil, Macao, etc., but overall a visit here leaves a strong, long-lasting impression of Portugal's particular taste.

Tip:
Outside this location, you will find two lookout points (Miradouro das Portas do Sol / Miradouro de Santa Luzia) with beautiful views for great photographs.

Opening Hours:
Wed-Mon: 10am–5pm

The Largo das Portas do Sol street in Lisbon derives its name from the old Porta do Sol (Gate of the Sun), which is part of the city's old Moorish fortification existed prior to and ruined by the 1755 earthquake.

The Gate was adjacent to the Church of São Brás of the Order of Malta, now commonly referred to as Santa Luzia, whose bell tower was built upon the wall that runs along the Adiça to São Pedro, between two ancient towers. The wall of the Gate, destroyed in the earthquake, was to be incorporated into the Castle of São Jorge, next to the Gate of Dom Fradique.

In the middle of the 18th century, in one of the tombs inside the churchyard of São Brás, a large stone cannonball was found, fired by the Moors at the defenders of Lisbon, led by D. Afonso Henriques, during the city conquest.

From the Portas do Sol, among other points of interest, you can observe the Church of São Vicente de Fora, as well as the whole of Alfama neighborhood, extending all the way down to the Tagus River. The viewpoint itself is a balcony-like space. In 1949, a statue of São Vicente, by the sculptor Raul Xavier, was installed here.

Tip:
For an ultimate fun experience, look for a flight of stairs and a WC sign. Go down the stairs and under an arch you will find a mural depicting Lisbon's history in a comic-book style. Nearby is the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts.

The Miradouro de Santa Luzia is close to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol and has the same iconic vista over the tiled roofs and churches of Alfama and out over the Tagus estuary. While the point of view is a tad less advantageous, this is the cozier and more inviting place due to its beautiful garden laid out in several succeeding levels, azalea trees, ample seating arrangements (some protected by pergola-type roofing), and exciting wall panels, the traditional "azulejo" blue tiles.

One of the tiled panels portrays the milestone of the Portuguese history of "Reconquista" (freeing the Iberian peninsula from the Moorish occupancy) on the outside wall of the Santa Luzia church, while the second "azulejo" mural, that of the Praça do Comércio as it looked before the 1755 quake, is on the other, down the hill, boundary of the observation terrace.

There is a small café on the premises as well as restrooms (to find the latter, walk a few steps up the hill, corner the church, and take the steps down). Luckily, the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol lookout points are spaced within a minute's stroll from each other, so there is no need to choose, as one can enjoy both during the same sightseeing walk.

Tip:
Pay attention to the small market immediately on the left with various cork goods and textiles if you plan to buy something for souvenirs – with a little bargaining, the prices there are far better than other places.

Oh, those Romans! Everywhere you go there is evidence of their Empire! Roman Theatres, in a general sense, are symbols of power and marks of romanization, as is the case of the theatre of Felicitas Iulia Olisipo, the name attributed to the city of Lisbon in the Roman period. When theatres began to serve simultaneously a political and religious function, especially from the time of Emperor Augustus, they became places 'par excellence' of the Imperial cult.

The Roman Theatre of Olisipo was of considerable size, seating ~4000 spectators. During the middle ages, it disappeared beneath the ground because of neglect, wind and soil erosion; however, after the 1755 earthquake, parts of it resurfaced resulting in a renewed interest in Lisbon's Roman past. Excavations were undertaken and the objects unearthed now form the museum's permanent exhibits, including many columns, stone statues and a small collection of archeological finds.

The most interesting part for visitors is the installation of multilingual video and touch screens that tell the story of Lisbon under the Romans. Although rather small and with a minimal collection as compared to other Roman archeological museums in Europe, the museum is well arranged and explained via multimedia displays. Take time and wander around!

The oldest church in the city, first constructed in 1147, Santa Maria Maior was built on the site of a Moorish mosque after the conquest of Lisbon by Christian forces under King Afonso Henriquez, during which time the relics of St. Vincent of Saragossa, the city's patron saint, were brought from Southern Portugal and placed here, still remaining unmoved.

After suffering extensive damage during the many devastating earthquakes that rocked Lisbon, the present Cathedral was rebuilt in the 20th century giving the structure a predominantly medieval appearance, evident in the thick stone walls and fortress-like towers. This style is common with many Portuguese churches of the Christian conquest period, when they were used as military bases for launching attacks on enemy forces.

The Cathedral's interior is 'plain' compared to others you may see in different countries but still pretty impressive with its gothic arches and ceilings, plus sections of stained glass. Two noteworthy chapels are that of St. Ildefonso with a carved sculpture of one of the first Portuguese Ambassadors, Lopo Pacheco with a dog at his feet, and the chapel dedicated to Lisbon-born San Antonio de Padua. Archeological excavations in the courtyard have unearthed several objects from the Visigothic, Roman and Moorish periods.

Tip:
Free entry to the Cathedral and, for a few €s, you can also climb partway up the tower to the Treasury during the hours of 10am–5pm (note that it's closed on Sundays).

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am–7pm

The Church of Santo António is a Roman Catholic temple dedicated to Saint Anthony of Lisbon (also known as Saint Anthony of Padua). According to tradition, the church stands on the site where the saint was born, in 1195.

António, whose secular name was Fernando de Bulhões, came from a wealthy family. In 1220, while studying in Coimbra, he entered the Franciscan Order, adopting a new, clerical name. His missionary travels led him to Italy, where he eventually settled, in Padua. Due to his immense popularity, António was canonized less than a year after his death, in 1232.

The site of his family home, very close to Lisbon Cathedral, was turned into a small chapel in the 15th century. In the early 16th century it was totally rebuilt, though, leaving nothing to date of the original structure.

In 1730 the church was further modified and redecorated. During the 1755 Lisbon earthquake it was almost totally destroyed, with only the main chapel left standing. The church was fully rebuilt after 1767, in a Baroque-Rococo style, which the form we see it in today.

June 13 is officially Saint Anthony's day and is one of the "Popular Saint Festivities" celebrated in Lisbon. Ever since 1755, on this day, each year a procession, honoring of the saint, starts from the church, passing by the Cathedral, and then meandering down the slopes of Alfama neighborhood.

The church was classified as a National Monument in 1982, following a visit by Pope John Paul II. During the visit, the Pontiff inaugurated the statue of Saint Anthony outside the church, in the square, and prayed in the crypt, which marks the spot where the saint was born.

Tip:
A small museum inside displays images and manuscripts related to the life of St Antonio – the patron of lost things – while also allowing visitors to view the gold and silverware belonging to the church.