Castelo de Sao Jorge

Stepping into Lisbon, the first thing that makes eye contact with visitors from almost everywhere is the hill top located citadel called Castelo de Sao Jorge or Saint George Castle. Some of its fortification structures goes back to 6th century and thereafter when Lisbon was occupied successively by the Romans, Visigoths and the Muslim Moors. Aided by the North European Christian crusaders on their way to the Holy Land, Portugal's first ruler Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon in 1147 and transformed the fort as his official residence. Future Portuguese monarchs lived there until opening of the new palace in 1511 at the riverfront Palace Square. The castle then served consecutively as an armoury, prison and entertainment venue, finally becoming a peaceful public garden area. Though most of the fortifications are destroyed, some remains of ramparts and watch towers are still there as memoirs of the past.