Famous Monuments In Lisbon

by Ankur Raven Seo Executive

Famous Monuments In Lisbon

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Lisbon‘s seven hills overlook the Tagus River, and it shines bright under its unique light and moderate climate. The Portuguese capital was inhabited since early times, and was under the influence of Greeks, Carthaginian, and Phoenicians. Then, the city grew prosperous from the hill where the Lisbon’s castle stands. This took place under the Romans’ rule to decline with several Germanic tribes who used to occupy the area. This city knew a new era of development with the Arabs, whose marks can still be seen at the winding streets of Alfama.

Below is a list of the top 6 monuments in Lisbon that you definitely shouldn’t miss…

1. Belem tower

Torre de Belem or the Belem Tower is a fortified tower that is situated in the Belem area near the Hieronymites Monastery. It was built to be a part of the Tagus River estuary’s defensive system, providing crossfire on the south bank of the river, with the Fortress of São Sebastião da Caparica.

2. Hieronymites monastery

Set in the beautiful district of Belem and facing the Tagus River, the Hieronymites monastery or the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is an imposing a monastery that is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. It truly reveals the greatness of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries. It is the greatest symbol of a sort of Portuguese late-Gothic Manueline style, which was used to depict navigation symbols, as well as sculptures of exotic animals and plants from the new lands that were found by the Portuguese explorers.

3. Lisbon Cathedral

Right after the city’s reconquest in 1147, the Lisbon Cathedral was built over an old Muslim mosque, under the orders of Afonso Henriques. The Romanesque style of the Coimbra Cathedral was followed by the initial project. However throughout the centuries, it has been greatly changed, and this resulted in an iconic monument by combining traces of different architectonic styles.

4. Estrela Basílica

The Estrela Basílica monument is quite recent, considering the age of the majority of monuments in this city. In fact, it was only ever built under the orders of Portugal’s Queen Mary I who was fulfilling the promise that if she was to give birth to a son, would erect a convent for the Carmelite religious order. It came to stand during the 18th century, and to be more precise, between 1779 and 1790. The Basilica is seen combining a Neo-classic and Baroque feature and offers a Nativity scene that is carved in terracotta and cork. It was all designed by Machado de Castro and is one of the biggest highlights of the city.

5. São Jorge Castle

São Jorge Castle rises all the way up on the top of a Lisbon hill, and is considered one of the most visited monuments of this capital of Portugal. The reason why it is so, because is it is not just historically importance, but also because it offers breathtaking views of the city and has a beautiful garden.

6. Casa dos Bicos

Even though Casa dos Bicos is being closed to the public because of housing the Culture department of Lisbon City Council, it should definitely be visited just because of its original façade that is fully covered with diamond-shaped stones. It was built in 1523 by a rich businessman named Brás de Albuquerque and is situated near Terreiro do Paço. You should also know that it now houses the headquarters of José Saramago foundation, the famous writer who was awarded the Portuguese Literature Nobel Prize.

Source: Dotravel

So tell us, which is the one monument you are most excited to see? Pop your answer in the comments!

Happy journey… J