Lisbon Sights

Lisbon_Sights1 - Commerce Square, Lisbon: Opening towards the Augusta Street, which links the square with the other tradicional Lisbon square, the Rossio, the original project by Eugénio dos Santos planned a triumphal arch, only realised in 1875. This arch, usually called the Arco da Rua Augusta, was designed by Veríssimo da Costa.

Lisbon_Sights2 - Monastery of São Vicente de Fora. Lisbon: The original Monastery of São Vicente de Fora was founded around 1147 by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, for the Augustinian Order.. The Monastery, built in Romanesquestyle outside the city walls, was one of the most important monastic foundations in mediaeval Portugal. It is dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa, patron saint of Lisbon, whose relics were brought from the Algarve to Lisbon in the 12th century.

Lisbon_Sights2 - Santa Engracia Church, Lisbon, Portugal: Santa Engracia Church, or the National Pantheon, stands on the site of an earlier church that was torn down after being desecrated by a robbery in 1630.Reconstruction by master stonemason João Antunes, took several centuries, only finished in 1966. It has been designated the National Pantheon and contains the tombs of several Portuguese presidents.

Lisbon_Sights4 - Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon: Its oldest parts 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.

Lisbon_Sights5 - Exterior of Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon: Conquered from the Moors in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land, Saint George Castle has an area of around 6000 square metres with several towers, look-outs, a dry moat and two squares divided by an internal wall with a connecting door. It was dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from 1371.

Lisbon_Sights6 - Castle of São Jorge ramparts, Lisbon: Most of the castle was destroyed over the years, especially in the Great Earthquake, but still includes a long extension of walls and 18 towers.

Lisbon_Sights7 - Santa Justa Elevator, Lisbon: Elevator of Carmo, was built at the turn of the century by the Portugal-born French architect Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard, to connect downtown to Bairro Alto (the lowest and highest points of the city). Originally powered by steam, it is 45 meters (147ft) high and remains an interesting example of post-Eiffel iron architecture.

Lisbon_Sights8 - Lisbon Cathedral, Lisbon: Lisbon's ancient cathedral was built by Portugal's first king on the site of an old mosque in 1150 for the city's first bishop, the English crusader Gilbert of Hastings.

Lisbon_Sights9 - Statue of São Vincente, Lisbon, Portugal: Statue of São Vincente (St. Vincent) in the Alfama District of Lisbon.

Lisbon_Sights10 - View of Lisbon from Santa Justa Elevator, Portugal: Scenic view towards Castle of São Jorge and Lisbon taken from the top of the Santa Justa Elevator.

Lisbon_Sights11 - Glória Funicular, Lisbon, Portugal: The Glória Funicular is one of the funiculars existent in Lisbon, right downtown, most precisely on the Restauradores Square. It makes the connection between this square and Bairro Alto on a 265 metres journey up or down the hill.

Lisbon_Sights12 - Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal: The Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental 1840s neoclassical building dominates the North side of the Rossio Square. In the center is a monument measuring 27 meters in height it consists of a pedestal with marble allegories of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to Dom Pedro IV, whose statue stands on top of the monument.