Lisbon's Castelo de São Jorge (St. George's Castle)

This Lisbon castle sits at the top of a steep hill in the city's Alfama district. Streetcars don't go directly to the castle, but the steep walk is worth it. The Romans, Visgoths, and Moors all built sections of the fortification over the years. Most of the castle is now in ruins, but you can walk along the ramparts for fabulous views of the city.

Looking past one of the castle's cannons, you can see the Convento do Carmo.

Lisbon's raven coat of arms.

Peacocks run wild all over the grounds...

...including blocking the door to the castle's cafe!

Lisbon Cathedral

The Neo-Gothic Lisbon Cathedral (Cathedral Se) is part of the way up one of Lisbon's many steep hills, not far from Castle Sao Jorge. One of the most fascinating things about this cathedral is a legend associated with one of its relics. The cathedral holds the remains of St. Vincent, the Patron Saint of Lisbon. According to legend, two ravens watched over the saint's body as it was transported to its final resting place in Lisbon. The ravens took up residence in the cathedral, and their descendants remained there for centuries. That's how ravens came to be a symbol of Lisbon and adorn the city's coat of arms. 

 

Construction of the cathedral began in 1147, after the Portuguese recaptured the city from the Moors. Part of the cathedral was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake that damaged much of the region. These days modern electric tram wires surround the cathedral. Though the wires obstruct views of the building, being able to ride the tram up the steep hill makes it worth it.

A Medieval Castle Outside Lisbon, Portugal: Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)

High on a hill above the city of Sintra, outside of Lisbon, Portugal, are the remains of a medieval Moorish castle. Built by the Moors in the 8th or 9th century, Portuguese kings gained control after the Siege of Lisbon in  1147. The castle was damaged in a 1636 fire and suffered further damage during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. It would have been left to complete ruins if it hadn't been for King Ferdinand II, a patron of the arts who romanticized the middle ages and decided to reconstruct the castle in the 1800s. It's now a National Monument of Portugal and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

A map showing the layout of the sprawling castle:

Exploring the castle:

Lisbon's Convento do Carmo: Gargoyles in the Ruins

The ruins of the Gothic Convento do Carmo remain in the heart of Lisbon, preserved as skeletal remains instead of being rebuilt. Along with much of the city, the medieval convent and church was destroyed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.

The section of the building that remains intact has been turned into an archaeological museum, and the open-air nave ruins now serve as a courtyard with stone artifacts including tombs with gargoyles watching them from above. 

 

Lisbon's Jerónimos Monastery: Gargoyles and Cloisters

Last month I completed revisions on the second Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, Pirate Vishnu, and I've just returned from a trip to Portugal and England, so I have no excuse for not posting some new gargoyle photos! This summer I'll be posting photos of gargoyles, castles, and other mysterious sights from this trip.

Portugal has some gorgeous architecture. Below are photos from Lisbon's Jerónimos Monastery, in the neighborhood of Belem. The current structure was built in the 1500s. The architecture is Manueline, aka Portuguese Late Gothic. It's an ornate style that was paid for by Portugal's lucrative spice trade with India and influenced by Portuguese explorers' maritime travels. 

The cloisters.

 --Gigi