Castle of Saint George, Medieval castle in Castelo, Portugal.
The Castle of Saint George is a fortified compound on the highest hill of Lisbon with eleven watchtowers along the walls. The defensive structure includes several courtyards, a central plaza, and remains of earlier settlement layers revealed through excavations.
The site was settled in the eighth century before Christ and later fortified by the Moors, who ruled here until the Christian conquest in the twelfth century. The compound then served as a royal palace and lost its military role only after the great earthquake of 1755.
The name comes from King George, the patron saint of English knights who supported Portugal during the Reconquista. Visitors today walk through the same gates that soldiers and kings have used for centuries, and many local couples choose the inner courtyards for wedding photos because of the views across the city.
The entrance is located in the Santa Maria Maior neighborhood and can be reached via steep streets or tram line 28. The paths inside the compound are partly uneven, and the viewpoints require climbing stairs, so visitors should wear sturdy shoes.
The walls house a population of wild peacocks that roam freely between the towers and often surprise visitors with their calls. These birds were originally introduced as decorative elements and have since become a permanent resident group.
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