Castle of the Moors, Medieval castle in Sintra, Portugal.
The fortification stretches across two ridges of Serra de Sintra with granite walls connecting directly to natural rock formations at 450 meters length.
Built during the 8th century by North African forces, the castle served as a strategic military outpost until its capture by Portuguese King Afonso I in 1147.
The castle grounds contain the Chapel of São Pedro, which transformed from an Islamic mosque to a Christian church after the Portuguese reconquest.
The castle opens daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with adult tickets priced at 12 euros and youth tickets at 10 euros.
The castle maintains a network of cisterns that collected rainwater through an advanced medieval hydraulic system feeding both the fortress and nearby structures.
Location: Sintra (Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho e São Pedro de Penaferrim)
Inception: 7 century
Part of: Cultural Landscape of Sintra
Address: 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal 2710-405 Sintra
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:30-18:00
Phone: +351219237300
Website: https://parquesdesintra.pt/parques-jardins-e-monumentos/castelo-dos-mouros
GPS coordinates: 38.79254,-9.38960
Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:51
Lisbon connects Moorish fortifications with structures from the Age of Discoveries and contemporary architecture. The city evolved from its medieval hilltop castle through the 16th-century Manueline monasteries to modern cultural buildings along the Tagus waterfront. This route passes through neighborhoods and periods that document Lisbon's architectural development. In Belém, the Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery represent the Manueline style, which combines maritime motifs with Gothic and Renaissance elements. The Castle of São Jorge stands above Alfama, the city's oldest district with narrow streets and viewpoints such as the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. In the city center, Rossio Square marks the start of Baixa, the district rebuilt systematically after the 1755 earthquake. The collection also includes religious buildings such as the Basilica da Estrela and the Church of São Roque with its gilded chapels, the Pantheon of Santa Engrácia with its dome, and the ruins of the Convento do Carmo. More recent projects like the MAAT Museum and the Oceanário show Lisbon's approach to contemporary architecture. Historic Tram 28 connects many of these sites and runs through Chiado, Bairro Alto and Graça. Outside the city, the National Palace of Sintra and the Moorish Castle complete the picture.
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