Lisbon Cathedral, Medieval cathedral in Alfama, Portugal.
Santa Maria Maior Cathedral stands in the Santa Maria Maior district and shows two heavy Romanesque towers and a fortified main facade with battlements. The interior holds several side chapels, a Gothic cloister with arcade walkways, and a treasury housing liturgical items from different periods.
Construction began in 1147 under King Afonso I after a mosque on this site was removed to build the first Christian place of worship in the newly conquered city. Later earthquakes in the 14th and 18th centuries led to Gothic and Baroque modifications that partly altered the original Romanesque appearance.
The Portuguese name Sé comes from the Latin word sedes, referring to the bishop's seat established here after the city was retaken. Visitors see azulejos and painted altars along the walls, donated over centuries and still used for services today.
Entry to the church is free, but a separate admission covers the cloister and treasury, which also includes access to the archaeological excavations. The lanes around the building are narrow and sometimes steep, so solid footwear is helpful for walking through the district.
Beneath the cloister lie remains from three eras: Roman foundations, Visigothic traces, and Muslim structures that came to light when the ground was uncovered. Visitors can look directly at these layers through glass floors and follow the successive settlements of the site.
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