Castelo de São Jorge

The Moorish castle on Lisbon's highest hill has been the city's defining landmark since before Portugal existed. The massive walls and ten towers that visitors walk today are largely 20th-century reconstructions — the 1755 earthquake severely damaged the medieval structure — but the hilltop position and the views across the city's terracotta rooftops and down to the Tagus are original and magnificent.

Inside the walls, the castle grounds contain gardens, peacocks, and the ruins of the old royal palace. The archaeological museum in the basement displays finds from excavations revealing the site's continuous occupation from the Bronze Age through the Moorish period. The rampart walk offers the best views in the Alfama. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak crowds; the ticket includes the viewpoint and archaeological museum.

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A story
The hilltop where the castle stands has been fortified since at least the Bronze Age. The Moors held it for 400 years before Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, besieged and took the city in 1147 with the help of Crusaders passing through on their way to the Holy Land. The Crusaders were promised the right to plunder the city for three days — an incentive that ensured their participation. Afonso I reportedly watched the battle from a fig tree that he later ordered preserved.