Castle · Lisbon, Portugal
São Jorge Castle
São Jorge Castle, sometimes known in English as Saint George's Castle, is a historic castle in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, located in the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.
Photo: Unknown via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Coordinates | 38.7139° N, 9.1336° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What São Jorge Castle is known for
São Jorge Castle, sometimes known in English as Saint George's Castle, is a historic castle in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, located in the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.
About São Jorge Castle
São Jorge Castle, sometimes known in English as Saint George's Castle, is a historic castle in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, located in the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior. Human occupation of the castle hill dates to at least the 8th century BC while the oldest fortifications on the site date from the 2nd century BC. The hill on which Saint George's Castle stands has played an important part in the history of Lisbon, having served as the location of fortifications occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors, before its conquest by the Portuguese in the 1147 Siege of Lisbon.
History
Although the first fortifications on this hilltop date from the 1st century BC, archaeological excavations have identified a human presence in the Tagus valley as far back as the 8th century BC. The first fortification was, presumably, erected in 48 BC, when Lisbon was classified as a Roman municipality. The hill was first used by Celtic tribes, then by Phoenicians, followed by Greeks and later the Carthaginians as a defensive outpost that was later expropriated successively by the Romans, the Suebi, the Visigoths, and the Moors.
Planning a visit? Visit the official São Jorge Castle website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Lisbon |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) |
| Distance from the airport | 3.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) · Lisbon, Portugal · 4.7 miles away
- Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO) · Faro, Portugal · 133.4 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Portugal
More castles
Frequently asked questions
What is São Jorge Castle?
São Jorge Castle, sometimes known in English as Saint George's Castle, is a historic castle in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, located in the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.
Where is São Jorge Castle located?
São Jorge Castle is in Lisbon, Portugal. Its coordinates are 38.7139° N, 9.1336° W.
How do I get to São Jorge Castle?
The nearest town is Lisbon, and the nearest airport is Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS), about 3.9 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of São Jorge Castle?
Although the first fortifications on this hilltop date from the 1st century BC, archaeological excavations have identified a human presence in the Tagus valley as far back as the 8th century BC. The first fortification was, presumably, erected in 48 BC, when Lisbon was classified as a Roman municipality.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/São_Jorge_Castle — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q636780 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://castelodesaojorge.pt — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.