| As you take in the views around the castle, you will | | | | they decided to remain. In exchange, Afonso |
| notice that this hill is the highest in the center of the city. | | | | Henriques would get Lisbon. |
| For thousands of years, military minds have | | | | In the late 14th century the castle was dedicated to |
| recognized that high ground is easiest to fortify and | | | | São Jorge, or Saint George, by the Portuguese |
| defend. Archaeological evidence shows that the hill | | | | king João I. Saint George, who according to the |
| has been the site of a military stronghold in one form | | | | well-known tale saved the princess of Saline by |
| or another for hundreds of years. Roman fortifications | | | | defeating the dragon, is Portugal's patron saint and one |
| from 137 BC have been excavated. Other evidence | | | | of the most venerated saints in Christianity. Inside the |
| shows that this area has been occupied for at least | | | | walls of the fortress, the Alcáçova |
| another 400 years before these Roman walls were | | | | palace became the new home for the royal family and |
| built. In the 5th century A.D., the Visigoths, a tribe of | | | | remained so until 1511 when King Manuel I moved to the |
| Germanic people who sacked the Roman Empire and | | | | more centralized Terreiro do Paco. |
| took control of this area, strengthened the fortress. | | | | The earthquake in 1755 destroyed parts of the castle |
| Their guard towers still remain. A few hundred years | | | | and its surrounding buildings. Social problems were |
| later under reign of the Moors, another city wall was | | | | severe in Portugal and Lisbon after the chaos of the |
| built to protect mosques, palaces and bazaars, but this | | | | earthquake. On July 3rd, 1780, a Police superintendent |
| wall could not protect Muslim Lisbon from the future | | | | named Diogo Inacio de Pina Manique organized the |
| King of Portugal. | | | | "Casa Pia" institution. Founded by Princess Maria, who |
| In 1147, Lisbon was a prosperous city in which Moors, | | | | later became Queen Maria I and based at the Castle |
| Christians and Jews lived and worshiped peacefully. | | | | of Sao Jorge, the "Casa Pia" started to receive |
| The peace came to an end when the first king of | | | | orphaned, poor and abandoned children in order to |
| Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, laid siege to this | | | | educate and care for them. |
| fortress for 17 weeks. According to a European | | | | In 1788, a geodetic observatory used for surveying |
| named Osbernus who was part of the Christian | | | | land was built in the tallest tower, and other parts of |
| forces, Lisbon at this time held 154,000 men and a | | | | the castle have been used as military facilities. |
| greater number of women and children. Afonso | | | | In 1938, a major reconstruction of the castle area was |
| Henriques hired crusaders who were on their way to | | | | degreed by President Salazar, and the castle has |
| the Holy Land to fight for him. These men were | | | | been regularly repaired and maintained ever since. |
| interested first and foremost in the spoils of war. | | | | Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions |
| Afonso Henriques agreed that they could keep the | | | | in Lisbon. |
| property of the conquered and would receive land if | | | | |