Top 5 Castles and Palaces in Lisbon

Portugal has lots of medieval castles and many palaces, and Lisbon is no exception. Today I bring you 5 of my favorite ones in and around Lisbon. These spectacular places are the ones you must consider on your next visit to the Portuguese capital. Some are only available for visit in guided tours and is advisable to book ahead. So, plan ahead and make sure to include these beauties.


1. CASTELO DE SÃO JORGE

Today’ll take you by the hand, to Castelo de São Jorge (St. Jorge’s Castle) and at it’s summit will invite you to prowl the city and the river. The load of history  is such that you can feel it in your bones, but the beauty of the place invites us to rest the look on the brightness of the water and on the pastel colors of the houses.  To read more

2. PALÁCIO FOZ (LISBON)

Downtown, in Restauradores Square, next to one of Lisbon's emblematic funiculars (Elevador da Glória), you can find Palácio Foz.  Is hard to miss it! The large pink palace, with Parisian style rooftops is easy to identify. In part of its ground floor you can find, among other services, the City Tourism Office, but the noble part of the palace is not open to public on a daily basis and you can only visit it with a guide. To read more

3. PALÁCIO FRONTEIRA (LISBON)

Built in seventeenth century, as a hunting lodge, for the first Marquis de Fronteira, D. João de Mascarenhas, a hero of the Portuguese War of Restoration, this beautiful palace is located on the edge of Parque Florestal de Monsanto, in Largo de São Domingos de Benfica.

The Palace was enlarged in the eighteenth century,  in a "rocaille"  style, and remains in the family to the present days. Currently, is the residence of the 13th Marquis de Fronteira, and is possible to visit some of the rooms, the library and the garden. To read more

4. NATIONAL PALACE OF SINTRA (SINTRA)

In the town's historic center of the romantic Sintra lies the National Palace of Sintra, also known as Palacio da Vila. Being the only intact medieval royal palace in Portugal, this is an unique monument whose historical value is matched by its architectural and artistic importance.

Conquered from the moors in the twelfth century, it had some adaptations, enlargements and improvements on the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Since then, the palace maintains the same essential features that characterize its present appearance. To read more

5. PALÁCIO DA PENA (SINTRA)

It is impossible not to feel the magic and the allure of Sintra and, if you are visiting Lisbon is imperative to go there and visit the Pena Palace. The composer Richard Strauss said about  the Palace of Pena that “erected on a rock, it seems out of a fairy tale,” and fantastic as it may seem, nothing is more true.

Either shining in the sun or  arising between the mist it resembles more like an opera scenario or a glimpse of a magical  and lost world than a vision of reality. And yet, is there and worth a long visit. To read more