Going on a trip or vacation, everyone wants to visit amazing places and cities that have their own spirit and atmosphere. Arriving there, you can instantly immerse yourself in their mood and feel how the locals live. It is this kind of vacation that will leave behind indelible impressions that will warm the heart for a long time to come. Many, without even a doubt, go to Europe. And one beautiful European country, its capital and sights will be discussed in this article.
Sparkling Pearl of the Atlantic
Portugal… This is truly a fantastic state! It extends to the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and includes two archipelagos of the North Atlantic. Many are not mistaken when they call this country the pearl of the Iberian Peninsula. It occupies approximately 100,000 square kilometers and is washed bycold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is generally accepted that the first inhabitants who inhabited modern Portugal were the Celts. They were quite peaceful people, but if necessary, they knew how to defend their territory. They cultivated the favorable soil of the Pyrenees and bred cattle.
Be that as it may, it is safe to say that this area has a fairly rich historical past. The country of Portugal was under Spanish rule for a long time, but after about 60 years after the conquest, it regained its long-awaited independence.
Lisbon - the oldest city where time has stopped forever
The main focus of tourists who come to the country is directed to the inimitable Lisbon. The capital of Portugal is located in the westernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula in the very place where the famous Tejo River merges with the Atlantic Ocean.
Lisbon, by the way, is many times older than cities such as Rome, Paris and London, and for more than a decade has been among the most visited cities in the world and in particular Europe. And this is not surprising, because the city is quite interesting and offers many places to spend your free time there pleasantly and usefully.
Local attraction - St. George's Castle
Yes, original nature, excellent cuisine and excellent wines, combined with the friendliness of the locals, makecountry is truly a paradise for travelers. However, Lisbon would lose its charm if it were not for the beautiful and impregnable castle of St. George in its mountainous part.
This fortress is a testament to what proud and brave tribes inhabited Portugal in the past. Having carefully examined the building, one can come to the conclusion that strong stone bricks and high walls made it practically invulnerable at that time.
Reconstruction and symbols of the fortress
Regular hostilities soon nevertheless affected the external state of the castle. That is why already in the tenth century. Berber Moors (the tribes that inhabited the territory of modern Portugal at that time) set about repairing the mighty castle and soon put it in order, thanks to which tourists can still admire its powerful fortifications to this day.
Castle of St. George has its own unique symbolism. It is a white coat of arms in the form of a shield, which also depicts five small blue shields. All this indicates that the fortress was of great defensive importance.
The stormy history of the fortress
Later, the royal residence became located in the fortress.
St. George the Victorious has always been considered the patron saint of England, so after Portugal signed the Treaty of Windsor with her, the castle, which demonstrated its power for a long time, received its current official name - St. George's Castle.
A fortress over which time has no power
This building is the pinnacle of the city of Lisbon. CapitalPortugal rightfully considers it to be its most famous and famous attraction. The castle of St. George is spread over seven hills. Climbing its powerful walls, you can see almost the whole of Lisbon.
The structure is located inside the old fortress, on the territory of which even the ruins of the ancient royal palace have been preserved. This is truly an impressive sight.
Castle of Saint George covers an area of 6,000 square meters. The builders of the sixth century worked hard to erect a building that will cause enthusiastic exclamations on the lips of its visitors for millennia.
At the entrance to the fortress there are impressive cannons that remind the inhabitants of the purpose for which this structure was built. Castle of St. George has a dungeon, namely rooms or chambers. They now house an archaeological museum with exhibits that can tell a lot about the history and culture of past generations.
The fortress is equipped with several beautiful towers. One of them - the treasure tower - has an optical device consisting of lenses, thanks to which you can see all the sights of the capital of Portugal at a glance.
The Lawrence Tower was built for a different purpose. It was moved a little outside the fortress, which allowed it to perform its defensive function very successfully. The whole building is made in the Romantic-Gothic style. From it directly breathes the Middle Ages, it seems that a knight in armor is about to come out and lead you throughthe gloomy walls of the fortress or along the narrow corridors for which the castle of St. George (Lisbon) is famous.
A garden adjoins the structure, rich in vegetation which, thanks to the warm climate, can be admired almost all year round. The beauty and enchanting atmosphere of this area is worth visiting at least once the castle of St. George (Portugal). These are impressions that even with time will not be erased from memory.
There are places on earth that fascinate and do not want to let go, and Portugal is one of them. Locals are happy and hospitable to tourists, making the city seem even warmer and more welcoming. Wine and traditional dishes will add bright colors to an already pleasant holiday.
