Portas do Sol, Lisbon, Portugal

Portas do Sol is a lookout point over the Bairro de Alfama, the Monastery of Saint Vincent, the Pantheon and the river Tagus. The Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts is located here and it's a good starting point for a walk through the maze of Alfama, just go down the stairs by the Moorish wall.
Its namesake is a gate that was part of the Moorish or Old walls and which was destroyed by the Great Earthquake of 1755. Segments of the walls can still be seen, both by the stairs descending to Alfama and in the Azurara Palace (Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts), which includes a tower belonging to the old walls. 
The statue in the square represents Saint Vincent, one of Lisbon's patron saints. According to legend, after his martyrdom, the body of the saint was protected by ravens. It was thrown into the sea but was recovered by Christians who buried him in Cape Saint Vincent, in the Algarve (southern Portugal), where he continued to be guarded by flocks of ravens. After conquering Lisbon, the first king of Portugal had the body exhumed and brought to Lisbon, to the monastery of Saint Vincent. During this journey, the saint's body was accompanied by flocks of ravens, which is why ravens are one of Lisbon's symbols.

 How to go: Tram n.º 28 (beware of pickpockets) and bus 737.

 Back to Lisbon








Local: Largo Portas do Sol 108, 1100-411 Lisboa, Portugal

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Archaeological excavations in Lisbon's Cathedral Cloister, Portugal

Image
Archaeological excavations in Lisbon's Cathedral Cloister started in 1990. These excavations have unearthed remnants of human presence since the Iron Age.It's possible to see the remains of a Roman road with shops on both sides. This road would have connected the Roman Theater to the port area. From the Roman period, there's also part of a kitchen and a "cloaca" (sewage system).From later periods there are traces of Visigothic buildings and a very visible part of a Moorish building with red walls, probably related with the Mosque that once stood on the site where Lisbon's cathedral was built. Opening hours : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket (standard) : €2.5 (€4 combined with the Treasury), cash only. Roman road and shops. Roman sewage system close to a Moorish public building. Moorish building.
Read more

The Gates of Mdina, Malta

Image
Mdina walls have three gates: the Mdina Gate, the Greeks Gate and the Gharreqin Gate. The Main Gate, also known as Vilhena gate, was built in 1724, under Grandmaster Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, who in 1722 ordered the renovation and restoration of Mdina. The courtyard behind the main gate was demolished to make way for the Vilhena Palace and a new gate had to be built, a few meters to the left of the old one, which was walled up. The Gate has reliefs of Saint Agatha, Saint Paul and Saint Publius, the three patron saints of Malta. The Greeks Gate is the oldest of the three Gates, dating back to medieval times. It was also renovated in 1724 when an outer portal was built in the baroque style. It is known as the Greeks Gate because a small community of Greeks once lived by the gate. For many years it was the only gate by which the slaves were allowed to enter Mdina. The Gharreqin Gate is the less known and most recent of the three Gates. It was excavated in...
Read more

National Palace and Gardens of Queluz, Portugal

Image
The National Palace of Queluz was built in 1747, in the late Baroque and Rococo styles, by order of the future king Pedro III, married to queen Maria I. It was conceived as a Summer residence, becoming the royal family's favourite place for leisure and entertainment. Following a fire in the National Palace of Ajuda, Queluz became their permanent residence, until 1807, when the royal family had to flee to Brazil to escape the French Invasions. Despite being much smaller, the palace is sometimes dubbed the Portuguese Versailles. In 1908 it became the property of the State. It was extensively restored after a fire destroyed it in 1934. The complex makes a pleasant half day excursion from Lisbon. Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entrance fee: €10 How to get there: From Lisbon, the easiest way is to take the train, at Oriente, Entrecampos or Rossio, to Queluz or Monte Abraão. It's a 30 min. ride plus a 15 min walk to the palace. Charge your card with €5 for the roun...
Read more

Church of Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal

Image
The church of Santa Maria de Belém originated from the expansion,  ordered by Henry the Navigator in the 15th century,  of a previous hermitage built on the site. The new church was trusted to the Order of Christ- of which Henry the Navigator was the Grand Master- to help the seamen that passed by Belém, as the hermitage had done before. In 1501, by order of King D. Manuel I, the Monastery of the Hieronymites started being built and the small church was totally remodelled in the Manueline and Renaissance styles. It was the king's wish that the church should become a pantheon for the dynasty (Avis-Beja) started by him, and that it continued to help the travellers passing through Belém. Like the Monastery, the church was significantly restored in the 19th century. Inside the church are the tombs of several historical figures: Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest poets who lived in the 16th century, Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to go to In...
Read more