City of Seven Hills

9-Oct-23

We should have brought pedometers on this trip - my steps would be through the ROOOOF! No doubt we've walked many miles each day but throw in climbing countless cobblestone steps in a city that claims to be built on 7 hills & Lisbon has been kicking my butt - especially in this heat wave.

São Jorge Hill

Lisbon Cathedral

The first hill we climbed led us to the Lisbon Cathedral & São Jorge Castle. The castle sits atop the city's highest hill; archeological studies indicate a type of fortress has existed here, guarding over the city as far back as the 1st century BCE. Since the Reconquista in the 12th century, the castle has been used as a royal palace, military fortress, & national archive. Such claims to fame include a visit to the King of Portugal (Manual I) by the navigator Vasco da Gama in 1498 to report his discovery of a seafaring route to India. In addition to panoramas of the city, the castle also houses a camera obscura through which to view the surrounding hills.

São Jorge Castle

Lisbon via camera obscura

We climbed down from the hill & got to know Lisbon as we do in most cities by taking a free walking tour (highly recommend) - our guide for which was a fado singer, who treated us to a few performances along the way.

Ruins of the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel after the massive 1755 Lisbon Earthquake

Praça Dom Pedro IV

Elevador de Santa Justa - from above & below - was a public transport innovation in the 19th century to get people & goods up to the top of Largo do Carmo hill.