Spectacular panoramic views from the lower walls over the city allowed us to easily identify many of the points of interest that we had already visited. There was no line and entrance was quick and free with our Lisbon card. We used our Lisbon card to take Tram #28 to a stop very near the Castel San Jorge and walked the short distance up the hill to reach the entrance at 7:00 pm, since we wanted to see sunset from this vantage point. When the 1755 earthquake significantly damaged the royal residence and gardens, military defense became its primary use. In 1580, when Portugal became part of the Spanish crown, Castelo San Jorge took on a more important military role, which continued until the early 20th century. During the 13th-16th centuries the Royal Palace was located here. The old Moorish buildings were enlarged and modified to accommodate the king, court, and bishop, as well as the royal archives. In 1147, Dom Alfonso Henriques conquered Lisbon and became the first king of Portugal. It was the last defensive stronghold of the elite who lived in the citadel. This impressive fortification was built by the Moors in the middle of the 11th century.
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