Lisbon Trip 2025 - PART 3
Riding Lisbon's narrow, steep streets on the original yellow 1930s tram, visiting the Castela St Jorge and picturesque city squares
Castela de Sao Jorge & scenic lift
By the start of Day 3, I had a pretty good handle of the geography of Lisbon and had uncovered much of its character.
This morning started brighter than most, so seemed a good day to explore the elevated viewpoints of the city, starting off with the Santa Justa Lift, a somewhat ugly iron structure constructed in 1899, connecting the lower streets of Baixa with the upper Carmo square. On entering, it feels a bit like the Great Glass Elevator and that it is capable of magical things. In reality, it takes you up roughly 150ft and you can walk around the viewing platform which gives decent views of Lisbon.
Following the trip in the lift and taking in the panoramas, it was gradually back down the hill and onwards across the city to the Castelo de Sao Jorge, whose castle fortifications date back to the 2nd Century BC, and was occupied by humans from 8th Century BC, successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors, before its conquest by the Portuguese in the 1147 Siege of Lisbon. It has been a Royal Palace and Military Barracks, but today purely serves as a national monument and museum.
The walk involves a couple of steep streets and thankfully a castle elevator to break up the quite arduous trek to the top (incidentally, on exiting the lift, there was a wonderful instrumental strings rendition of Hallelujah and Time to Say Goodbye by a street musician, next to a vibrant Rooftop Bar).
The castle is quite diminuitive, compared to a lot of other European castles I’ve visited, but imposing in its presence on the hill, overlooking sights including the iconic 25 April Golden Gate-Esque bridge spanning the Tagus River and the Praça do Comércio square where the old Royal Palace used to exist.
Amazing views and photo opportunities, at least for a good half hour until the heavens opened once again. I took shelter in a museum of exhibitions, before walking around the perimeter of the rest of the citadel in lighter rain. I’d also spot the odd majestic peacock along the way!
On winding my way back down the hill, it was time for some lunch. Today I would be going by the recommendation of a colleague, a shopping centre in Chiados with restaurants in the centre, which didn’t disappoint and provided me with a chicken, pork and steak dish, rice, chips, salad and a cider for the equivalent of about £8.50 - bargain!
I had pretty much seen what I wanted to in Lisbon at this point, with the core tourist spots being in a compact area, but there were plenty more photo opportunities to be had!
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