15 Historic Attractions to Visit in Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is a stunning city with plenty to discover. It is no wonder it is one of the most sought-after cities worldwide. For history enthusiasts, Lisbon has it all. It is one of the few Portuguese cities where you can travel back in time and explore the country’s history since Prehistoric times. These are the best historical attractions you must visit while in Lisbon to learn more about the city’s history.

Discovered in downtown Lisbon in 1771 following the massive earthquake, this Roman structure corresponds to a cryptoporticus, a horizontal platform to support the construction of large buildings. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population on Rua da Prata Street used the Roman Galleries as a cistern.

The Roman Galleries are only open for visitors twice per year, in April and September, since it is necessary to maintain the level of relative humidity and water inside the building, which are essential for its preservation. When closed, the Galleries are submerged in about one meter (3 feet) of groundwater.

2. The Roman Theater 

It was rebuilt in the time of Emperor Nero and partially dismantled during Constantine‘s reign. Abandoned in the 4th century, it remained buried until 1798, when the ruins were discovered after the 1755 earthquake.

In the 20th century, several archaeological campaigns recovered the benches, the orchestra, the mouth of the stage, and a large number of decorative elements. To admire this incredible monument and the artifacts retrieved here, you must visit the Museu de Lisboa.

3. São Jorge Castle

This incredible monument dates back to the 2nd century and is one of the oldest buildings in Lisbon. Located on top of the highest hill in the city, it offers the best view of Lisbon and its surroundings.

Archeological excavations here have revealed artifacts dating from the Iron Age, which leads scholars to believe that the Castelo de São Jorge area has been inhabited since then. Although there is little information on how the Suevi, the Visigoths, and the Romans used this castle, historians have proof that this has always been a strategic location.

The castle itself dates back to the Moorish occupation, where fortified walls defended the Alcáçova, the city’s economic and political center. In 1147, King D. Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon and expelled the Moors.

Over the centuries, the Castelo de São Jorge played a vital role in defending Lisbon. However, in the 16th century, King Manuel I moved into the castle, transforming it into a royal residence. It was where he welcomed navigator Vasco da Gama after the navigator discovered the maritime route to India.

While roaming the Castelo de São Jorge, take your time to explore the castle, the royal palace, the squares, and the old city walls. If you want to learn more about the castle, book a guided tour.

Sé Catedral de Lisboa, also known as Basília de Santa Maria Maior or Lisbon Cathedral, is the oldest church in the capital. Soon after Lisbon was conquered during the Reconquista in 1147, King Afonso Henriques ordered the construction of a new church. He chose the location of an old Mosque. However, recent excavations revealed the original building was a Visigoth Catholic church.

Lisbon Cathedral is Romanesque in style, with a Latin cross plan, three naves, a triforium over the side naves, a projecting transept, and a tripartite transept. Master Roberto, who built Coimbra’s Cathedral also designed Lisbon’s Cathedral. That is why you will find several similarities between the two buildings.

From the 12th century until today, the cathedral underwent several refurbishments and reconstruction works. The Gothic cloister was added in the 14th century, and the new Mannerist-style sacristy was added in the 17th century.

Following the 1755 earthquake, the Gothic Chapel, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the roof of the nave, the façade’s south tower, and the lantern tower collapsed. Between 1769 and 1771, all these structures were rebuilt. In the early 20th century, Lisbon Cathedral underwent several revivalist restorations, which removed additions from the Baroque Period.

Inside, you can observe the chapel of Bartolomeu Joanes, an important figure in medieval Lisbon, and the cloister excavations, which have uncovered the successive occupations of this space. Although some of the archeological artifacts found here are in the Museum of Ancient Art, the Cathedral also has a collection known as the Treasury of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

In the Middle Ages, the Convento do Carmo was one of the most iconic buildings in Lisbon. The Gothic-style convent was founded in 1389 by Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, an elite military knight who defended Portugal’s independence several times before spending his last years as a friar.

The location was far from perfect and it made construction much more difficult. Nevertheless, D. Nuno chose this location due to its identification with Mount Carmel in Palestine (the Order’s origin) and because it was opposite the Castelo de São Jorge and the Royal Palace.

When the 1755 earthquake hit, the convent was left in shambles due to the tremor and the fire that followed. Reconstruction began in 1756 in Neo-Gothic Style but was interrupted due to the extinction of the religious orders in 1836. Yet, you can still admire the pillars and arches of the naves, which are a clear example of experimental neo-Gothic architecture.

In the 19th century, the romantic taste for ruins and medieval buildings led to the decision to halt all renovations and leave the body of the church’s naves open to the public. This ethereal and romantic scene of ruins became a memorial to the 1755 earthquake.

Besides visiting the Convento do Carmo ruins, you must also visit the Carmo Archaeological Museum. Founded in 1864, this was the first archeology museum in Portugal. Inside, you will find a collection of artifacts from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic and Roman and Visigothic items. At Convento do Carmo, you can still visit the Gothic tomb of King Fernando I.

This is a mandatory historic attraction every visitor must see while in Lisbon. In the Middle Ages, this was Lisbon’s reception hall for Kings and Queens disembarking in the city. The Portuguese still refer to it as Terreiro do Paço, the square’s former name to identify the location of the Royal Palace. In the 16th century, the Palace occupied the square’s western side when King Manuel moved it to the Castle of São Jorge. The 1755 earthquake destroyed the square.

Once Terreiro do Paço was rebuilt, Marquês de Pombal gave it a new name: Praça do Comércio. His goal was to reflect a new social order and to value the contributions of the commercial, financial, and bourgeois classes through Lisbon’s reconstruction. Today, Praça do Comércio is partly occupied by a few government departments.

Over the centuries, Praça do Comércio was the central stage of several historical events. It was here Portugal regained its independence on December 1, 1640. Almost 300 years later, in 1908, King Carlos and his son were targeted in a government coup and murdered here. It was also at Praça do Comércio that the new republic was proclaimed.

During the 20th century, Praça do Comércio welcomed Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, and on May 11, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Eucharist in the square with more than 200,000 people.

7. Jerónimos Monastery

If you are curious about Manueline architecture, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is the best monument in Lisbon. Originally, this was the location of a small hermitage built by Infante D. Henrique in 1452. In the early 16th century, the Holy See recognized King Manuel I’s wish for a large monastery in this specific location. He later donated the monastery to the Order of the Friars of Saint Jerome.

Construction began in 1501 and lasted 100 years. During this period, Portugal had established an overseas empire, trading merchandise with Brazil, Africa, India, and Asia. The profits from commercial activities allowed King Manuel I to support the construction costs. That is why Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is deeply connected to Portuguese discoveries and is considered a masterpiece of Manueline architecture in Portugal.

The intricate details on the south façade are worth admiring. Here, you can see the Infante D. Henrique figure guarding the entrance while the Virgin of Belém blesses the monument, and the Archangel São Gabriel, the protector of Portugal, completes the arch.

Inside, you can visit the church, a Manueline masterpiece by João de Castilho. An interesting architectural feature is that the transept vaulting is not supported by any columns. The kings, princes, and infants descended from King Manuel I are buried in the side chapels. In the main chapel are the tombs of King Manuel I, his son King João III, and their wives. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos was declared a national monument in 1907 and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Torre de Belém was once a defensive tower located on the Tagus River right riverbank. Its purpose was to defend the river’s entrance along with São Sebastião Tower on the opposite side. Originally, water surrounded the Torre de Belém, however, as the river gradually shifted over the years, the Tower became part of dry land.

Over time, the Torre de Belém lost its defensive function. During the Philippine Dynasty occupation, the old armories gave way to dungeons. However, the Governor’s Room, the Audience Room, and the Chapel remain unaltered.

The Torre de Belém is a quadrangular tower with a polygonal bastion, designed to support heavy artillery. The watchtowers with domes rising at each corner show the influence of Moroccan fortifications. Yet, Manueline architecture is the style that defines the building. Here, you can observe stone rigging in the heraldic motifs and a rhinoceros figure, the first stone sculpture of this animal in Europe.

In 1983, the Torre de Belém was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.

9. Monastery of São Vicente de Fora

In 1147, King Afonso Henriques ordered the construction of a monastery, handing it over to the canon regent of St. Augustine. He dedicated it to St. Vincent, to whom he made a vow if he won Lisbon from the Moors. However, the Church and Monastery of São Vicente de Fora you can visit today started construction in 1582.

Located on one of Lisbon’s hills, it is one of the most important works of Portuguese architecture from the 16th century. Designed by the Spanish architect Juan de Herrera, it was built between 1582 and 1629. The façade follows the Chão Style, a Portuguese adaptation of Roman mannerism. This model would later be applied to other monuments throughout Portugal and its colonies.

Inside, you can admire the Baroque tile covering and the gilded woodwork. In 1885, the monastery’s refectory was transformed into a Royal Pantheon. Today, it still houses the tombs of several kings who perished between 1656 and 1910.

The Panteão Nacional, or National Pantheon, was intended to pay tribute to and immortalize the memory of Portuguese national heroes. Since 1966, the National Pantheon has been located in the Church of Santa Engrácia.

This church was founded in 1568 by Infanta D. Maria, King Manuel I’s daughter. It was then one of the first Baroque buildings in the country, with a privileged location and unobstructed views over the River Tagus.

However, due to the head architect’s death, the 1755 earthquake, and the extinction of religious orders in 1836, the building was only finished in the 20th century when it became the National Pantheon. Because it took so long to build, the building has entered popular vocabulary to mean anything that takes a long time to make.

Besides admiring the building’s incredible architecture, you can also visit the tombs and cenotaphs of the most iconic personalities in Portugal’s history, from Vasco da Gama to Infante D. Henrique and the Fado singer Amália Rodrigues.

11. Basílica da Estrela

The Basílica da Estrela, also known as Basílica do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, is a Catholic church and former convent for Carmelite nuns.

Queen Maria I and her husband, King Pedro III, vowed to build a church if they had a son to inherit the throne. When their son was born, construction works began in 1779. Unfortunately, the child died of smallpox two years before its completion in 1790.

Although the Baroque style is predominant throughout the building, the façade is Neo-Classical. From the outside, you can admire two twin towers decorated in the center with a relief depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus and statues of the saints.

Inside, you will find gray, pink, and yellow marble illuminated by the dome’s openings. Several paintings by Pompeo Batoni adorn the interior, and in a nearby room, there is a nativity scene made up of more than 500 cork and terracotta figures. The tomb of Queen Maria I is in the right transept.

The Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, or Paço de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, is a national monument built in 1795. Its goal was to replace the former Royal Palace made of wood. It was chosen as the residence of the Portuguese Royal Family when Luís I became King of Portugal and married an Italian princess, Maria Pia of Savoy.

The initial project, by Manuel Caetano de Sousa, underwent a major change with a new design in 1802. Neoclassically inspired by the architects Francisco Xavier Fabri and José da Costa e Silva, the palace was inhabited with several interruptions and remained unfinished.

Besides admiring a typical example of an 18th-century royal residence, you can also observe a collection of gold smithery, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and tapestries.

With the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, the palace was closed until 1968, when it reopened as a museum. In 2018, refurbishment began, which included the reconstruction of the west wing, where the vault of the Royal Treasury Museum is installed. This museum currently houses a collection of more than a thousand unique pieces from the Portuguese Crown Jewels. The Ajuda National Palace is often the venue for official ceremonies.

13. Águas Livres Aqueduct

Built between 1731 and 1799 by King João V, the Águas Livres Aqueduct was a vast system for collecting and transporting water using gravity. Classified as a National Monument in 1910, it is considered a remarkable work of hydraulic engineering. It was one of the few buildings that withstood the 1755 earthquake.

The aqueduct used the Águas Belas springs, located northwest of Lisbon, and the same route as an old Roman aqueduct. Its construction was only possible thanks to the Royal Water Tax, a tax on essential goods such as olive oil, wine, and meat.

The aqueduct system consists of a main section 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) long and several secondary sections designed to transport water from around 60 springs and five galleries to supply around 30 fountains in the capital. In the 19th century, the aqueduct was 58 kilometers (36 miles) long and it served the population until the 1960s.

The Águas Livres Aqueduct’s most iconic section is the remarkable arcade at Alcântara Valley. This section stretches for 941 meters (3,087 feet) and is made up of 35 arches, one of which is the largest ogival arch in the world, 5.29m (17.3 feet) high and 28.86m (94.6 feet) wide.

To visit this impressive landmark, you must book in advance.

The Santa Justa Elevator, also known as the Carmo Elevator, is a public transport system in the center of Lisbon, connecting Rua do Ouro and Rua do Carmo to Largo do Carmo. It consists of a metal tower with two cabins and a 25-meter (82-foot) walkway that connects the upper floor to the Carmo area. The elevator’s structure is made of cast iron and it uses a layout inspired by the neo-Gothic style.

Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard was the engineer responsible for the design. Although plans for the elevator started in the 1890s, the project was only approved by the Lisbon City Council in 1900. Construction began shortly after.

The Elevador de Santa Justa was (and still is) an astounding engineering piece. Its construction was just as mesmerizing. The most impressive construction phase involved moving the viaduct and support pillars to their current positions. It was done by rotating entire components. The elevator was inaugurated in 1902.

15. The Monument to the Navigators

The imposing Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a tribute to the Portuguese navigators who sailed around the globe. It was designed in 1940 and presented at the “Exhibition of the Portuguese World,” an event promoted by Salazar to celebrate the centenary of the foundation and restoration of nationality.

However, it was only built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Infante D. Henrique. This unique monument was designed by the architect Cottinelli Telmo and completed by the sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos is 56 meters (183 feet) high and 20 meters (65 feet) wide. It is made of a reinforced concrete structure covered in Leiria rosal limestone, sculptures in Sintra limestone stonework, and iron, glass, and wooden shutters.

The monument represents a caravel led by Infante D. Henrique, followed by 32 historical personalities who impacted the Portuguese Age of Discovery. Here, you can find sculptures of King Afonso V, the promoter of the first expeditions, Vasco da Gama, the founder of the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral, the founder of Brazil, and Ferdinand Magellan, the first person to circumnavigate the globe, among others. The façade facing the land is shaped as a cross decorated with the Sword of the Order of Aviz, the great financier of the voyages.