HomeStream
News & more!Escapes
My trip reviewsGallery
My travel photosPlanning
Trip planningGuides
Destination guides
My Escapes Portugal Another Lovely Trip to Portugal! Lisbon Dipping Into Lisbon The Lisbon Cathedral
The Lisbon Cathedral
One of Alfama's most outsanding attractions is the ancient Lisbon Cathedral.
As I walked up on Alfama's slopes, wandering along the tram tracks, I spotted it.
It's rather interesting than beautiful. Rather simple by design, but bears elements belonging to multiple architectural styles.
Also check out the entire Lisbon Photo Gallery
The name of the Cathedral in Portuguese is "Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa" (Cathedral of Saint Mary Major), but the Sé term is more wide-spread.
Its construction began in 1147, but it has gone through various modifications throughout its lifetime. Therefore, it bears the marks of several architectural styles. The most notable of which are Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque.
The Cathedral has survived several earthquakes and it still stands.
What's most interesting (from my perspective) is that the Cathedral's construction began in the year 1147, at the time when Lisbon was conquered by the Portuguese from the Moors.
In a way, it marks the year when the Christians took over control from the Muslim Moors.
The Cathedral was already completed at the beginning of the 13th century. Back then, it was entirely a Romanesque church.
Gothic elements were added first through the construction of a cloister at the end of the 1200's.
During the 1755 earthquake, the Lisbon Cathedral was severely damaged and many of its Gothic elements were destroyed, including a chapel together with the tombs of King Afonso IV and his family.
After the great earthquake, Neoclassical and Rococo elements were added.
I hope this page convinced you to put the Cathedral on your list of places to visit in Lisbon.
My guide to the Alfama district will show off several of the places you shouldn't miss when there. The Cathedral is just one of many attractions there.
Don't forget to check the main Lisbon trip section, where you can see and read about lots of other beautiful places to see, things to do and foods to taste in wonderful Lisbon!
About the Author:
Escape Hunter, the young solo traveler in his early 30's explores the World driven by curiosity, thirst for adventure, deep passion for beauty, love for freedom and diversity.
With a nuanced, even humorous approach to travel, an obsession for art and design, Escape Hunter prefers to travel slowly, in order to learn and "soak up" the local atmosphere...
Comments
As "Escape Hunter" - the curious incognito traveler with an insatiable drive to explore, I embark on slow and deep travels around
our beautiful World.
Join me and I will show you exciting destinations
"from within", through my
"escape" trips!
Travel Slang Dictionary
Guide to my personal travel slang vocabulary, which seasons my content...
The Old Cathedral