Built over a mosque
After Afonso Henriques took Lisbon in 1147, the cathedral was begun on the site of the city's main mosque.
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Lisbon Cathedral: the history, and the church built like a fortress
Lisbon's oldest church, begun right after the Christian conquest of 1147, looks more like a castle than a cathedral. Here's what you're looking at, and what to listen for when you get there.
Begunafter 1147
Built onthe site of a mosque
StyleRomanesque, later Gothic
Seat ofPatriarch of Lisbon
Hear the Lisbon Cathedral story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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Two ravens
Lisbon's patron is São Vicente. By legend, two ravens watched over his relics on the boat that brought them to Lisbon from the Algarve in 1173; they're still on the city's coat of arms.
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History under the cloister
Excavations in the Gothic cloister have uncovered Roman, Moorish and medieval remains, layer on layer.
TipCatch the famous tram 28 rattling past the façade for the classic photo, then step into the cloister to see the excavations. With Urban Tales running, the cathedral's story plays as you reach the square in front.
Nearby landmarks
Lisbon Cathedral: common questions
How old is Lisbon Cathedral?
Construction began soon after the Christian conquest of Lisbon in 1147, which makes it the city's oldest church.
Why does Lisbon Cathedral look like a fortress?
Its thick walls, small windows and crenellated towers come from the Romanesque period, when churches also served as strongholds.
Why are there ravens on Lisbon's coat of arms?
By legend, two ravens guarded São Vicente's relics on the boat that carried them to Lisbon in 1173.