Lisbon Cathedral

The famous Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) is one of the oldest churches in the country and for that it´s a milestone in the history of the capital of Portugal.

It started being built in the 12th century after the crusades. Previously, the Arabs dominated the region but, the first king of Portugal when he came to power, ordered that where the mosque was they built the cathedral that we can appreciate today.

The structure of the cathedral is Romanesque, although it looks more like a fortress than a cathedral. It was built like this because the mentality of that time was of defending one self from the enemy and to fight in order not to lose the conquests.

Portugal was a country that was always affected by earthquakes and this cathedral suffered serious injuries in its structure after a few of them, but today it´s still standing like before thanks to the restorations that take place frequently.

The façade is rigid, of great, impenetrable walls, a rosette in the centre, the belfry and an enormous porch of Romanesque characteristics of that time.

It´s worthy of being visited because its age leaves one astounded and entering the temple is also magical because there Saint Anthony of Padua was baptised in 1195.