Photos

In 1147 Lisbon was reconquered by Portuguese soldiers and North European Crusaders, ending the Moorish rule over the city which had endured since the 8th century. The victorious Christians promptly built a new cathedral to celebrate. It was finished in the early 13th century in the Late Romanesque style. The front of the cathedral resembles a fortress, so that it could be used as such during the Reconquista period (that is why I put this under the 'castle' category as well as the 'architecture' and 'transportation' categories).

The cathedral gained a Gothic cloister in the late 13th century thanks to King Dinis; his successor Alfonso IV had the main chapel converted into a Gothic pantheon for him and his family.

The epic earthquake of 1755 destroyed the Gothic main chapel and the royal pantheon, along with much of the cloisters and many chapels. It did not gain its current appearance until the beginning of the 20th century.

I took several pictures from the same position and eventually managed to get one with one of Lisbon’s charming yellow trams in just the right position.