São Jorge Castle

São Jorge Castle (Portuguese: Castelo de São Jorge; Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐʃˈtɛlu dɨ sɐ̃w̃ ˈʒɔɾʒ(ɨ)]) is a Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop overlooking the historic centre of the Portuguese city of Lisbon and Tagus River. The strongly fortified citadel dates from medieval period of Portuguese history, and is one of the main tourist sites of Lisbon.

History

Although the first fortifications on this hilltop date to the 2nd century BC, archaeological excavations have identified a human presence in the Tagus valley as far back as the 6th century BC. The first fortification was, presumably, erected in 48 BC, when Lisbon was classified as a Roman municipality.

The hill was first used by indigenous Celtic tribes, then by Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians as a defensible outpost that was later expropriated by Roman, Suebic, Visigothic, and Moorish peoples. During the 10th century, the fortifications were rebuilt by Muslim Berber forces, these included the walls or Cerca Moura (Moorish Encirclment).

São Jorge

São Jorge (European Portuguese: [sɐ̃ũ̯ ˈʒɔɾʒɨ]), Portuguese for Saint George, may refer to the following places:

Brazil

Cape Verde

Portugal

In the Azores:

São Jorge (Santana)

São Jorge (Portuguese: Saint George) is a civil parish in the municipality of Santana, in the island of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 1,473, in an area of 19.34 km².

History

São Jorge was created in 1515, and benefitted from the patronage of King Manuel I of Portugal when it was merely a religious parish. These revelations were documented in the archives of the Torre do Tombo, and also included many of the pieces and religious artefacts donated by the King to the first Church of São Jorge. The first settlers to this parish occupied the areas in the Sítio do Calhau.

It was later divided, creating the parish of Santana in 1564 (and later municipal seat after 1835); the parish of Arco de São Jorge in 1676; and Ilha in 1989.

Geography

The area is divided into "neighborhoods", forested and coastal spaces defined by several sítios (places): Achada de António Teixeira, Achada do Pico, Achada da Felpa, Achada Grande, Açougue, Barranco, Covas, Fajã Alta, Farrobo, Farrobo de Cima, Farrobo de Baixo, Furna de Pedro Jorge, Jogo da Bola, Lombo do Pico, Pé do Pico, Pico, Poço e Vale, Pomar, Ribeira Funda, São Pedro and Tanque.

São Jorge Island

São Jorge (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃w ˈʒɔɾʒ(ɨ)]) is a Portuguese island in the central Azorean archipelago of Portugal. It is separated from its nearest neighbors (Pico and Faial islands) by a 15 km strait (consequently, the three islands are sometimes referred to colloquially as the "Triangulo" (Triangle) group or just "The Triangle"). São Jorge is a relatively long thin island with tall cliffs, and where the population (9500 inhabitants.) is concentrated on various deltas along the north and south coasts (its east to west length is 53 km and its north to south width is 8 km and its area is 237.59 km² 95 sq. miles).

History

It is unclear when the first explorers discovered the island of São Jorge; as part of the politics of human occupation, the Azores were populated after 1430 (probably 1439) through the initiative of Prince Henry the Navigator. The 23 April, known as the feast day of Saint George, has been cited by historians as the reason for the island's name, although this is likely conjecture. Genovese and Catalan maps of the 14th century originally designated the long, slender island "São Jorge", a designation that was maintained by Infante D. Henrique when settlers from northern Europe began to colonize the island (around 1460, or twenty years after it was first sighted).