8 Best Sights in Alfama, Lisbon

Although the castle was constructed by the Moors, the site had previously been fortified by Romans and Visigoths. Just outside the entrance is a statue of Dom Afonso Henriques, whose forces besieged the castle in 1147 and drove the Moors from Lisbon. The ramparts offer city panoramas as far as the towering Ponte 25 de Abril. A residence of the kings of Portugal in the medieval period, the palace now houses a small museum showcasing archaeological finds. From the periscópio (periscope) in the Torre de Ulísses in the keep you can spy on visitors going about their business below. Beyond the keep, traces of pre-Roman and Moorish houses are visible thanks to recent archaeological digs, as well as the remains of a palace founded in the 15th century. The castle's outer walls encompass a small neighborhood (Castelo), the medieval church of Santa Cruz, restaurants, and shops.

Lisbon's austere Romanesque cathedral was founded in 1150 to commemorate the defeat of the Moors three years earlier. To rub salt in the wound, the conquerors built the sanctuary on the spot where Moorish Lisbon's main mosque once stood. Note the fine rose window, and be sure to visit the rooftop terrace and the treasure-filled sacristy, which contains the relics of the martyr Saint Vincent, among other things. According to legend, the relics were carried from the Algarve to Lisbon in a ship piloted by ravens; the saint became Lisbon's official patron. The cathedral was originally built in the Romanesque style of the time but has undergone several rebuilds and refurbishments over the years; today its rather eclectic architecture includes Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical adornments. Visitors are expected to dress respectfully.

This Italianate dwelling is one of Alfama's most distinctive buildings. It was constructed in 1523 for Brás de Albuquerque, the son of Afonso, who became the viceroy of India and conquered Goa and Malacca. The name translates as "House of Spikes," and it's not hard to see why—it has a striking facade studded with pointed white stones in diamond shapes. The top two floors were destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, and restoration did not begin until the early 1980s. Since 2012 the building has housed the José Saramago Foundation, a cultural institute set up in memory of the only Portuguese-language winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, with two floors dedicated to his life and works.

This church, constructed in 1767, sits on the site where Lisbon's patron saint, Saint Anthony, was born. Although it's fairly compact, the interior is stunning, with ornately painted walls, abundant natural light, and stone carvings. The altarpiece on the side of the nave's gospel is thought to be from the 16th century, representing Saint Anthony (known as the "effigy of the Saint"), and locals still come to express their devotion.

Notable for its pretty terrace with blue-and-yellow azulejo tiles, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia has great views of the rooftops of Alfama and the boats along the Tagus River. Street musicians draw crowds with jazz and samba performances, and artists sell reasonably priced etchings of the scene. A pleasant kiosk serves coffee, cocktails, and snacks.

Visitors intrigued by the haunting sounds of fado can learn about the celebrated Portuguese music at this small but carefully curated museum. A permanent exhibition outlines the emergence of the style and its key artists, while occasional live performances provide a chance to hear modern day stars.

This small museum near the cathedral showcases the remains of a 1st-century theatre built during the reign of Emperor Augustus with space for around 4,000 spectators. Abandoned in the Middle Ages and buried for centuries, it was uncovered during 18th-century reconstruction work. You can view original columns and architectural fragments; multilingual touch-screen kiosks provide historical context.

The spirit of heroism is palpable in the sprawling barracks and arsenal complex of the Lisbon Military Museum, which houses one of the largest artillery collections in the world. You can ogle a 20-ton bronze cannon and admire Vasco da Gama's sword in a room dedicated to the explorer and his voyages. As you clatter through endless echoing rooms of weapons, uniforms, and armor, you may be lucky enough to be followed—at a respectful distance—by a guide who can convey exactly how that bayonet was jabbed or that gruesome flail swung. In this ornate building there is also a collection of 18th- to 20th-century art.