Social Program

Conference dinner

Conference dinner at Restaurant Casa do Leão at Castelo de S. Jorge on the 19th of July (20H00)

The Castle of São Jorge is located atop the highest hill in the center of the city. The hill was employed in early times by Celtic tribes, and Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians, have probably also lived where the castle now stands. Later on, Roman, Suebic, Visigothic, and Moorish settlers also resided in there. The first fortifications are no older than the second century BC. The castle was the Moorish royal residence until Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, who won the castle and the city of Lisbon with the help of Crusaders in 1147. According to the legend, the knight Martim Moniz noticed that one of the doors to the castle was open, and prevented the Moors from closing the door by throwing his own body into the breach, allowing Christian soldiers to enter and conquer the castle. When Lisbon became the capital of the kingdom, in 1255, the castle became the royal palace. In the late 14th century, it was dedicated to Saint George by João I, who had married the English princess Philippa of Lancaster. George, the warrior-saint, usually represented fighting a dragon, was popular in both countries. As the royal palace, the castle was the setting for the reception of the navigator and hero, Vasco da Gama, when he returned after discovering a maritime route to India. King Manuel I received him there, in 1498, with all appropriate honors and celebrations.

The Castle of São Jorge is one of the main historical and touristic sites of Lisbon and visitors can enjoy one of the most wonderful views of the capital of Portugal.

Excursion (to be announced)

SPONSORS

















Design @ Leonardo Mendes