Visiting timetable09:00 AM – 09:00 PM
Monday, March 30, 2026
Castelo de São Jorge, Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
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Historical Maps of São Jorge Castle — How to Read Old Plans

Understand old maps and miniatures showing São Jorge Castle and Lisbon's waterfront across historical periods.

3/16/2026
9 min read
Historic map of Lisbon from the early 20th century

Reading miniatures and plans

  • Scale is often symbolic in miniatures — look for pictorial clues rather than precise measurements.
  • Compare maps across time to spot urban expansion, riverfront changes, and fortification adjustments.

Exercise: Compare a 16th-century miniature with an 18th-century plan to spot changes in the castle's footprint.

About the Author

Cartography Enthusiast

Cartography Enthusiast

This guide was written to help visitors meet São Jorge Castle on their own terms: to appreciate its dramatic position, understand its complex past, and find quieter moments above the city.

Tags

maps
cartography
historic

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