1755 Earthquake and São Jorge Castle — Damage & Reconstruction

The 1755 shock and the castle

The earthquake of 1755 devastated much of Lisbon; São Jorge Castle experienced structural damage but its hilltop position spared it from total collapse.

Key points:

• Damage concentrated on non-structural elements and some battlements.
• The castle later served changing roles — military barracks, public gardens, and eventually a restored heritage site in the 20th century.

Restoration waves

1. Immediate aftermath: ad-hoc repairs.
2. 19th–20th c.: Romantic-era interventions that shaped the castle we see today.

For historians, the earthquake is a lens to study urban resilience and changing conservation philosophies.