Sé de Lisboa

Sé de Lisboa

The Lisbon Cathedral, also known as the Saint Mary Major Patriarchal Cathedral, is Lisbon’s oldest place of worship and an imposing presence within the skyline. This elegant and stately building has stood tall throughout many earthquakes and has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

The facade of the cathedral evokes the imposing feeling of a fortress, with two towers standing on either side of the entrance. This was a deliberate design choice from the Reconquista Period - when the cathedral would have been used as a base during an enemy attack.

Make sure that you stretch your neck muscles before visiting, as you will spend most of your visit gazing up at the impressive Gothic vault ceiling. The second storey of the church ambulatory has a series of windows that bathe the interior of the cathedral in multi-hued light.