Hotel Lisboa Regency Chiado * * * *

Leisure activities nearby:
Shopping Arcade
Golf
Sailing
Trekking
 Surf
Windsurf
Tennis

A beautiful sight from the hotel. Saint George Castle is a magical place, a charming hilltop citadel with geese and ducks roaming around the castle gardens. Once used as a fortress, today it is home to many local families and a place that certainly deserves a visit.
Visitors can climb the towers and walk along the reconstructed ramparts of the castle walls and wonder at the spectacular views over Lisbon and the Tagus river.
Locals speak of Saint George's Castle as the cradle of their city, and it might have been where the Portuguese capital began. It was conquered by the Moors , which held power until 1147, the year Afonso Henríques chased them out and extended his kingdom south.

Belém Tower was built in the Age of the Discoveries (when defending the city was of paramont importance) in tribute to the patron saint of the city, Saint Vicente. Erected between 1515 and 1520, the Manueline-style tower is Portugal's classic landmark and often serves as a symbol of the country and it  stands on or near the spot where the caravels once set out across the sea. In order to enhance Lisbon’s defence, King João II drew up a plan that consisted of forming a three-fortress-defence on the Tagus’s estuary. It formed a triangle and on each angle, a fortress was constructed: Cascais's fortress on the right bank, S. Sebastião da Caparica on the left bank and Belém Tower in the water. Later on with the construction of new, more modern and more effective defences, the Tower of Belém lost its role as defender of the entrance of the River Tagus. As centuries passed, new functions were given to the tower. It was a customs control point, a telegraph station and even a lighthouse.

Only 26 Kms away from Lisbon, you can reach the Estoril Coast, which has mild winters and an ideal summer temperature which never gets too hot. Beaches on the Estoril Coast face south in a continuous line from the Tagus estuary  striking a harmonious blend between the delights of the land and the enchanting beauty of the sea, and are known for their calm waters and fine sand. Carcavelos a wide, long beach, is very popular and ideal for surfing. Parede with an  exceptionally  climate is rich in iodine, ideal for bone disorders. Towns like Cascais, and Guincho offer interesting sightseeing and modern facilities. The famous Estoril Casino is worth a visit.