Lisbon Cathedral
Lisbon Cathedral, known in Portuguese as the Se de Lisboa and dedicated to Saint Mary Major, is the oldest church in the Portuguese capital and the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Its construction began in 1147, immediately after Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, captured the city from the Moors during the Reconquista. Designed in the Romanesque style by Master Robert, with a Latin-cross plan, three naves and a triforium, it closely resembles the Old Cathedral of Coimbra.
The west front has the unmistakable look of a stronghold: two squat bell towers flank the portal and crenellations crown the walls, reflecting an era when a cathedral might double as a defensive bastion. Over the centuries the building has been battered by earthquakes, most catastrophically in 1755, and repeatedly rebuilt and remodelled, so its fabric now blends Romanesque solidity with Gothic and Baroque additions, including a Gothic ambulatory and cloister where ongoing archaeological digs have uncovered Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish remains beneath the church.
The cathedral holds deep religious significance for the city. The relics of Saint Vincent of Saragossa, the patron saint of Lisbon, were brought here from the Algarve in the twelfth century, and tradition holds that Saint Anthony of Lisbon (better known as Anthony of Padua) was baptised in the cathedral around 1195. Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the Se remains an active place of worship and one of Lisbon's most visited landmarks, perched in the historic Alfama district along the route of the famous Tram 28.
- Location
- 38.7097, -9.1331
- Local time
- 23:33 (Europe/Lisbon)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sat | 10:00–18:00 |
| Sun | Closed |
Hours extend to roughly 09:30-19:00 in summer (April-September); the cathedral generally closes to tourists on Sundays and public holidays for worship. Verify before visiting.
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Saint Mary Major (Blessed Virgin Mary) Saint
The cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria Maior, the Virgin Mary in her title of Saint Mary Major.
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Saint Vincent of Saragossa Saint
The relics of St. Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon, were translated to the cathedral from the Algarve in the 12th century.
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Saint Anthony of Lisbon (of Padua) Saint
Tradition holds that St. Anthony was baptised in this cathedral around 1195, and a font marks the spot.
Care & donations
Patriarchate of Lisbon (Cabido da Se de Lisboa)
Entry to the main cathedral is free; the cloister and treasury are ticketed.
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