Antiquity to Reconquista

The settlement of present-day Lisbon dates back at least to the Neolithic period. The Phoenicians founded a trading post around 1200 BC, which they called Alis Ubbo (possibly the origin of the name Lisboa). Romans, Visigoths, and Suebi followed.

Moorish Rule (714–1147)

From 714, the Moors ruled the city, which they called al-Ushbuna. They built the fortress on the hill (today's Castelo de São Jorge), established irrigation systems, and made the city a thriving trade center. The Alfama, Lisbon's oldest district, still preserves the Moorish street labyrinth — narrow alleys, steep stairs, winding cul-de-sacs.

The Reconquista (1147)

On October 25, 1147, King Afonso Henriques, with the help of English, Flemish, and German crusaders, recaptured Lisbon from the Moors — after a 17-week siege. This day marks the beginning of Lisbon's Christian history. The English crusader Gilbert of Hastings was appointed the first bishop; the main mosque was converted into the cathedral (Sé de Lisboa). In 1255, Lisbon was elevated to the capital of Portugal.