MIRADOURO DE SANTA CATARINA

Description

Essentials about the Miradouro de Santa Catarina in brief

The Miradouro de Santa Catarina (Viewpoint of Saint Catherine) is one of the more famous of Lisbon’s many viewpoints. Located between the Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré neighborhoods, it offers one of the best views of the Tagus River, the impressive 25 de Abril Bridge, and the famous Christ the King statue across the river. The many cafes and restaurants, as well as the live music often played here, attract dozens of locals and tourists to the Miradouro de Santa Catarina every evening.

The view from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Because of its great view of the river, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is not only popular with tourists, but has always been one of the favorite meeting places of Lisbon residents themselves. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, people came to the Miradouro to admire the ships that set sail for Portuguese voyages of discovery around the world. Because the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is located on one of the seven hills of Lisbon, the ships could be seen from a distance. The Portuguese saying “Ver navios do alto de Santa Catarina” (“See ships from the top of Santa Catarina”) originated against this background.

The Miradouro de Santa Catarina in the evening

Especially in the evenings, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is a popular meeting place for Lisbon’s younger trendy crowd. Live music can often be heard here, which can be enjoyed while relaxing on the lawn or the marble benches of the Miradouro. However, the main reason for an evening visit to the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is the sunset. When the sun disappears in the west behind the houses of the city and the Tagus, you should definitely have your camera out. And with over 300 days of sunshine in Lisbon, you can watch this spectacle relatively often.

The Adamastor on the Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Anyone standing on the Miradouro de Santa Catarina will also certainly not miss the statue of Adamastor – the terrible figure of a sea monster from Greek mythology, made famous by the Portuguese national poet Luís de Camões. The Adamastor symbolizes the spirit of the Cape of Storms, known today as the Cape of Good Hope, where many Portuguese sailors were shipwrecked.

Restaurants and Cafés on the Miradouro de Santa Catarina

By the way, another attraction of the Miradouro de Santa Catarina are its food options. On the terrace of the Miradouro there is a kiosk where you can get a coffee or snack. There are also a few restaurants and cafes on and around the Miradouro, from which you can also enjoy the great view.