The Cathedral of Our Lady, by its full name Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa, is the main Roman Catholic church in the city.
Find a romantic hotel in central Lisbon
None of the locals or tourists call the cathedral anything other than "Sé de Lisboa". It is located in the southern part of the Alfama district, right in the historic centre of Lisbon.
The name "Sé" is a shortening of sedes episcopalis (seat of the bishop) and is used to refer to cathedrals all over Portugal.
The varied architecture
Construction of the Christian church began immediately after the conquest of the city by Alfonso I in 1147 and was completed in 1150. The Romanesque parts of the cathedral, especially the portal and parts of the interior, date from this period.
During the 13th and 14th centuries there were numerous rebuildings, mainly in the Gothic style, and during the following centuries, also due to frequent earthquakes, the cathedral was further rebuilt in various styles from Baroque to Mannerism.
However, it has retained its dominantly medieval character to this day.
Admission and opening hours
The cathedral is open to tourists at the following times from Monday to Saturday:
- November to May: 10:00 - 18:00.
- June to October: 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
The church remains closed on Sundays.
Admission costs 5 eur, Children under 12 pay only 3 eur.
Official website: sedelisboa.pt
How to get to the cathedral?
Sé de Lisboa is about a 4-5 minute walk from the main square , Praça do Comércio.
The nearest metro station, Terreiro do Paço (blue line), is about 200 metres south.
The historic tram lines 28E and 12E and minibus line 737 also stop directly in front of the cathedral.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Lisbon.
