Santa Catarina viewpoint (miradouro) is the most beautiful viewpoint in Lisbon! Also known as the Miradouro do Adamastor, this place is located on one of the 7 hills of Lisbon.
ADAMASTOR VIEWPOINT
In the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries, it was from this point that the ships that arrived and departed from the port of Lisbon could be seen. It is from this tradition of observation that the popular saying “see ships from the top of Santa Catarina” originated. But the Santa Catarina belvedere allows you to see much more than just the arrival and departure of ships.
WHERE IS SANTA CATARINA VIEWPOINT?
HOW TO GET TO ADAMASTOR VIEWPOINT?
There are several options to get to this Lisbon hill. You can do it by subway, bus, train, streetcar or by boat.
WHAT TO SEE AT SANTA CATARINA VIEWPOINT?
ENJOY THE VIEW FROM ADAMASTOR’S VIEWPOINT
From this point in the city you can see the 25 de Abril bridge, the Cristo-Rei, the downtown, the Madragoa neighborhood, the whole silhouette of the southern bank of the Tagus, the riverside area, the mouth of the river and the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. At this viewpoint there are also two attractions that you can see on site. The statue of the Adamastor and the Alto de Santa Catarina garden.
ADAMASTOR STATUE
The Adamastor was a character imagined by Camões and referred to in the poet’s greatest work, “Os Lusíadas”. The marble figure that can be found in the Santa Catarina belvedere, represents the monster of the Cape of Storms that threatened the Portuguese navigators in the glorious epoch of the Portuguese discoveries. The statue dates from 1927 and the Adamastor is represented as the head of a deformed old man.
ALTO DE SANTA CATARINA GARDEN
It is a small but nice garden. In 1877, a Portuguese man returning from Brazil (where he had become rich) decided to build a building on this site. He didn’t get permission from the Lisbon City Council and decided to replace the building plan with a public garden. Good decision!
SUNSET AT ADAMASTOR’S VIEWPOINT
Many people come daily to the Miradouro de Santa Catarina to watch a fantastic sunset! From 4 PM on, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is a meeting place for friends. There, there is a small kiosk with an esplanade that sells drinks. It is a perfect place to drink some beers while socializing with friends, relaxing, and waiting for the sunset
LISTENING TO MUSIC AND WATCHING DIFFERENT ARTISTS
In the late afternoon, because this is the busiest time in this place, musicians and street artists often appear. They mark their presence and play their music in the hope of getting some donations. They transform the place into a place with an even more special atmosphere and lend a touch of culture to the place.
ATTRACTIONS NEAR THE ADAMASTOR VIEWPOINT
The Santa Catarina viewpoint is right in the center of Lisbon. In the Portuguese capital, the hardest thing is to choose what to see, so many are the attractions of a city like “our” Lisbon. The following 4 suggestions are quite close to the Adamastor viewpoint.
300 meters separate the neighborhood from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina. It is in this parish that we can find the Adamastor viewpoint. The parish was created in 1599 and was initially called Santa Catarina do Monte Sinai. It is worth walking around the neighborhood and feel a bit of the soul of Lisbon. The Bairro de Santa Catarina is today an area of the city with a very high number of local accommodation that caters to the huge mass of tourists visiting the city of Lisbon.
Only 11 minutes walk separate the Santa Catarina viewpoint from the São Roque church. An ignored pearl in the center of Lisbon (few are the Lisboetas who know it). It is located in Largo da Misericórdia and is a masterpiece of Italian art. It started to be built in 1590. The exterior of the church is simple but the interior is of boundless richness, the gold shines in every millimeter of the religious temple. Admission is free.
12 minutes (900 meters) away from the Santa Catarina viewpoint in Cais do Sodré, a place that has been many things in life! The old “bairro dos remolares” was once a parade ground for famous people, a place where WWII spies used to meet clandestinely, a meeting place for prostitutes and sailors who arrived there, and was also declared a public health hazard. Today it is a cosmopolitan pier and an authentic park for tourists! It’s worth a visit and learn all about one of the most emblematic places in Lisbon! Click on the image to read our article about cais do Sodré.
A 14-minute walk separates the Santa Catarina viewpoint from the Santa Justa elevator. It is one of the symbols of the city and was built in 1901. A cast iron construction with a neo-Gothic style. It was designed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard. It is one of the greatest exponents of downtown Pombalina. From the top of the Santa Justa elevator we have one of the most impressive views of the city.
RESTAURANTS NEAR SANTA CATARINA VIEWPOINT
After visiting the Miradouro de Santa Catarina and spending some time there, you may feel hungry! If this happens we suggest the following restaurants.
PORTUGUESE TAVERN
Over 670 reviews on Google and an overall rating of 4.5 (out of 5). It is located on the sidewalk of Combo. It is a perfect restaurant for Tapas lovers. The most positive comments insist on the quality of the codfish dishes. In the Portuguese tavern you can also listen to Portuguese Music (Fado) while you eat your meal. The prices are moderate (count on 20 to 25€ per person).
The restaurant is only 400 meters from the Adamastor viewpoint.
ÁGUA PELA BARBA RESTAURANT
Over 350 reviews on Google and an overall rating of 4.5 (5). Like the previous recommendation, the prices are also moderate (20 to 25€ per person). According to the comments, the Octopus and the snacks are excellent. The good atmosphere of the restaurant is also emphasized several times by the customers of Água pela Barba.
The restaurant is on Rua Nova do Almada (900 meters walk from the Santa Catarina viewpoint).
HOTELS IN SANTA CATARINA
BAIRRO ALTO SUITES
The supply of accommodation in this part of the city is very high and very diverse. We leave you with a recommendation of a 3 star hotel that seems to integrate two fundamental qualities: a friendly price and high quality! More than 80 comments on google and an overall rating of 4.4 stars (out of 5). The most negative comments point to the noise from the streets as a problem for sleeping well. The more positive ones refer to the quality and cleanliness of the rooms.
The Alto suites hotel is 800 meters from the Adamastor viewpoint (10 minutes on foot).
IF YOU LIKED THIS ARTICLE YOU WILL ALSO ENJOY…
