Hotel Roma 4 Lisbon legends to discover as a family!
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4 Lisbon legends to discover as a family!
March 01 2024
Culture 
1. Ulysses and the hills of Lisbon
Did you know that Homer's Ulysses, the mythical hero who faced a real “Odyssey” and took ten years to find his way back to Ithaca, is said to have landed at the mouth of the Tagus? At the time, the land was called Ophiussa, which means Land of the Serpents. The ruler was a queen, half-woman, half-snake, terrifying but at the same time charismatic. Legend has it that the queen fell in love with Ulysses and, as such, promised him the creation of the most beautiful city in the world: Ulyssea.
So, what happened? It depends on the version. One says that Ulysses also fell in love with the queen with the strange anatomy and that he climbed the highest mountain to shout to the seven winds that he would found Ulysseia there. According to other versions, the hero pretended to fall in love with the queen in order to deceive her, and his ailors fuelled the ships and abandoned Ophiussa on a moonlit night. The queen, on discovering the escape, followed Ulysses, winding through the valleys and, in making her way towards him, formed the hills of Lisbon.
2. The lizard of Penha de França
There are several adaptations of this legend. And although we don't know which is the most “correct” or the exact date it dates back to, one thing is certain: the lizard is the protagonist in all of them.
It all started with a pilgrim who was resting next to the image of Our Lady of Penha de França. In the meantime, a lizard appeared. Depending on the version, the plot varies. In one of them, the fearsome lizard approached the hermit to attack him and the Virgin appeared to him in a dream, warning him and asking him to take out his razor to kill it. The animal was killed, embalmed and displayed on one of the church walls.
Another variation of the story claims that the halo of Our Lady's image shone so brightly that the traveller woke up and was saved. But there are more interpretations, or it wouldn't be the case that “a tale never loses in the telling”. Popular sayings aside, some believe that the legend had one more character: a snake. It approached the pilgrim to sting him, and by divine intervention, a large lizard appeared and woke him up, saving him from the attack.
Recalling the legend of Ulysses and the founding of Lisbon, it was at the top of Penha de França that the cunning hero consummated his love with the queen of the Land of Serpents. It's fair to say: lizard, lizard, lizard!
3. Legend of St Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon
Saint Anthony is one of the saints most adored by the “alfacinhas”, but have you ever heard of Saint Vincent, the main patron saint of the Lisbon Patriarchate? This legend takes us back to the 4th century, when the martyr Vincent of Saragossa refused to worship the pagan gods of the Roman Empire. Choosing to remain faithful to his faith, he was condemned to death and the ancients say that his body was protected from the vultures by a raven.
Later, around the 8th century, the Christians put the martyr's remains on a boat, which they threw into the sea in the hope of being saved from the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Considered a miracle by many, the body washed ashore at some point in the Sacred Promontory, Cape Sagres, which was later renamed Cape Saint Vincent.
Eight centuries later, King Afonso Henriques promised to recover the saint's bones if he managed to achieve a feat: conquering Lisbon from the Muslims, which he eventually did. According to the story, the remains were found in 1173 and transported by boat from the Algarve to Lisbon, guarded by two ravens who showed the way. On the arrival of the ship in Lisbon, Saint Vincent officially became the city's patron saint and has remained so to this day. This legend is also behind the two ravens depicted on the flag of Lisbon.
4. Legend of Martim Moniz and the conquest of Lisbon
Let's now tell you about the legend that “helped” the conquest of Lisbon. According to it, this feat was due to the act of bravery of the knight Martim Moniz.
We are in the 12th century. When King Afonso Henriques and the Crusaders laid siege to the castle of Lisbon, which at the time was Muslim territory, the brave nobleman Martim Moniz sacrificed his own life, throwing himself at the gates that allowed the Portuguese forces to enter the city. With his own body, he prevented the gates from being closed, the Christians entered and Lisbon was conquered.
The story is very well known and is engraved on a tombstone next to the entrance, which was named “Porta de Martim Moniz” (Martim Moniz Gate), with a small statue commissioned by King Afonso Henriques in honour of the nobleman.
Although some accounts of the time claim that Martim Moniz never died there, the truth is that what is
now known as Martim Moniz Square was eventually built on the site.
Myths and legends aside, there's nothing like bringing all these stories to life with a visit to one of Lisbon's hotels. And if you can't go back in time, you can always take a stroll along the seven hills, discover the Parish Church of Penha de França, photograph the statue of Saint Vincent at the Portas do Sol viewpoint or venture out for aride on the 28 tram in Martim Moniz.
Whatever programme you choose, take the opportunity to discover the capital with your family at Hotel Roma, your family hotel in Lisbon. The oldest of all the hotels on Avenida de Roma, ours connects Avenidas Novas to anywhere in the world, making your trip the ultimate leisure experience.
Visit us in the Alvalade neighbourhood. Have a nice walk and enjoy your stay!
Return
Did you know that Homer's Ulysses, the mythical hero who faced a real “Odyssey” and took ten years to find his way back to Ithaca, is said to have landed at the mouth of the Tagus? At the time, the land was called Ophiussa, which means Land of the Serpents. The ruler was a queen, half-woman, half-snake, terrifying but at the same time charismatic. Legend has it that the queen fell in love with Ulysses and, as such, promised him the creation of the most beautiful city in the world: Ulyssea.
So, what happened? It depends on the version. One says that Ulysses also fell in love with the queen with the strange anatomy and that he climbed the highest mountain to shout to the seven winds that he would found Ulysseia there. According to other versions, the hero pretended to fall in love with the queen in order to deceive her, and his ailors fuelled the ships and abandoned Ophiussa on a moonlit night. The queen, on discovering the escape, followed Ulysses, winding through the valleys and, in making her way towards him, formed the hills of Lisbon.
2. The lizard of Penha de França
There are several adaptations of this legend. And although we don't know which is the most “correct” or the exact date it dates back to, one thing is certain: the lizard is the protagonist in all of them.
It all started with a pilgrim who was resting next to the image of Our Lady of Penha de França. In the meantime, a lizard appeared. Depending on the version, the plot varies. In one of them, the fearsome lizard approached the hermit to attack him and the Virgin appeared to him in a dream, warning him and asking him to take out his razor to kill it. The animal was killed, embalmed and displayed on one of the church walls.
Another variation of the story claims that the halo of Our Lady's image shone so brightly that the traveller woke up and was saved. But there are more interpretations, or it wouldn't be the case that “a tale never loses in the telling”. Popular sayings aside, some believe that the legend had one more character: a snake. It approached the pilgrim to sting him, and by divine intervention, a large lizard appeared and woke him up, saving him from the attack.
Recalling the legend of Ulysses and the founding of Lisbon, it was at the top of Penha de França that the cunning hero consummated his love with the queen of the Land of Serpents. It's fair to say: lizard, lizard, lizard!
3. Legend of St Vincent, patron saint of Lisbon
Saint Anthony is one of the saints most adored by the “alfacinhas”, but have you ever heard of Saint Vincent, the main patron saint of the Lisbon Patriarchate? This legend takes us back to the 4th century, when the martyr Vincent of Saragossa refused to worship the pagan gods of the Roman Empire. Choosing to remain faithful to his faith, he was condemned to death and the ancients say that his body was protected from the vultures by a raven.
Later, around the 8th century, the Christians put the martyr's remains on a boat, which they threw into the sea in the hope of being saved from the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Considered a miracle by many, the body washed ashore at some point in the Sacred Promontory, Cape Sagres, which was later renamed Cape Saint Vincent.
Eight centuries later, King Afonso Henriques promised to recover the saint's bones if he managed to achieve a feat: conquering Lisbon from the Muslims, which he eventually did. According to the story, the remains were found in 1173 and transported by boat from the Algarve to Lisbon, guarded by two ravens who showed the way. On the arrival of the ship in Lisbon, Saint Vincent officially became the city's patron saint and has remained so to this day. This legend is also behind the two ravens depicted on the flag of Lisbon.
4. Legend of Martim Moniz and the conquest of Lisbon
Let's now tell you about the legend that “helped” the conquest of Lisbon. According to it, this feat was due to the act of bravery of the knight Martim Moniz.
We are in the 12th century. When King Afonso Henriques and the Crusaders laid siege to the castle of Lisbon, which at the time was Muslim territory, the brave nobleman Martim Moniz sacrificed his own life, throwing himself at the gates that allowed the Portuguese forces to enter the city. With his own body, he prevented the gates from being closed, the Christians entered and Lisbon was conquered.
The story is very well known and is engraved on a tombstone next to the entrance, which was named “Porta de Martim Moniz” (Martim Moniz Gate), with a small statue commissioned by King Afonso Henriques in honour of the nobleman.
Although some accounts of the time claim that Martim Moniz never died there, the truth is that what is
now known as Martim Moniz Square was eventually built on the site.
Myths and legends aside, there's nothing like bringing all these stories to life with a visit to one of Lisbon's hotels. And if you can't go back in time, you can always take a stroll along the seven hills, discover the Parish Church of Penha de França, photograph the statue of Saint Vincent at the Portas do Sol viewpoint or venture out for aride on the 28 tram in Martim Moniz.
Whatever programme you choose, take the opportunity to discover the capital with your family at Hotel Roma, your family hotel in Lisbon. The oldest of all the hotels on Avenida de Roma, ours connects Avenidas Novas to anywhere in the world, making your trip the ultimate leisure experience.
Visit us in the Alvalade neighbourhood. Have a nice walk and enjoy your stay!