Lisbon Cathedral and the ravens of Saint Vincent

Before you look at the cathedral, look down. On Lisbon's litter bins, lamp posts and manhole covers the same image appears again and again: a boat with a raven at the bow and another at the stern. The explanation lies inside this building.

1A martyr and his guardians

Saint Vincent was a deacon martyred in Valencia in the early fourth century. According to his legend, his body was left out for wild animals, but ravens defended it. Centuries later, tradition places his remains at the south-western tip of the peninsula, on the cape that now bears his name.

2The voyage of 1173

In 1173, at the wish of King Afonso Henriques, the relics were brought by sea to Lisbon and ended up in the main chapel of this cathedral. So far, that's history.

Legend adds that two ravens accompanied the boat throughout the voyage, one at the bow and one at the stern, keeping watch over the saint's body. That image passed into the city's coat of arms, and Saint Vincent became Lisbon's patron saint.

The transfer of 1173 is documented; the ravens escorting the boat are a tradition, a beautiful and very old one.

It is said that the cathedral kept live ravens for centuries, a custom that, according to the same accounts, ended in the twentieth century.

3What to look out for

• Lisbon's coat of arms: spot it on the street furniture around the square.
• The fortified façade, which received the patron saint's relics.
• The main chapel, if you go in: this is where the relics were laid.