Tower of Belém
Most visited monument in Lisbon
A national historic monument,
Torre de Belém, on the right bank of the Tagus River, is one of the main tourist attractions
from Lisbon.
The
Torre de Belém (officially Torre São Vicente) was declared
World Cultural Heritage by Unesco in 1983.
Postcard from Lisbon and Portugal
The
Belem Tower, (together with the
Monastery of Jerónimos) ,
is one of the most visible postcards of Lisbon and Portugal, which is why it is a must-see in the Portuguese capital.
Belém Tower © Antonio Sacchetti / Images Of Portugal
Old Belém Beach
Where the
Tower of Belém currently stands, before its construction there was a beach called
Praia de Belém.
Nowadays, however, the tower is connected to the mainland.
Medieval tower and bastion
What enchants visitors is its style, which mixes a medieval tower and a bulwark with defensive features. And the
Tower of Belém
shares these functions: the keep (donjon, in French), which in the Middle Ages was the central element of a castle and the bulwark for
defend its geographical position.
Defence of the Tagus Entrance
The
Torre de Belém or
Torre de São Vicente was part of a set of fortifications with the objective of
the defense at the entrance of the Tagus River. There were three defensive fortifications:
Torre de São Vicente (or
Torre de Belém),
from 1514, it was the last of the fortifications erected; the
São Sebastião da Caparica Tower, to the south, built in 1481,
and the
Santo Antônio de Cascais Tower, from 1488, located to the west.
The main function of the
Torre de Belém which, as has been said, was the defense of the Barra do Rio Tejo, over time was
losing its initial function, being today mainly a tourist monument.
Exterior of the Belém Tower (Detail) © / Cultural Heritage, illustration
Manueline treasure
One of the architectural treasures of the reign of King Manuel I, the tower was built between 1514 and 1520, with the function
the defense of the Lisbon bar.
Overview of the Tower of Belém
The structure rises on 4 floors (floors), consisting of a Governor's Room, the Room of the Kings, the Audience Room and a Chapel
of the 16th century. In addition to the coats of arms of the kings of Portugal, the cross of the
Order of Christ also stands out.
Interior of the Belém Tower © / Cultural Heritage, illustration
In addition to
Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 1983,
Torre de Belém is also considered one of the
Seven Wonders of Portugal.
Old Belém Beach
Where the
Tower of Belém currently stands, before its construction there was a beach called
Praia de Belém.
Nowadays, however, the tower is connected to the mainland.
How to get there
The
Torre de Belém is located in the Parish of Belém, 8.5 km west of the
Sé (Cathedral) of Lisbon.
The fastest and most comfortable way to reach the
Torre de Belém is by
private car. In this mode of
transport the route takes about 20 minutes.
By
public transport, it is advisable to take one of the following
buses: 727, 28, 729, 714 or 751.
in about 45 minutes.
If you prefer to use the
tram (tram), take tram number 15.
• Official Link:
Belém Tower
Lisbon Top Attractions
•
Monastery of Jeronimos,
•
Monument to the Discoveries,
•
São Jorge Castle