Belem Tower

The Belem Tower is one of the great symbols of Portugal, a small but exquisitely ornate fortress of white limestone rising from the edge of the Tagus, built in the early sixteenth century to guard the harbour from which the explorers set sail. A UNESCO jewel of the Manueline style, carved with maritime motifs and turrets, it stands for the age of discovery when Portugal ruled the seas.

History

In the late 15th century King John II relied on the forts of Cascais and São Sebastião at Caparica to guard the mouth of the Tagus and, finding them not enough, ordered a strong fort but died before any plans were drawn; about twenty years later Manuel I took up the idea, and a letter of 1513 mentions his plan for a tower near Restelo Velho. The military architect Francisco de Arruda built it on a basalt outcrop a short way off the bank, using some of the stone gathered for the monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, and from 1516 he took delivery of 763 blocks and 504 stones, while the heavily armed 1,000-ton Grande Nau guarded the estuary until the fort was ready. It was finished in 1519, two years before Manuel died; its carved rhinoceros recalls the animal an Indian ruler gave the king, the same one Albrecht Dürer drew, and since 1983 the tower has been a World Heritage Site with the Jerónimos Monastery (Wikipedia, Belém Tower).

The main sights

• The ornate tower - the carved Manueline fortress rising from the river.
• The riverside setting - the tower on the Tagus in the Belem district.
• The Monument to the Discoveries - the great modern monument nearby.
• The Jeronimos Monastery - the UNESCO monastery a short walk away.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather; summer is hot and busy. It is small, so a quick visit, best combined with the nearby monastery and a famous custard tart at the original bakery in Belem.

Practical notes

It is small, so the interior is a quick visit and can queue; many are content to admire it from outside. It sits some way from the centre in Belem, easily paired with the monastery. The waterfront around it is busy with visitors.

Nearby

The Jeronimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries and the famous Pasteis de Belem bakery are close.

Key facts