Belem Tower

lisbon, portugal

Famous for: Monuments, Historical Tours, Architecture, Palaces and Forts, War Museums, Iconic Sites, History and Culture

Belem Tower, originally built as a defence tower for Lisbon, it is currently a major attraction site in Lisbon. It is 500 years old and listed in UNESCO World heritage list. The inside tower is as interesting as the top terrace providing view to the city.

About Contact Location

When to visit: january - december

Timing:

10:00 - 17:30 Everyday

Duration: 1.5 hours

Entry Fee: € 6

Tips: Combine the visit with Jeronimos Monastery which is only a 10-15 minute walk away. | Do eat at the Pastéis de Belém bakery, the original home of Portugal’s famous pastel de nata egg tart.

Belem Tower, also known as "Tower of St Vincent" or "Torre de Belém", used to be part of a defence system at the mouth of the Tagus river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. The tower has Portuguese Manueline style. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO because of the significant role it played in the Portuguese maritime discoveries.

Built from a beige-white limestone, the building is divided into two parts: the bastion and the four story tower located on the north side of the bastion. The ground floor has 16 windows with cannons. You can also see the pits and holes where the prisoners were thrown into.

Another thing to look for is a small stone sculpture of a rhinoceros head, apparently created to commemorate the arrival of one of the first rhinos in Europe.

The King’s Chamber provides views over the lower terrace and river.

The former chapel on the fourth floor, show a video history of the tower and Portuguese Age of Discovery.