Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém > Pedrouços
The Belém Tower is located in the parish of Belém, in Lisbon, next to the right bank of the Tagus River.
The tower was built between 1514 and 1520 during the reign of D. Manuel I. Originally, it was surrounded by water, but over the centuries it was incorporated into the mainland.
Designed to defend the entrance to the Tagus River, it was part of a defensive system that included other fortifications such as the Tower of São Sebastião da Caparica and the Tower of Santo António de Cascais.
It represents a fusion between medieval and Renaissance architecture, with Manueline influences. The tower is characterized by decorative elements such as sculpted ropes, armillary spheres, and the cross of the Order of Christ. The tower has five floors, including the Governor's Room, the Kings' Room, the Audience Room, and a Chapel.
Over time, the Belém Tower lost its defensive function and was used as a customs registry, lighthouse, and even as a prison.
In 1983, it was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Jerónimos Monastery. In 2007, it was elected one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
It is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal, with hundreds of thousands of visitors per year.
The tower has a sculpture of a rhinoceros, one of the first representations of this animal in Europe, symbolizing Portuguese maritime explorations.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_de_Belém
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.69172007819151,-9.215835169875872
Coordinates DMS: 38°41'30.2"N 09°12'57.0"W
Weather Belém
On-duty Pharmacy Belém
