Belém Tower

Belém Tower is a fort on an island located in the Tagus River. It built to commemorate the discovery of Vasco da Gama’s sea route to India. This a stunning architectural monument that considered the main attraction of Lisbon today. Its construction carried out by the famous Portuguese architect Francisco de Arruda.

Story

The Belém Tower project commissioned by King John II, who planned to use it to defend the mouth of the Tagus River and as a solemn gateway to Lisbon. But the ruler died, and the plans remained unfulfilled. Twenty years later, King Manuel I again raised the issue of building military fortifications.

The erection of the tower began on a ledge of basalt rocks located in the river at some distance from the coast; stones used for construction. As conceived by the architect. It planned to have five floors, but after that it decided to limit itself to four floors.

Exterior

The Belém Tower in Lisbon is the embodiment of the Manueline architectural style. It widespread during the Renaissance, but today it almost lost. The walls of the building decorated with patterns typical of the Manueline style and royal symbols. On them you can see images of animals, knots, ropes, crosses of knightly orders.

There are stone balconies on three sides of the tower. Their main decorative element is the state regalia and the coats of arms of King Manuel I. Above there watchtowers with a roof made in the form of domes. The tower building is located on a high platform in the form of a hexagon.

Its edge directed towards the waves of the Tagus River. Belém has a terrace with an openwork balustrade, where a statue of Our Lady and Child placed in a carved niche. The external design makes the facade of the building elegant and majestic.

In the architectural solutions of the tower, one can notice the influence of oriental architectural motives.

Interior

The interior decoration of the Belém Tower in Lisbon is simple and concise. Here you can see items from the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, in particular, the image of the Virgin Mary in a sea shell, the throne of the 16th century, decorated with finials.

The premises of the tower are spacious and simple in decor. But there also richly furnished rooms. They exhibit luxurious collections that convey the features of decoration and furniture in the Gothic style. There is a chapel at the top of the tower. From here, a wonderful view of the mouth of the Tagus River and the western part of Lisbon opens up.

Each floor of the tower is of interest to tourists:

• the first is the Governor’s Hall;
• the second is the Hall of Kings with an elliptical ceiling;
• the third is the Audience Hall;
• the fourth is the Capella;
• fifth – Tower Terrace.

Functions

At different times, the Belém Tower in Portugal performed various functions: it was a defensive fortress, a prison, a powder warehouse, and a customs office. But it never used for its intended purpose – as a defensive fortification. During the Napoleonic Wars, the building almost half destroyed, but in 1845 it was completely reconstructed.

Belém Tower for tourists

This architectural structure is a kind of museum that acquaints visitors with the original architectural styles, unusual interiors and facade design. Within its walls you can find unique monuments – evidence of important geographical discoveries.

Belém Tower is open to the public every day except Mondays. Opening hours in summer – from 10.00 to 18.30, in winter – until 17.00. Entrance fee – 4 euros. You can get to the Belém tower by tram number 15, stop “Largo Princesa”.

From here you need to walk about two hundred meters. You can also take the Cais Do Sodre train to the tower to the Belem stop. Rail transport leaves every 15-20 minutes.

Interesting Facts

• Initially, the tower had a different name – it bore the name of Saint Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon.
• To get to the tower, you need to go over a wooden drawbridge.
• In 2007, Belém Tower recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.
• In 1983, the tower included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites.