The Lisbon’s Defender

Today we suggest you one of the most important monuments in Lisbon and Portugal, as such you can not fail to visit.

The Belém Tower was built in 1515 in order to defend the port of Lisbon by the river. At the time of the Discoveries, this was the departure port of many Portuguese travels to Asia, Africa and America.

It is classified as UNESCO World Heritage for it’s history and architecture, it is also considered one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. It is definitely a symbol of Lisbon, which has 500 years.

Its Manuelino architecture style captivates anyone, leaving no one indifferent to its details, such as pictures of nodes, ropes, crosses and armillary spheres that can be observed throughout the building.

Outside the tower, you can see sculptures of saints, one of St. Michael (picture that accompanied Vasco da Gama to India) and another of St. Vincent (the patron saint of Lisbon). In one of the guardhouses it is represented a rhinoceros, which symbolizes the offering of this animal by an Indian king to King Manuel I. This animal aroused much curiosity throughout Europe.

Around the terrace you will find six guardhouses where stayed sentry, and a sculpture of Our Lady of Good Success (Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso), saint who protected the sailors.

The guardhouses

Sculpture of Our Lady of Good Success (Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso)

Inside the tower, you can visit the Governor’s, the Kings’s and Hearings’s rooms. The Chapel, which was the proper place for the spiritual needs. Its cloister (Claustrim) is a small rectangular patio with pointed arches, served to ventilate the inside space and release the smoke from the firing of cannons. There you can find 16 cannons, used to defend the city. Finally, the prison was the place where political prisoners were taken.

The Kings’s room

The Claustrim

The Prison

In this monument, you can also enjoy the view of the Tagus river and Belem, one of the most beautiful places of Lisbon.

So, a visit to Belém Tower is mandatory and it will take you for a trip to the Age of Discovery, which was a great era for Portugal. You will enjoy it for sure!

Location:

Avenue Brasília 1400-206 Lisboa

Opening hours:

October to April: From 10h00 to 17h30 (last entry at 17h00)

May to September: From 10h00 to 18h30 (last entry at 17h00) 

Closed: Mondays and on January 1st, Easter Sunday, 1st May, 13th June and 25th December

Prices:

Individual ticket: 6 €

Group tickets: 

• Discoveries: Monastery of Jeronimos and Belem Tower : 12 €
•  Empire Square: Monastery of Jeronimos + Belem Tower + National Archaeological Museum: 16 €
• Cais os history : Monastery of Jeronimos + Belem Tower + National Archaelogical Museum + Popular Art Museum + National Ethnology Museum + Coaches Museum: 25 €

Free entry: 

• 1st Sunday of each month for individual visits or groups up to 12 people (inclusive)
• Children and young people up to 12 years (inclusive)
• Visitors in situation of unemployment residents of the European Union (by check)
• Visitors with reduced mobility with higher degree of disability 60% and 1 companion (by check)

Transports:

Electric: Electric 15

By bus: 727, 728, 729, 751, 714

By train: line Lisbon-Cascais (Belem station)

By boat: fluvial station of Belem