The Belém Tower is one of the most visited monuments in Lisbon
The tower, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1983, was built between 1514 and 1520, under the reign of D. Luis I, as a fortification to defend the city (although over time it abandoned that function to become a customs point and lighthouse, an essential place of passage for those who wanted to enter the city). Today, although it functions almost exclusively as lookout , is one of the most characteristic monuments of Lisbon, the banner of the "was two discoveries" , of which the Portuguese were pioneers.
The decoration of the building, in the Manueline style, is strongly influenced and has Islamic and oriental elements. Even the figure of a hippopotamus, an animal that had not set foot on Portuguese soil until the 6th century but which, according to history, was brought from India by the Portuguese as a gift from King Modofar, monarch of Khambhat, for the inconvenience caused by refusing to build a fortification in its territory. The arrival of the animal shocked so much to D. Luis and the inhabitants of the city that a fight was even organized between him and an elephant to see which was stronger (in which, by the way, the elephant gave up before starting) . With the purpose of impress the pope , was sent to Rome by ship, but a storm caused the ship to sink and all the crew perished, including the animal that, although it knew how to swim, could not stay afloat due to the weight of the jewels with which it had been adorned for the chance.
Map: See map
Address: Belém Tower 1400-206 Lisbon See map
Telephone: 00 351 213 620 034
Price: Adults €5
Schedule: Mon - Sun: 10.00 am - 05.30 pm
Guy: Historical buildings
Official Web: Go to the web