What to see in Belém
Updated: May 23, 2018
Well known as the historic district of the Age of Discovery, you can't visit Lisbon without stopping by Belém.
It was from here that Vasco da Gama and other explorers departed for their voyages to discover the world and where grand monuments were built in their honour. There are also many museums in the neighborhood.
TOP 5 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN BELÉM:
1) Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Beautiful 16th century monastery and garden with stone carvings in the building and in the church. This is a Lisbon's must-see marvel, bringing you back to the days of the Age of Discovery, with an impressive architecture that has given it the status of World Heritage Site.
Vasco da Gama discovered the maritime route to India and this explorer's tomb is found in the church, a space filled with carvings of sea motifs. Another tomb is of the poet Luís de Camões. Coral, sea monsters and ropes are also represented in the even more magnificent cloisters, which are unlike any other in the world. #mosteirodosjeronimos
2) Torre de Belém
In the middle of Tagus River as it reaches the Atlantic, the sensational Tower of Belém (also a World Heritage Site) protected the city in the 1500s. Built in 1515, Belém Tower is a beautiful fortress that also served as the departure point for many of the voyages of discovery.