This is Belém (Lisbon)

Note: For a better display of this post use a laptop or desktop instead of a phone. Thanks!!!

 

 

LISBON                                                 LISBOA

 Lisbon, beautiful Lisbon

 

Tagus river (Rio Tejo)  and bridge , the Christ statue (Cristo Rei) and “Sophia”.

Time to write about Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, my hometown.

Lisbon is located next to the “Rio Tejo” (Tagus River) with the sun almost always shining in a blue sky. Lisbon attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. The native language is Portuguese however in the capital everyone has a strong gasp of the English language. 

The 25th of April bridge, or Salazar bridge as it was once named over the Tagus River.

View from the same place at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisbon is a very rich city in monuments together with old traditional picturesque neighborhoods such as, Mouraria and Baixa (Downtown), or the pretty riverside area of Terreiro do Paço together with parks and attractions all around, make Lisbon is a city of a unique beauty where the old styles mix with the contemporary days. 

Lisbon is also known as the city of light and offers a great night life with plenty of options for the most varied tastes. It is common to find Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodre packed with people from all ages, drinking and having fun until early morning on a regular basis, especially during the summer time. 

Lisbon is an unforgettable destination for all  who want to have a unique experience of hospitality, gastronomy, tradition, history, modernity, culture and leisure.

A little tour in…

…BELÉM

 

Belém is on the western side of Lisbon by the riverside and it is one of Lisbon boroughs. In Belém  you can find parks and gardens, monuments and museums and an attractive riverside environment with cafes and a public walk. It is one of the most touristic areas of Portugal.

 

Torre de Belém

Belém Tower

Belém Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A caravel on the “Tejo” and Belém Tower

 

At night illuminated and surrounded by the “Tejo” waters

Belém Tower by night under the moon. Picturesque!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Torre de Belém is located in the borough of Belém , on the right bank of the “Tejo River” (Tagus River). It was built between 1514 and 1520 and it was originally surrounded by water around its perimeter. Its main purpose was to defend the Tagus river from any potential attack by sea and was part of a composition with other two fortresses and towers strategically built on the Tagus basin.

Over time, the tower was losing its defense function of the Tagus and, the old warehouses gave way to dungeons. In the four floors of the tower, remain the governor room, the Hall of Kings , the courtroom  and finally, the Chapel.

The Torre de Belém is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO and was elected as one of the seven wonders of Portugal in 2007.

 

 

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

 

Discoveries Monument- In honor to Infant D. Henrique, the Navigator and to all the Portuguese who discovered the seas.

Discoveries Monument- Infant D. Henrique, the Navigator 500 years anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discoveries monument front view

 

Discoveries Monument- A beautiful place worth to visit in Belém, as usual, this area attracts thousands of tourists every day.

The Discoveries Monument ( Padrão dos Descobrimentos) is located just a couple hundred meters from the Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) on the North side of “Rio Tejo” (Tagus river). It is another Lisbon icon. The Discoveries Monument was officially inaugurated  in 1960 as a tribute of the 5th centenary of the death of Infant D. Henrique ( the most important figure from the beginning of the era of discoveries, popularly known as Infant of Sagres or The Navigator).

          

Discoveries Monument- On both sides there are sculptures of important personalities in the discoveries history.

 

Aligned from the top to the bottom there are 16 figures of the Portuguese history, being Infant D. Henrique placed on the top holding a caravel in his hands, followed by other navigators and explorers including D. Luiz Vaz de Camões (Poet/author of “Os Lusiadas”). Note the shape of the monument as a caravel. 

 

 

 

 

Discoveries monument- Left side of the monument and another 16 figures from the Portuguese discoveries history.

 

32 figures in total are sculptured in Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Infant D. Henrique is on the top again, together with other worldwide known navigators such as Vasco da Gama (Discoverer of the sea way to India), Pedro Alvares Cabral ( Discoverer of Brazil) and Fernao de Magalhaes (the first navigator to sail around the globe) just to name a few figures.

 

 

There are other attractions along the river´s massive walking path such as the Electricity museum, the fighter´s museum (which I visited inside and is very well presented), a couple marinas. There are also plenty of coffee shops and restaurants around in case you want to have a drink or a snack. If you feel like exercising whilst exploring there are a couple bicycle and scooter rental tents. The area is quite green as well as there is a big park where you can relax and some playground areas for children. If you don´t drive it is very easy to get there, as Belém train station is less than a mile away (The train line goes from Cais do Sodre to Cascais always along the river and coast line, it is a quite pretty and picturesque route and well recommended). Over all it is a very pleasant place, busy with tourists all over the place, but not overcrowded. I took a couple more pictures but as usual, they don´t make justice about this spot.

 

Next to the Belém Tower, there is the Fighter´s museum. Always with the park going along the river.

 

 

 

 

A mini Torre de Belém and the surroundings.

 

 

 

 

People sailing on the Tejo river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of  Belém Marina´s.

 

 

 

Outdoors exposition at the fighter´s museum.

 

A BMW in exposition from the 90´s at the service of the Military Police ( from the unit where I served in the army actually).

Jeronimos Monastery

 

The colossal Jerónimos Monastery, a Portuguese icon.

 

Jeronimos monastery is one of the most iconic symbols of Portugal and considered a national symbol from its early days. It was built in the 16th Century using a Manueline style mixed with Gothic and Renaissance architectural elements. It is one of the most visited monuments in Portugal attracting over one million tourists per year. Jeronimos Monastery is recognized as a world heritage monument by UNESCO and also one of the 7 wonders of Portugal along the Torre de Belem. ( A must see if you happen to visit Lisbon)

 

Belém would not be the same without Jerónimos.

 

 

 

 

Jerónimos Monastery from a different angle.

 

 

 

Jeronimos Monastery and park in Belém.

 

 

 

 

The great Jerónimos Monastery in Belém.

 

 

 

 

Vasco da Gama tomb in Jeronimos Monastery. One of the few tombs.

 

 

 

Jeronimos Monastery church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was wandering around, and as it is the Christmas season I came across a motorbike meeting in front of Jerónimos. Happens that it was an event gathering over 100 bikers where most were dressed as Santa Klaus in a mission to deliver Christmas presents to the poor, as I was told by one of the bikers. I was lucky enough to record them shooting off. 

 

In Belém you can´t forget to pass by the original “Pasteis de Belém” café (coffee shop) where the original and the traditional specialty delicatessen of Portugal is made for over a century. In Belém you must have a “pastel de Nata“… or 10!!! Although you can find the these egg pastries in every Portuguese “café” (and even in some coffee shops in the U.K.), only the Pasteis de Belém café have the exclusive secret recipe, where they serve them still hot, and with a choice of cinnamon or sugar on top.

The Pasteis de Belém café is the most popular café in Lisbon and maybe in whole Portugal.

Good luck trying to get a “Nata”. Everyone wants to eat a “Nata”, The original “Nata”!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I introduce you, the original PASTEL DE NATA!

Inside Pasteis de Belém café

There are plenty of space and rooms and space, so pick at table and sit down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few more pictures of Belém and other interesting places and museums. This post is getting long so I had to resume it a little bit with a few more pictures and a video of me riding around Belém instead of detailing it all, however I covered the main touristic areas of Belém.

 

If you like planets and star constellations you can visit the Planetarium which is next to the monastery.

 

 

You can also visit the Portuguese Navy Museum in Belém.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An area with some Restaurants, snack bars where you can have the most varied Portuguese traditional food. One of the many places.

 

 

 

 

 “Quentes e boas”- “Hot and tasty”; typical slogan from who sells roasted chestnuts. 

 

 

 

 

President´s palace although I am not sure the Portuguese President lives there.

 

 

 

President´s palace residence guard!!

 

 

 

 

 

Detail of the president´s palace. I found it pretty.

 

 

 

 

Garden in Belém in front of the President´s palace. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panorama of a Park in Belém… one of many around.

 

HO HO HO Just because it´s the Xmas season… Merry Xmas to all!!! P.S It´s not me on the bike.

Did you enjoy the little tour in Belém?

Merry Christmas from Lisbon!!!

More to come soon…