Belém Tower isn’t just a pretty Lisbon landmark – it’s a story carved in stone about Portugal’s Age of Discovery. From its Manueline ropes and armillary spheres to its riverside views, every detail ...

Note: The Belém Tower is closed for renovations until approximately spring 2026. Plan Ahead: Unless you are really curious to ...

Located on Tagus River, adjacent to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Belém Tower was built as a fortress to guard the Lisbon harbour. For the sailors it was the last sight of home before embarking on an ...

Tucked along the banks of the Tagus, Belém is one of Lisbon’s most atmospheric neighbourhoods, steeped in stories from the Age of Discoveries. For many, it’s the best of both worlds: close to the city ...

Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém, built to ...

You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Some rulers really justify their descriptions. Ethelred the Unready was decidedly that, especially ...

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Lisbon is best approached by water. Like the Portuguese capital itself, the Lisbon suburb of Belém ought to be ...

When Portugal was a leading seafaring nation, the Belém Tower welcomed explorers and merchant vessels to the port of Lisbon. Today, it's a tourist attraction with a fantastic view. The tower was ...

The Belém Tower has guarded the entrance to Lisbon for more than 500 years. Built on a small basalt island next to the northern bank of the Tagus River, the tower (and the people manning it) has ...