Bridge to Access Belém Tower
Belém Tower or Torre de Belém is the second UNESCO World Heritage site of Lisbon. It is filed under the title Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon. I am not sure why they were not separately filed, perhaps it was because both are in the same location, to they just filed it under one title. The tower is actually tower with modest height. I was actually expecting it to be quite tall but it isn’t really that much taller than castle towers. Come to think of it, I think the Church of Santa Maria is even taller. But who cares? It is interesting to see a tower built seemingly in the middle of nowhere along the promenade.
Jellyfish at Belém Tower
The idea was that adventurers leaving Lisbon would see the beautiful Belém Tower as they leave port. What port? Belém Tower is actually the port of departure for these sailors. Conversely, visitors arriving in Lisbon would first see the impressive Belém Tower. Not bad for a first impression. The tower is another example of Manueline architecture. I couldn’t think of a better style to use to impress visitors. Not only did it serve as a port but it also served as a fortress. It used to be built on a island near the river but now, it is even accessible on foot when the tide is low.
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