Belém Tower

Belém Tower is a limestone structure with four stories and an upper bastion on the northern shore of the Tagus in Santa Maria de Belém. Spiral staircases connect the levels, while the outer facade shows carvings of maritime ropes, nautical instruments, and religious emblems.

King Manuel I ordered construction between 1514 and 1519 to secure Lisbon's harbor against seaborne intruders. The fortress later served as a customs post, lighthouse, and even as a prison for several centuries.

The name refers to the nearby Bethlehem church that gave the entire district its biblical toponym. Visitors notice narrow windows and wooden balconies inside, which once served to monitor the river mouth.

Access is by a narrow wooden walkway that sometimes closes during high tide and strong winds. The spiral staircase inside is steep and narrow, making the climb difficult for people with limited mobility.

A stone rhinoceros adorns an outer wall, representing the first live specimen brought to Europe from India in 1515. The animal was sent as a gift to Pope Leo X but never reached Rome because the ship sank off the Italian coast.

Location: Belém

Inception: 1515

Architects: Francisco de Arruda

Architectural style: Manueline

Height: 35 m

Accessibility: Niedostępne dla wózków inwalidzkich

Fee: Yes

Charge: 15 EUR

Part of: Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon

Address: Avenida de Brasília

Opening Hours: października-kwietnia: Wtorek-Niedziela 10:00-17:30; maja-września: Wtorek-Niedziela 10:00-18:30

Phone: +351213620034

Website: http://patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/pt/museus-e-monumentos/dgpc/m/torre-de-belem

GPS coordinates: 38.69139,-9.21583

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:04