Best of Portugal

Belem tower

Portugal, located in the south western part of the continent of Europe has a rich history and the different parts of the country still preserve the various historical resources in the forms of evidences or architectural forms which are unique in themselves and are not only fascinating as historical sources but at the same time they are tourist attractions as well. One such magnificent specimen of architectural excellence is the Belem tower which is located in the Belem district of Lisbon in Portugal and it is witness to many significant moments in history. The Belem tower was built in the 16th century in order to honor the expedition of Vasco da Gama, a premier explorer. The architecture was the Manueline or the late gothic style and in the year 1983, the Belem tower together with the Jeronimos Monastery was declared to be a world heritage site by the UNESCO.

It is believed that the Belem tower was built between the years 1515 to 1521 by Francesco de Arruda who was a military architect by profession. Located primarily on one of the islands of the river Tagus, the Belem tower served two major purposes. It served as the doorway to Lisbon and at the same time it acted as a protective cover and defense against external intrusions to Lisbon which happened to be the nerve-centre of Portugal. The most significant thing to be noticed about the Belem tower is definitely its architectural excellence. The tower is divided into two parts, the tower itself which is five storied and the bastion. Beautiful Manueline motifs adorn the walls and the entire structure is intricately designed. After its construction, in the later part of the 16th century, during the Spanish invasion of Portugal, the Belem tower served as a prisoner house mainly. Over the years, the Belem tower stands erect, witness to countless moments in history and is preserved well by the authorities and is a popular tourist destination.