Tour of Belem

Itinerary

The starting point for our tour of Belem will be Commerce Square. From this central point we can contemplate the statue of José I, and learn about the history of the King nicknamed "The Reformer". Following the footsteps of the Portuguese monarchs, we make our way by public transport to the historical Belem neighbourhood,  forty minutes from the centre of Lisbon. Here the tour stops to take in the impressive sculpture in honour of Afonso de Albuquerque, the first Portuguese viceroy of the Indias.

The tour walks through Belem until it arrives at the River Tajo statue, where we will find the monument to the discoveries. This monument in the shape of a Caravel (A type of Portuguese 15th Century sailing ship) represents the departure point for the Portuguese boats which left to explore the new world. The tour then stops to admire the figures of missionaries and sailors sculpted into the monument, before continuing on to one of the symbols of Lisbon itself: The 25th April Bridge - an important day in Portuguese and Lisbon history.

The next stop will be the famous Belem Tower. This building on the Tajo estuary stands in testament to Lisbon's history, having been a lighthouse, prison, and tax collection centre. We will wander through the tower gardens and pass next to the "Forte do Bom Sucesso" ("Great Triumph Fortress") before arriving at the Jerónimos Monastery, which houses the tomb of legendary explorer Vasco de Gama.

To top off our visit to the Belem neighbourhood, we will relive the glory of the old Portuguese empire, immortalised in the compass rose. This map mosaic made of beige, red and black limestone details the different routes taken by the Portuguese explorers on their journeys of discovery and symbolises the development of a country which grew to control a territory greater than 60 times its current size.

Important Information

• Students should bring their identification which confirms them as such.
• This tour does not take in the interiors of the attractions, rather it will visit the outside.