Follow Portugal Immigration to experience the scenic beauty of Portugal Travel: In Lisbon, the Belém district is a must-visit. Belém means Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, in Portuguese.
The Belém Tower—an iconic symbol of Lisbon—has stood on the northern bank of the Tagus River for over five hundred years. The marble-clad Belém Tower is a magnificent artistic treasure resembling a fortress. In the sixteenth century, the Belém Tower served as a military stronghold guarding Lisbon, but its more significant role was as the departure point for navigators during the Age of Discovery. Entering the tower via the walkway, it consists of five levels, with the first level featuring sixteen gun emplacements; the basement was initially used for storing supplies and later served as a dungeon for prisoners; the second level boasts a beautifully adorned grand balcony; visitors can explore several rooms sequentially via the stairs leading to the top platform. The top level offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the scenery along both banks of the Tagus River. Due to its geographical location, it was also used as a lighthouse.
Not far from the Belém Tower is the most beautiful church in Lisbon, the Jerónimos Monastery, which was built simultaneously. The Jerónimos Monastery, with its golden limestone façade and numerous gabled walls and small spires, can be seen from afar. A single glance is enough to captivate and astonish visitors with its magnificent architectural ensemble. To the people of Lisbon, the Jerónimos Monastery is a sacred place. During the great earthquake of 1755, when Lisbon was instantly leveled, the monastery stood firm, and royal family members who were praying there at the time were spared from disaster.
Entering through the South or West Gate, the four well-maintained green lawns in the courtyard are striking. The high, interconnected cloisters with their uniquely arched ceilings are particularly distinctive. The columns, with their exotic style, are much slimmer than those commonly found in European churches. The wide windows with intricate latticework also exhibit exquisite carvings that deserve close inspection. Both the interior and exterior walls of the monastery are adorned with beautiful sculptures, each with its own special story and significance. The church is solemn and dignified, housing the remains of King Manuel I, the soul of Portuguese poetry, Camões, and the navigator, Vasco da Gama, who are all honored here.
Whether it is the Belém Tower or the Jerónimos Monastery, the architectural elements are very unique, rich in Gothic style yet infused with exotic colors, both externally and internally splendid. Their construction and purpose are related to navigation and maritime commemoration, thus in these two buildings, we can read symbols of Portugal's maritime achievements, such as gun emplacements resembling Indian pepper domes; Arabic-style columns; stone ropes, stone knots, shells, anchors, and astrolabes as decorative borders; the king's coat of arms, and patterns depicting flora and fauna. These elements highlight Portugal's global dominance through maritime exploration in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, as well as the cultural exchange it facilitated (a significant part of the monastery now serves as a maritime museum). Due to the uniqueness of this architectural style, it has been dubbed the "Manueline style," named after King Manuel I, who reigned during its construction.
