After sating ourselves with Belem pastries, and therefore fulfilling our gastronomic quest, we strolled around Belem and saw the monuments to walk off a few calories. There are 2 large monuments on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary – Belém Tower (completed in 1519) and The Monument of Discoveries (completed in 1960).
Belém Tower is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that initially was built as a defense fortification, but over its history and some changes, it also served as a prison and a fort. It also served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
The Monument of the Discoveries came much later, and it’s much more modern. The monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery (or “Age of Exploration”) during the 15th and 16th centuries, and its located along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient.
There is also a so-so botanical garden that was redeemed by having a friendly guide cat that accompanied us for quite a distance. But, worth the visit…good day!
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