Lisbon is a beautiful city with so much to offer. But like my visits to most major cities, I always make an effort to explore outside the metropolitan center, taking one or more side trips. And for me, Lisbon was no different. One highly recommended side trip is to Belem. Famous as a museum district, it is home to: the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and Belém Palace (official residence of the President of Portugal). And it is here you can indulge yourself in one of the world’s most famous and delicious pastries – Pasteis de Belem. After all, this is where this custard delight was originally whipped up.
But before my husband and I headed out to explore Belem , we fueled up at the Brunch Cafe in Lisbon. And then we were off.
How To Get There
Taking a side trip to Belem from Lisbon is quite easy. Belem lies about three miles to the west of central Lisbon so it is very accessible. Hopping on to the number 15 tram , the journey takes only about 15 minutes and a single ticket purchased on the tram costs about 3 euros. Once you arrive at the Belem tram stop, all the famous sites are within walking distance.
Our first stop was the…
Jerónimos Monastery
Built in 1502, famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in prayer here before leaving for India. It was built to commemorate his voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. It is also the final resting place of da Gama.
The monastery was classified as a National Monument in 1907 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.
After touring the monastery, we headed over to the waterfront to view …
Belem Tower
Built between 1514-1520 during the reign of King Manuel, it is sometimes known as The Tower of St Vincent as its construction celebrated the expedition to India of Vasco da Gama.
It served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for the Portuguese explorers, a ceremonial gateway into the city. Years later, it was transformed into a lighthouse and later a customs center.
Then, it was on to…
Padrão dos Descobrimentos
It is a bold and imposing monument situated on the banks of the Tejo Estuary.
The monument celebrates the 15 and 16th-century Portuguese exploration..
The monument was conceived in 1939 by Portuguese architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo, and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.
It was opened in June 1940 at the Portuguese World Exhibition.
Tip: We did not go into the Belem Tower or this monument and honestly we really don’t feel we missed out on anything. I think most visitors enjoy the views from the outside.
Our last museum/monument stop was…
Belém Palace
This is the official residence of all the Portuguese presidents since 1910. Luckily, in 1755 when the Great Earthquake hit, it was spared any severe damage.
Visitors can buy tickets to view its furnished halls and works of art. One can also explore the Presidency Museum that tells the story of the Portuguese Republic and its Presidents. Check the website for details :https://www.presidencia.pt/en/president-of-the-republic/visit/belem-national-palace/
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After exploring Belem, it was time to indulge in some custard delights, the famous Pateis De Belem. A stop at the town’s famous bakery to pick up a half a dozen of the famous pastries topped off our day. Yum!