Torre de Belem

The Torre de Belem was built as a fortress in 1514 to defend the mouth of Lisbon’s river Tejo. The one completely Manueline building in Portugal, its decoration includes the Manueline symbols – cables encircling the building and ending in elegant knots, armillary spheres, crosses of the Military Order of Christ, and elements from nature such as the rhinoceros (the first representation in stone known in Europe). Classified by UNESCO in 1983 as a World Heritage Site, the tower is now one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist attractions. With stunning photography to showcase the dramatic setting and the maritime-influenced decoration, this guide gives a fascinating account of an important Portuguese monument.