Torre de Belém

One of the most singular monuments in Lisbon, the Torre de Belém is a 16th century fortified tower, built as a symbolic gateway to Lisbon and to mark Vasco da Gama’s expedition to India. This near perfect, highly ornate construction is also part of a defence system used to protect Lisbon, which consists of a line of forts from Cascais and Caparica. One has to cross a wooden drawbridge to get inside the tower, which is designed in a typical Manueline style but is also heavily influenced by Moorish decorative art.

When Lisbon was invaded by Spanish troops in 1580 the tower was captured by the Spanish Duke of Alba and subsequently used as a prison. The Torre de Belém can essentially be divided into two parts; a hexagonal bastion containing 17 large-calibre breech-loading cannons and a 35 metre, five-story tower with statues of St Vincent and St Michael and a fascinating Templaresque chapel inside. Classified as a UNESCO site, the tower was selected by the Portuguese in 2007 as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.