Belém is one of the most beautiful places in Lisbon. Curiously, it is not as sought after as the center of Lisbon (downtown) but it is, in our opinion, an area full of places of enormous interest.
BELÉM, LISBON
Monuments, museums, belvederes, gardens, restaurants, the Tagus River, a soccer stadium (“the Belenenses”) and the famous Belem pastels are some of the many tourist attractions of Belem. It is different from the rest of Lisbon. It’s a breath of fresh air when compared to the huge flow of people and traffic from the center of the capital of Portugal.
BELEM – A WORD FULL OF HISTORY
It is also a place full of historical memories. We start by exploring the name of the place. As you know, “Bethlehem” is the name of the place where the baby Jesus was born 2,000 years ago. How does this name come from so far away to Lisbon? The place today called Belem (in Lisbon) was formerly called “Restelo velho”. It was in the place of Restelo velho that King Dom Manuel had a tower built (the tower of Bethlehem), but it was Henry the Navigator who had a chapel built by the sea (an evocation of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, the lady of the nativity scene). The aim was to help the sick arriving tide people who were buried like animals in pits in the sands by the river Tagus. And that’s how the old “Restelo velho” gave way to Bethlehem.
It was also often thought of by the King of Portugal (and some post-monarchy heads of state) as a kind of “sacred space” and symbolic space, trying to represent unity among the Portuguese.
In the 1940 exhibition (the Portuguese world) that took place here (organized by the new state), it was ordered to build the pattern of the discoveries that includes figures from all social classes (navigators, clergymen, peasants, nobles, colonizers). It was a whole country that joined in the great adventure of the discoveries.
WHERE IS BELÉM? (Lisbon)
If you travel by car, in only 10 minutes you will be in the historic center of the capital. There are many options to get there: bicycles, scooters, buses, trains and the famous streetcars are the most common possibilities.
WHAT TO VISIT OR DO IN BELÉM?
VISIT THE BELEM TOWER
One of the most iconic symbols not only of Lisbon but also of Portugal. It is a monument with more than 500 years of antiquity. It was once a fortress of defense of the city. It was from the beach near the tower of Belém that many vessels of the Portuguese discoveries left and arrived.
BELEM DISCOVERIES MONUMENT
Many people tend to believe that the Discoveries monument is, like the tower, a monument of many centuries. Incorrect! The “Padrão dos descobrimentos”, as well as the whole area of the light fountain garden, was built by Salazar for the great exhibition of the Portuguese world (40’s of the last century). On each face of this emblematic monument are statues of the most remarkable Portuguese in all of Portugal’s history.
FAMOUS PASTRY SHOP IN BELÉM
It began operating in 1837 and even today thousands of pastries are sold every day. It is a case of survival – after almost two centuries of existence – and one of the most interesting facts of this place. It is said that the recipe for Bethlehem pastry is a hidden secret. What is certain is that the pastries are delicious and the endless queues of people looking for them are unequivocal proof of their quality.
I only find one problem… It’s impossible to eat just one…
MONASTERY OF THE JERONIMOS
Imposing and beautiful! The Monastery of Jerónimos is a monument over 400 years old (it was erected in the 16th century). It was built by order of the king Dom Manuel I and its construction lasted more than 100 years. It has the status of a national Pantheon and inside its impressive nave (church) we can find the tombs of the great poet Luiz de Camões and the no less remarkable navigator Vasco da Gama. It is, since 1983, considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site.
COLONIAL GARDEN OR OVERSEAS GARDEN
The botanical garden is also known as the “Overseas Garden”. It is unique for its specialization in tropical / subtropical flora. There we can find more than seven hundred (700!) species from all continents of the planet earth.
The garden was built as a “colonial garden” in 1906 by King Charles I and its first “house” was the space that is now occupied by the Lisbon Zoo.
The garden occupies a huge space that goes from Belém to the beginning of Ajuda (along the entire pavement of Galvão). It has a total area of 7 hectares (i.e. an area equivalent to 7 football fields). Greenhouses, gardens, lakes, support buildings, huge spaces for storage of material and a library are part of the garden. The birds in the garden are its trademark image. There you will find chickens, geese, ducks and of course peacocks (one of the garden’s brand images). In my childhood I lived very close to this garden and I found peacocks “running away” almost daily. To be more precise, I still live close by and I still see them often in the streets near the garden… A delight.
PLANETARY CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN
It’s a magical place that I’ve frequented since my childhood. Even today I feel the same enthusiasm and the same passion for the mysteries of the universe that the planetarium so well shows us.
It is near the Monastery of Jerónimos and in front of the cultural centre of Belém. It opened its doors in 1965 and is part of the Navy Museum (next to the Planetarium building). Its name is explained by the donation made by Calouste Gulbenkian to help in the construction of the planetary installations.
In 1976, former American President Richard Nixon offered the planetarium a small moon rock (harvested by an American astronaut). Unfortunately, the rock was stolen in 1985 and not recovered.
Today, the planetarium has a powerful star projector that can represent over 9000 stars and our entire galaxy.
The planetarium has attractions for everyone: adults and also children have special sessions for their ages and levels of understanding. Its facilities include a large auditorium, a gallery with temporary exhibitions and also a specialised library.
LIGHT SOURCE GARDEN – BELÉM
It’s my favourite garden! Built by Salazar for the great exhibition of the “Portuguese World” of the 1940s. The garden has preserved its layout ever since.
Whenever I go there (and I go at least once a week), I feel like I am travelling back in time. In the centre of the garden there is a water fountain that is often lit at night providing an image of great beauty. Beautiful!
BELENENSES” FOOTBALL STADIUM
The Restelo football stadium is said to be the biggest stadium in the world! Do you know why? Because it’s never filled up! This is a joke that can irritate a little those who, like me, suffer for their heart club, Belenenses!
The stadium of the football club “os Belenenses” is in Restelo (next to Belém). From there you have a magnificent view of the river Tagus and the south bank. Often the quality of the football played in the stadium is not the best… In that case we can always enjoy the view!
COACH MUSEUM (MUSEU DOS COCHES)
The coach museum is next to the Presidential Palace of Belém. The space that today houses the magnificent coaches was in the past a military installation (general army workshops).
The museum has been modernising and today has the support of 28 screens (some of them interactive) and two projections that will tell you everything about the coaches on display.
Your visit will be even richer if you install App which will give you the possibility to see inside the coaches. If you acquire the museum guide you will have at your disposal all the information about the vehicles and you will become a real expert in the matter.
Schedule: 10:00 – 18:00 (closes on Mondays)
NAVY MUSEUM – BELÉM
The Navy Museum opened its doors in 1863. It was Dom Luís who decided to gather a set of pieces related to Portugal’s great connection with the sea.
The museum passed through different spaces before settling in Belém, in the north and west wing of the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery. Its mission is to preserve the memory and the Portuguese maritime history.
