Belém Tower
Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Tower of Belém (or Tower of St. Vincent) is an icon of Portugal’s cultural heritage spread across the world. It is one of the architectural elements punctuating the cityscape of Lisbon’s monumental riverside area of Ajuda-Belém. Built to perpetuate the memory of Lisbon’s Patron Saint, St. Vincent, the Tower was part of a tripartite defence system as it stood between the bulwark of Cascais and the fortress of S. Sebastião da Caparica on the opposite bank of the river. The Tower boasts a typical Manueline decoration with twisted ropes encircling the building and ending in elegant knots, armillary spheres, crosses of the Order of Christ and naturalistic elements.
Strategically built on the North bank of the Tagus River to the plan of Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1519, the Tower of Belém is one of the jewels of architecture from the reign of King D. Manuel. It combines a traditional mediaeval keep with a more recent bulwark housing a casemate to store the first devices designed to resist artillery fire. The Tower gradually lost its role as a defence system at the mouth of the Tagus River and after the Spanish occupation, its former ammunition depots were converted into dungeons. Noteworthy in the Tower’s four stories are the Governor’s Room, Kings’ Room, Audience Room and, finally, the Chapel with its typical 16th-century vaults.
Contents edited by DDCI.
-
Vista geral da Torre de Belém
-
Fotografia antiga da Torre de Belém
-
Vista geral da Torre de Belém
-
Pormenor
-
Vista geral da Torre de Belém
-
.
-
.
-
-
.
-
.
-
.
-
.
Contacts and
Localization
- Governing body:
- DGPC
- Director:
- Dalila Rodrigues
- Address:
- Torre de Belém, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa Endereço Postal: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos e Torre de Belém, Praça do Império, 1400-206 Lisboa
- GPS:
- Lat: 38.69158542388979 Long: -9.215978980064392
- Phone(s):
- +351 213 620 034
- E-mail:
- geral@mjeronimos.dgpc.pt
- Site:
- http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/pt/museus-e-monumentos/dgpc/m/torre-de-belem/
Trains: Estação de Belém
Urban Bus: 714 (paragem próxima à Torre de Belém); 727, 728, 729, 751, 113, 144, 149 (paragem junto ao Mosteiro dos Jerónimos).
Electric: 15 (paragem próxima à Torre de Belém); 18 (paragem próxima ao Mosteiro dos Jerónimos).
Boat: Estação fluvial de Belém.
Parking facilities: Parking facilities: a park for cars and buses is available close by.
Accessibility: There is medium accessibility for persons with reduced mobility.
From 9:30am to 6:00pm, the last ticket sales time is at 5:00pm and the last entry is at 5:30pm Closed on Monday and January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th and December 25th.
Admission
Standard Ticket: 8,00 €
Payment methods: cash, Visa, ATM card and cheque.
DGPC online tickets - buy here
Exemptions:
The entrance is free in National Museums and Monuments at sundays and holidays for residents in Portugal.
Children aged 12 and under*
Unemployed EU citizens*
Visitors with reduced mobility (60% disability with documents to prove it) accompanied by one attendant.
ICOM, ICOMOS and APOM members
Researchers /conservators/restorers, museum and/or heritage professionals during the course of their work*
Cultural associations (exclusively for groups of friends of museums, monuments, palaces, castles and archaeological sites)*
Volunteers working for the DGPC with one accompanying person*
Tourism professionals upon presentation of a proof of registration with the RNAAT
Journalists during the course of their work* with prior notice
DGPC employees* with 1 accompanying person
Teachers and students of any level of education, including universities for senior citizens, during study visits duly proven, and upon prior reservation confirmed by the relevant Dependent Service*
Groups of accredited Portuguese welfare institutions or social work departments of municipalities or other public interest institutions. Prior approval is required from the DGPC executive board.
* Proof of entitlement required.
Discounts:
Visitors aged 65 or older* - 50%
Student’s card (not for study visits) - 50%
Youth Card - 50%
Family ticket (minimum 4 members of near family or similar) - 50%
Protocols with third party institutions - 20%
Purchase of over 250 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice – 7.5%
Purchase of over 500 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice - 10%
Purchase of over 1000 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice - 15%
* Proof of entitlement required.
General Rules
Advance reservation required for groups exceeding 50 persons.
Concessions for bulk tickets will not apply to Combined Tickets.
All concessions applicable to individual tickets will apply to Combined Tickets and guided tours, except for guided tours after closing time.
Advance purchase vouchers are valid up to one year.
Concessions cannot be combined with any other offers.
Smoking or eating is not allowed during visits.
FAQs (frequently asked questions).
Shop
-
Anéis
Silver Ring 3 pearls - Torre de Belém -
Brincos
Earrings "cubos lisos"- Torre de Belém -
Publications
The Magnificent Belém Tower -
Anéis
Silver ring - Torre de Belém
Museus e Monumentos
Museums and monuments are unique places providing memorable learning experiences found crucial for creating an identity.
Due to their beauty and setting, their collections and cultural programmes, these spaces convey values, they arouse memories and interact with our contemporary world. This area will give you access to useful information regarding 26 Museums and Monuments under our care.
You will also have access to information regarding 165 museums comprising the Portuguese Museums Network, all of which have been accredited by the DGPC.
