The Tower of Belém in Portugal: History and Architecture

On the banks of the River Tagus in Portugal is an amazing beauty building - the tower of Torri di Belen. Huge historical significance and unusual architecture make it one of the seven wonders of Portugal.

The Tower of Belém: History

In place of the modern tower in Lisbon was originally an old artillery ship. In 1514, when the country was ruled by King Manuel I, the construction of a defensive fortress began here. Completion of the construction in 1520 was timed to the opening of the sea route to India by seafarer Vasco da Gama.

Gradually, the defensive functions of the fortress go to the background. The fort is used as a beacon and customs point. In 1580, the Spaniards, led by the Duke of Alba, capture the city, the tower of Belen becomes a prison.

Originally the tower was located a hundred meters from the coastline, but in 1755 in Portugal there was a strong earthquake. Natural disaster changed the riverbed, the tower of Belen was on the shore. In the middle of the XIX century the fortress was reconstructed. Its appearance is complemented by a niche in which the sculpture of the Virgin Mary is located, a symbol of protection and luck for sailors.

In 1983, before the preparation for the exhibition of art, science and culture, the castle is surrounded by an artificial lake. In the same year, the fortress is included in the list of UN World Heritage sites.

Appearance

Torri di Belen is named after the patron saint of Portugal - Saint Vincent Belem. It consists of a medieval tower and a more modern bastion. The architect of the project was Francisco de Arruda.

The Tower of Belém is made in the Manueline style. This is a square structure that has four floors. The tower reaches a height of 35 meters. It is located on a hexagonal platform with a pointed edge in the form of a ship's nose.

The walls of the fortress are notched at the top. On the upper terrace there are guard towers with observation windows and domed roofs. Outside the walls of the fortress are decorated with patterns and royal symbols. The three sides of the fortress have balconies on which are placed the arms of King Manuel. On the fourth wall, in a niche, is a statue of the Mother of God, meeting tired travelers.

Architectural style

Francisco Arroud chose the popular Manueline style as the main one for the tower of Belém, adding to it the features of Moorish and Venetian decorative styles.

The decorative-architectural style of Manueline appeared at the beginning of the XVI century, during the reign of King Manuel I. It was he who played the main role in the design of the tower of Belém. Portugal at the time actively uses the Gothic style, and Manueline becomes his maritime continuation.

Manueline style of the tower can be traced in a delicate openwork modeling depicting various sea symbols. The outer walls of the fortress are embroidered in the form of sea ropes and knots, and the balconies adorn the round coats of arms of the Order of the Cross, which is also characteristic of Manueline.

Mauritanian features of Francisco Arroud copied from the architecture of Morocco, where he worked earlier. In this style, sentinel towers and a balustrade of the terrace near the sculpture of the Virgin Mary are decorated. The cupolas of the sentinel towers are copied by the domes of the mosque minaret in Marrakech. Venetian style can be traced in arched windows with loggias.

Interior

The overflow bridge, which is on the first floor, leads directly to the inside of the bastion. The decoration of this room is made in a low-key Gothic style, with no frills. There are 16 niches for weapons.

Below the bastion are small rooms, which at different times were used to store provisions, then to accommodate prisoners. A staircase near the entrance leads to the upper terrace with guard towers.

Terrace bastion leads inside the tower. On the three lower floors are rooms with a collection of furniture, as well as objects of the times of geographical discoveries. The first is the governor's room, followed by a royal room with a balcony. The next room was intended for audiences. On the fourth floor there is a chapel, from here the staircase leads to the upper terrace of the tower.

Where is the tower of Belém (Portugal)?

The symbol of Portugal - the Tower of Belém - is located in the historic quarter of Santa Maria de Belém. It will not be difficult to get to it. You can do it on tram No. 15 or on buses 49, 43, 51, 29, 27. It's necessary to get off at the stop "Largo da Princess", the tower is 200 meters from it.

Cais Do Sodre trains every 20 minutes to the lighthouse fortress, but it stops about a kilometer from the landmark.

Opening Hours

The season of the tower starts in May and ends in September. At this time it is open for visits from 10 to 18.30, daily, except Monday. From September to May, the tower is open until 5 pm. The admission fee is about 4 euros.

Conclusion

The Tower of Belém (Lisbon) is the pride of the country. The unusual architectural style, in which the fortress is made, is almost not preserved in Portugal, which makes Torri di Belen even more popular among tourists. The monumental fortress structure, supplemented by numerous openwork and carved details, has witnessed significant historical events. For many years it accompanied the sailors on a long journey, and the sculpture of the Virgin Mary promised good luck. Now the Tower of Belém is the main symbol of Portugal, which everyone must see.