Belém lies on the bank of the Tagus on the western edge of Lisbon. Its historically important buildings document the most important epoch of Portuguese history. The name "Belém" is a typically Portuguese shortening of "Bethlehem". The village, which was independent until 1885, suffered very little from the effects of the earthquake of 1775; thus its historic buildings are amongst the oldest in the Portuguese capital.
The origins of Belém's importance lie in the earlier harbor of Restelo. The harbor served as the departure point for the voyages of discovery undertaken by Portuguese sailors. They also returned here after their voyages with their booty from far off lands. The direct combination of political and religious interests in large-scale ocean navigation is clearly recognizable in Belém.
A former small hospice chapel standing on the site of the current Mosteiro dos Jerónimos was used as a place to pray before the Christian journeys of discovery and conquest.
The fortresslike Torre de Belém, a more secular symbol, stands at the place where the mouth of the Tagus opens to the Atlantic. Both the monastery and the old tower of Belém were commissioned by King Manuel "the Happy", during whose reign Vasco de Gama discovered the sea route to India and Pedro Alvares Cabrals journeyed to Brazil. During this time many members of the nobility as well as prosperous business people moved to Belém.
After the devastating damage caused by the earthquake in Lisbon had temporarily paralyzed the life of the city, brief thought was given to beginning reconstruction not in present day Baixa but to creating a new city center in Belém. During the time of the estado novo under the dictator Salazar, Belém was given the role of reviving the resurgence of awareness of Portuguese history and the former greatness of the nation.
On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of independence from Spain (December 1, 1640) a pompous "Exhibition of the Portuguese World" was staged on the land between the Hieronymite monastery and the bank of the Tagus. The area was laid out in a completely new way, with architectural direction assumed by Cottinelli Telmo, whose work also includes the glorified Padrao dos Descobrimentos (Memorial to Discovery).
A new cultural center, to the west of the Praça do Império, was opened in 1993. It consists of a conference center and two concert halls with 400 and 1,500 seats respectively. A parking lot and restaurants are included in the ultra modern Centro Cultural, which was designed by Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado.
Also located inside the center is the Museu do Design, with a fine collection of 20th C furnishing from the Francisco Capelo collection.
Address: Centro Cultural de Belém, Praça do Império, Lisbon , Portugal
Hours:
9am-9:45pm
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Lisbon's latest museum is the Electrical Museum, in Belém. It is housed in the head office of the "Central Tejo" power station. The red and white brick building dates from the turn of the century and was designed by the French engineers Veillard and Touzet. The exhibits document such features as the street lighting in Lisbon and also deal with industrialization in Portugal.
Address: Museu da Electridade, Edifício Central Tejo - Avenida Brasília 1300-598 Lisboa, , Portugal
The inconspicuous little Ermida de Santo Cristo stands not far from Restelo stadium on the Rua de Alcolena. The Manueline church, now closed, was built in 1517 by Joao de Castilho and was originally integrated into the wall surrounding the grounds of the Hieronymite monastery.
Halfway between the botanical garden of Ajuda and the Jardim Tropical, the small Igreja de S. José da Memória stands on the Calçada da Memória. After an unsuccessful attempt on the life of José I, the king had the well proportioned cupola church (designed by the well known architect Mateus Vicente) built in 1760. Vicente also contributed to the construction of the Basilica da Estrela and the Palace of Queluz. The grave of José's Minister Pombal was transferred to the church in 1923.
Address: Igreja de S. José da Memória, Calçada do Galvão, Lisbon , Portugal
Hours:
4pm-6pm; Closed: Sun
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Praça do Império, which was created on account of the world exhibition, consists in the main of a small park with accurately cut hedges depicting Portugal's different municipal coats of arms. The over sized fountain basin in the center also has coats of arms around it; on special occasions the imposing, colorfully lit fountain is turned on.
Having thus seen the most important places of interest in Belém, and if time remains, it is worth including a visit to the Jardim Tropical or to three chapels located further to the north.
The entrance of the garden planted an island of banana trees on a lake. Inside the garden are avenues of chorisia speciosa, palms and Brazilian coral trees. The formal garden opens to public occasionally.
Address: Jardim do Ultramar , Jardim Agrícola Tropical, Calcada do Galvao, Lisbon
Hours:
10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), National Day - Portugal (June 10), Assumption Day - Christian (August 15), Republic Day - Portugal (October 5), All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Independence Day - Portugal (December 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Good Friday - Christian, Corpus Christi - Christian
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
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Old doors in Belem.
Torre de Belém in Lisbon.
The Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
Monument to the discoveries in Lisbon.
Detail of Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.
