The Belém Tower was built in the early 16th century in the portuguese Manueline Gothic style, to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition (sea-route to India). This defensive construction has become one of the symbols of the city, a memorial to the nation's power during the Age of the Great Discoveries.
The tower (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1983) is located close to the Discoveries Monument, at the mouth of the Tagus River estuary, western Lisbon.
32 comments:
Wonferful photo and wongeful Tower.
Details are beautiful.
How grand it is...beautiful photos JM :)
superbe, le château de la dernière photo est magnifique, on dirait un château de sable.
haughtiness, the castle of the last photograph is splendid, they would say a sand castle.
Wonderful!
I envy you such beautiful wievs...
Defensive?! Wow. The artistry is fabulous for something so martial. It looks awesome!
i remember going here with my ex. Even she couldn't ruin the beauty of this building!
Very beautiful. In the bottom photo it reminds me of a rather solid sand castle!
Two exceptional monuments!!!
I love the arcade picture with the canons..really beautiful!
Truly spectacular, especially against the deep blue sky.
I especially like your photo showing the arches and when enlarged the cannons.
Greetings from Denton from Greenville Daily Photo and the Daily Photo Map.
I've been here! Wonderful!
What a grand architecture. I like those arches ... beautiful, JM.
Oh my ... your photos take my breath away. It's official: Oeiras is now on my list of Places I Simply Must Visit!
Judith de SF
Wow - a dream of a tower.
Folks, do enlarge that first one. It's magnificent. Thanks JM for sharing.
Great photos! I visited Belem Tower on my trip this summer and it was festooned with orange balloons. Not sure why.
Stunning! It's just like a storybook castle. I love the detail of the Madonna and child.
Jessica,
several artists were asked last summer to decorate some monuments with their works. What you saw was a necklace by Joana Vasconcelos, called 'The jewel of the Tagus river', made of fishing 'floating balls'.
Check her site, it's pretty cool, the tower is the 1st photo on her 2008 works:
http://www.joanavasconcelos.com/
I love the first photo. It really show all the carved detail.
wow! never seen or heard about it before! thank you so much.
This tower looks so beautiful....thanks for sharing these snaps.....
This really is a marvel. I like the symmetry of the view out to sea.
I love this place. I was here a few years ago. From this place It can see the (NumberTh)October Bridge, can´t it? And the Tajo River.
What a stunning building.
Murcia DP,
Yes, it's the 25th April bridge over the Tejo (Tagus) river you are refering to.
This is exquisite to behold. Your country has a beautiful aesthetic, all the bautiful art I see each time I visit is amazing.
A super series of photos. I love seeing historical photos like this. Love the water shots below too.
JM, thanks for the correction on the name of the bridge. I did not remember the date that I think is a very important date for the Portuguese, the Carnation Revolution (Revolução dos Cravos)
What an impressive looking building. You have such an interesting country
Nice photos. I miss Pastéis de Belém a lot :)
I was there last week! My Lisbon cousins took us around on a gray, very windy day. But Lisboa is beautiful in any weather. I'm biased, of course!
We made a stop for pasteis de nata and coffee and took a box home. I think I gained a a kilo or two, for sure!
My photos aren't as good as yours, either but that has never stopped me!
This is a must-see (post and place)!
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