| Page Views: 169 Last Visit to Belém: May, 2009 | From where the great explorers set sail by toonsarah - last update: Jun 17, 2009 |
| Mosaic map and compass at foot of Belém Tower |
Belém, or to give it its full name, Santa Maria de Belém, is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. In particular, it is the place from which Vasco da Gama departed for India in 1497. |
| South Portal of the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos |
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Everywhere you go in Belém there are reminders of the country’s great sea-faring past, from the stunning Manueline splendours of the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and Belém Tower, built with the riches that flowed from the lucrative spice trade, to the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the mosaic world map that documents the voyages and reach of Portugal’s empire.
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There are also a number of museums and some attractive gardens in front of the monastery, the Praça do Império, while just a little off the beaten path a pleasant stroll can be had in the tropical gardens, also known as the Jardim do Ultramar.
There are plenty of places to refuel too, most notably the historic Casa Pastéis de Belém where the traditional Pastéis de Belém are still baked to their original recipe. Only here can they be given this name – elsewhere you will see them as Pastéis de Nata.
Belém is usually visited as a day trip from Lisbon, and merits at least a day of your time in the city. | | |
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| Pros: | "Stunning architecture and pleasant river walks" | | Cons: | "Can get over-crowded, especially on a Sunday" | | In A Nutshell: | "Needs at least a day to see it properly" |
toonsarah's Belém Travel Tips
 Comments for toonsarah about Belém | | | | |
willy_wonka Thu Jul 16, 2009 02:33 UTC
i thought it was nobby in the pic, but i see its luciano. who owns luciano? lol. i only know of nobby! your photos here are simply stunning! and i love that manueline style architecture. so pretty! | Dabs Fri Jul 10, 2009 05:02 UTC
Lovely page on Belem! Oddly the 1st place I tried those lovely custard tarts was not in Portugal but in London at Lisboa Patisserie near Portobello Rd :-) | HORSCHECK Tue Jul 7, 2009 20:53 UTC
Sarah, fabulous page with outstanding photos. I especially like the detailed transportation tip. You missed to have a look at the Estádio do Restelo of Belenenses, which I did during my first visit of Belem in 2005. Anyway, great page. :-) | yumyum Wed Jul 1, 2009 09:08 UTC
Great page on Belem, Sarah! I still don't understand why I didn't order a second and third Pasteis de Belem since they were so yummy :-) |
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