Belém, Lisboa

Belém, Lisbon of the Discoveries

Belém is a riverside neighbourhood of Lisbon known for its connection to Portuguese history and to the Age of Discovery, with generous gardens, waterfront pedestrian areas, marinas and riverside restaurants. The neighbourhood of Belém is located in the western part of the city, bordering Alcântara to the east, the Ajuda neighbourhood to the north and Algés — in the neighbouring municipality of Oeiras — to the west. Belém is close to Restelo, a neighbourhood known for its distinguished residential character and the presence of embassies from numerous countries.
Belém was the departure point for Portuguese caravels in the 15th century, during the Age of Discovery. It is in Belém that one finds the pastel de Belém, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Torre de Belém, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Centro Cultural de Belém. Belém is a neighbourhood full of life, history, culture and art. Visitors can stroll along the famous Portuguese cobblestone pavements, admire statues, take in the atmosphere created by tourists captivated by the beauty of the Tagus River and the monuments, enjoy a coffee on a riverside terrace, or take part in sport. On Sunday mornings Belém draws Lisbon residents in large numbers; in summer, groups can be seen practising the ancient Chinese art of tai-chi, running or cycling. Belém is a unique neighbourhood that leaves no one indifferent.

The neighbourhoods of Belém and Restelo belong to the Junta de Freguesia de Belém.

Top 10 Attractions in Belém

1. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: one of the most important monuments symbolising Lisbon and the Age of the Portuguese Discoveries, located on Praça do Império. Construction of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos began in 1501, funded by taxes levied on spices arriving from the Empire — notably the Vintena da Pimenta, which represented 5% of profits from trade with Africa and Asia. The architects responsible for the project were Diogo de Boitaca (c.1460–1528), João de Castilho (c.1470–c.1552), Diogo de Torralva (1500–1566) and Jerónimo de Ruão (1530–1601). Dom Manuel I (1469–1521) donated the monastery to the Order of Saint Jerome with the aim of offering prayers for the souls of the fishermen, sailors and navigators who departed from the beach at Restelo. The main points of interest of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos are:

• South Portal of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built between 1516 and 1518 by João de Castilho, with the figure of Our Lady of Belém with the Christ Child as its centrepiece. Surrounding Our Lady are statues representing the Prophets, the Apostles, the Doctors of the Church and female saints. The South Portal features two bas-reliefs depicting episodes from the life of Saint Jerome and a statue of Infante Dom Henrique.
• Main Portal of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built by Nicolau Chanterenne in 1517, notable for statues of the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, Dom Manuel, Dona Maria, Saint Jerome and Saint John the Baptist.
• Igreja de Santa Maria de Belém: housing the tombs of King Dom Sebastião, Vasco da Gama and Luís Vaz de Camões, the remains of Cardinal-King Dom Henrique, and the sons of Dom Manuel I and Dom João III. The confessionals and stained glass windows are by Abel Manta.
• Chapel-Mor of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built in 1571 by Jerónimo de Ruão. The highlights of the Chapel-Mor are the marble elephants; the tombs of Dom Manuel I, Dona Maria, Dom João III and Dona Catarina; the altarpiece with paintings depicting the Passion of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi by Lourenço de Salzedo; and the Silver Tabernacle by João de Sousa.
• Cloister of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built between 1517 and 1541 by Diogo de Boitaca, João de Castilho and Diogo de Torralva. It is a unique example of the Manueline style in Portugal. In the lower cloister stands the tomb of Fernando Pessoa (1888–1935) by Lagoa Henriques.
• Refectory of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built between 1517 and 1518 by Leonardo Vaz, notable for azulejo panels depicting the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes from the New Testament and the Life of Joseph of Egypt from the Old Testament, produced between 1780 and 1785; a 17th-century painting of Saint Jerome by Avelar Rebelo; the chimney; and an oil painting representing the Adoration of the Shepherds by António Campelo.
• Chapter House of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built between 1517 and 1518 by Rodrigo de Pontezilha to serve as a meeting room for the monks. The main points of interest are the doorway with two images of Saint Bernard and Saint Jerome, and the tomb of Alexandre Herculano by Eduardo Augusto da Silva.
• Sacristy of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built between 1517 and 1520 by João de Castilho, notable for fourteen oil paintings depicting the life of Saint Jerome by Simão Rodrigues, six canvases of the Passion of Christ by António Carneiro, and a figure of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré by Josefa de Óbidos.
• Confessionals of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: there are twelve confessionals, two of them covered by the Capela do Senhor dos Passos.
• Choir Loft of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built by Diogo de Çarça between 1548 and 1550. The highlights are a sculpture of Christ Crucified by Philippe de Vries, ten paintings representing ten Apostles (two were lost in the earthquake of 1 November 1755), Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine.
• Library of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: built in 1640 by Prior Frei Bento de Siqueira to house the books donated to the monastery by Infante Dom Luís (son of Dom Manuel I). At the time of the closure of the Order of Saint Jerome in the 19th century there were approximately eight thousand volumes, now distributed among the Torre do Tombo, the Biblioteca Nacional and the Casa Pia de Lisboa. The main highlight of the Library of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is the permanent exhibition “Um Lugar no Tempo”, which tells the history of the Jerónimos, the Torre de Belém, Portugal and the world.

2. Torre de Belém (Torre de São Vicente): a monument of Portuguese cultural heritage located on the former beach of Belém, classified since 1983 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and currently one of Lisbon’s most visited monuments. The Torre de Belém was built between 1514 and 1516 by Francisco de Arruda and was elected on 7 July 2007 as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. The monument has served various functions over the centuries, notably as a fortress and a prison. The main points of interest today are:

• Exterior of the Torre de Belém: featuring images of Saint Michael and Saint Vincent — patron saint of Lisbon and of the Torre de Belém — and a figure representing the rhinoceros that King Dom Manuel I sent as a diplomatic gift to the Pope in 1515.
• Bastion of the Torre de Belém: the bastion once held 17 cannons for the defence of Lisbon. The point of interest is the small cloister, built to allow the discharge of cannon smoke.
• South Façade of the Torre de Belém: the main façade, bearing the representation of the royal coat of arms of Dom Manuel I surrounded by armillary spheres and crosses of the Order of Christ.
• Governor’s Room of the Torre de Belém: featuring a cistern that collected rainwater and a spiral staircase leading to the terrace.
• Kings’ Room of the Torre de Belém: with eight circular openings offering views over the Tagus River and the South Bank, and a large fireplace.
• Audience Room of the Torre de Belém: with two semicircular arch windows, two armillary spheres and a large stone bearing the royal coat of arms.
• Chapel of the Torre de Belém: featuring the armillary sphere, the Cross of Christ and the royal coat of arms.
• Terrace of the Torre de Belém: from here one can observe the Capela de São Jerónimo, the Belém neighbourhood, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the South Bank of the Tagus, the Bugio lighthouse — which symbolises the end of the Tagus River and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Padrão dos Descobrimentos: first built for the Exposição do Mundo Português in 1940 by Cottinelli Telmo (1897–1948) and Leopoldo de Almeida (1898–1975). It was permanently rebuilt in 1960 in honour of Infante Dom Henrique. In 1985 it was enhanced by architect Fernando Ramalho with the addition of a viewpoint, an auditorium and exhibition rooms. The main points of interest of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos are:

1. 1. • Sculptural Group — East Side of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos: featuring 16 statues of major figures of the Portuguese Discoveries, including Bartolomeu Dias, Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia, Diogo Cão, Francisco Xavier, Martim Afonso de Sousa, Vasco da Gama, Cristóvão da Gama, António de Abreu, Estêvão da Gama, Gaspar Corte-Real, Nicolau Coelho, Afonso de Albuquerque, Dom Afonso V, Fernão de Magalhães, João de Barros and Pedro Álvares Cabral.
      • Sculptural Group — West Side of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos: featuring 16 statues of major figures of the Portuguese Discoveries, including Infante Dom Henrique, Frei Gonçalo de Carvalho, Gomes Eanes de Zurara, Jácome de Maiorca, Nuno Gonçalves, Pêro de Alenquer, Dona Filipa de Lencastre, Frei Henrique de Coimbra, João Gonçalves Zarco, Pedro Nunes, Pêro de Escobar, Fernão Mendes Pinto, Gil Eanes, Infante Dom Pedro, Luís Vaz de Camões and Pêro da Covilhã.
      • Wind Rose of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos: located on the forecourt giving access to the monument, it was gifted by South Africa in 1960 and restored in 1994 during the celebrations of Lisbon as European Capital of Culture. The Wind Rose of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos depicts the main dates and routes of the Portuguese Discoveries.

4. Museu Nacional dos Coches: located between Belém railway station and the Palácio de Belém, the museum was inaugurated on 23 May 1905 by Queen Dona Amélia, wife of King Dom Carlos I. The royal coaches were first installed in the former Royal Riding School building, designed by Giacomo Azzolini in 1726. On 23 May 2015, the collection was transferred to the current exhibition building. The collection of the Museu Nacional dos Coches is considered the largest collection of royal coaches in the world. The principal coaches are the Coach of Philip II, the Coach of Dom João V, the Coach of Pope Clement XI, the Coach of the Oceans and the Coach of Dona Maria Francisca of Savoy.

5. Pastéis de Belém (Antiga Confeitaria de Belém): Lisbon’s most celebrated pastry shop, famous for the traditional pastel de Belém — known across Portugal as the pastel de nata. The Pastéis de Belém bakery and factory is located close to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos on Rua de Belém, in the same premises that have been in operation since 1837. The pastéis de Belém were created by a monk from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos at a time when all monasteries and convents in Portugal were being closed, forcing the monks to find their own means of survival. The recipe was an immediate success and was passed on to the current owners of the establishment — thus began the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém and one of Portugal’s most celebrated confectionery brands. It is common for the queues of customers waiting to enter the pastry shop to extend around the entire block.

6. Centro Cultural de Belém — CCB: a foundation dedicated to culture and the arts, with spaces for conferences, exhibitions and artistic performances, as well as shops and cafés. It was inaugurated on 7 April 1992 to host the Portuguese presidency of the European Union. The Centro Cultural de Belém, situated opposite the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, was designed by Manuel Salgado and Vittorio Gregotti and organised into three main structures:

• Conference Centre;
• Performance Centre: with three halls, the highlight being the Grande Auditório with a seating capacity of 1,429;
• Exhibition Centre: with four galleries for exhibitions of visual arts, architecture, design and photography, shops, a cafeteria, and the Fundação de Arte Moderna e Contemporânea — Museu Coleção Berardo, present since June 2007.

7. Praça Afonso de Albuquerque: a square inaugurated in 1902 in honour of Dom Afonso de Albuquerque, located in front of the Palácio de Belém, between the Museu dos Coches and the Jardim Vasco da Gama, where the terrace restaurants are situated. The main points of interest of Praça Afonso de Albuquerque are the Monument to Dom Afonso de Albuquerque — notable for four bas-reliefs depicting episodes from his life and a bronze statue representing the Viceroy of India, built at the centre of the square by Costa Mota and Silva Pinto — and the stone benches in front of the monument, on the site where the football club “Os Belenenses” was founded on 23 September 1919.
8. Praça do Império: a square composed of a rectangular garden with a central fountain, designed by architect Vasco Lacerda Marques with landscaping by Gomes Amorim, and drawn by architect Cottinelli Telmo (1897–1948) for the Exposição do Mundo Português of 1940. Located in front of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the highlights of Praça do Império are:

• Garden of Praça do Império: featuring thirty coats of arms representing the district capitals of Portugal and the former Overseas Provinces; a shield of the Order of Aviz, a shield of the Order of Christ and a sundial. The garden was planted with 300 trees and shrubs, 75,000 geraniums, 800,000 square metres of lawn, 50,000 seasonal plants and 44 cypresses.
• Monumental Fountain of Praça do Império: bearing representations of the coats of arms of the Portuguese colonies and a hydraulic system capable of producing 63 different compositions and 45-minute shows of water, light and colour.
• Lakes of Praça do Império: four lakes with sculptural marine animal motifs by António Duarte.

9. Planetário Calouste Gulbenkian: a Centro de Ciência Viva dedicated to a range of dynamic and interactive activities related to astronomy and planet Earth, with shows for visitors from the age of 3. Located beside the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Planetário Calouste Gulbenkian was designed by architect Frederico George and inaugurated on 20 July 1965. On 19 July 2005 a new projector was installed, capable of representing more than nine thousand stars, the Milky Way and constellation figures. The projection room has a circular surface of 23 metres in diameter. The main points of interest are the Gallery, the Observatory and the Library.
10. MAAT — Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia: a contemporary architecture space developed in Belém on the Tagus riverfront, dedicated to presenting national and international exhibitions with contributions from contemporary artists, architects and thinkers. The museum was inaugurated on 5 October 2016. The MAAT is connected to the Central-Tejo (Museu da Eletricidade) by a pedestrian bridge that also serves as a viewpoint. Designed by Amanda Levete, the MAAT is located on Avenida Brasília in Belém and houses the EDP Foundation Art Collection, which includes works by more than 250 artists.

Further Attractions in Belém

• Palácio e Museu da Presidência
• Café Vela Latina
• Café In
• Cervejaria Portugália Espelho d’Água
• Clube Naval
• Estação Fluvial de Belém
• Stadium and Sports Complex of Football Club “Os Belenenses”
• Fundação Champalimaud
• Gare Marítima da Rocha de Conde de Óbidos
• Jardim Afonso de Albuquerque
• Jardim das Oliveiras
• Jardim Ducla Soares
• Jardim Vasco da Gama
• Riverside Garden Area
• Jardins Torre de Belém
• Jardim Tropical
• Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar
• Museu Coleção Berardo
• Museu Nacional de Arqueologia
• Museu de Arte Popular
• Museu Nacional de Etnologia
• Palácio dos Condes da Calheta
• Skate Park at Largo Luís Alves Miguel
• Picadeiro Real

Monuments of Belém

Forte do Bom Sucesso (Bateria do Bom Sucesso): located on Praça do Império, built in 1780 and designed by General Vallerée. The Forte do Bom Sucesso was restored in 1876 by engineering captain Domingos Pinheiro Borges and brigadier Filipe Folque.

Ermida de São Jerónimo (Ermida do Restelo): located in Restelo, built in 1514 by Diogo de Boitaca. The main points of interest of the Ermida de São Jerónimo are: the Manueline-style doorway; three altars with Sevillian azulejo tiles; the high altar; and the Tomb of Pina Manique, founder of the Casa Pia de Lisboa.

Cordoaria Nacional: The Real Fábrica da Cordoaria was created to manufacture nautical cables, sisal ropes, sails and flags for ships. Now transformed into an exhibition centre located near Belém railway station, the Cordoaria Nacional hosts several exhibitions throughout the year, including the Biennial Antiques Exhibition and the Dinosaurs Alive Exhibition. The building was constructed in 1771 on the orders of the Marquis of Pombal, to a design by architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos. The points of interest are the central portals of the north and south façades and the Gallery of the East Tower.

Museu Nacional de Arqueologia: located beside the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, it is Portugal’s principal archaeology museum. The Museu Nacional de Arqueologia was inaugurated in 1893 by José Leite de Vasconcelos (1858–1941). The main highlights are:

• Loulé, Territórios, Memórias e Identidades Exhibition: an important exhibition owing to the Actas da Vereação de Loulé of 1384, the oldest municipal council records in Portugal.
• Ethnography Collection of the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia: notable for ceramics, crafts and everyday clothing worn by 19th-century Portuguese.
• Treasury Room: with a highlight on collections of archaic goldsmithery.
• Latin Epigraphy Section: the Sanctuary of Santo Miguel da Mota is the principal reference point of this section.
• Metallic Artefacts Collection: houses Portugal’s largest collection of Classical sculpture.
• Egyptian Antiquities Collection: presents more than 500 pieces from the history of Ancient Egypt.

Museu de Marinha: located at one end of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, this museum preserves and documents the history of the Portuguese Navy from the Age of Discovery to the present day. The Museu de Marinha was inaugurated on 22 June 1863 by order of King Dom Luís I. The most notable aspects of the museum are:

• Museum Entrance: featuring statues of some of the most important figures of the Discoveries, including Infante Dom Henrique, Diogo Cão, João de Santarém, Diogo Gomes, Pedro de Sintra, Gonçalves Zarco, Gil Eanes and Nuno Tristão.
• Permanent Exhibition of Recreational Sailing: documenting the history of the first passenger transport service on the Tagus River in 1850 and the founding of the oldest sailing club on the Iberian Peninsula in 1856 with the establishment of the Real Associação Naval.
• Permanent Exhibition of the Merchant Navy: covering the history of the first Portuguese shipping companies, including the Empresa Insulana de Navegação and the Empresa Nacional de Navegação. The period covered spans the 19th century, the First World War (1914–1918), the Second World War (1939–1945) and the second half of the 20th century.
• Permanent Exhibition of the Discoveries Room: displaying the various navigational instruments used during the Portuguese Discoveries, as well as caravels and other vessels.
• Permanent Exhibition of the Royal Galleys: displaying several vessels belonging to the Royal Family, including the yacht Sirius, six 18th-century galleys and the royal brigantine of 1780.
• Santa Cruz Seaplane: the seaplane piloted by Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral in 1922 during the First Crossing of the South Atlantic, linking Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro.
• Permanent Exhibition of the Great Sailing Ships: the nau Príncipe da Beira, the frigate Ulysses, the frigate Rainha de Portugal and the frigate Dom Fernando II e Glória are the main highlights of this exhibition.

Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar: located near the Forte do Bom Sucesso and the Torre de Belém, the monument is a tribute to the combatants who died during the Overseas War (1961–1974). It was inaugurated on 15 January 1993 and designed by architects Francisco José Ferreira Guedes de Carvalho, Helena Albuquerque and Sidónio Costa Cabral. The highlights are the triangular portico; the names of the combatants killed in the Overseas War inscribed on the walls of the Forte do Bom Sucesso; and the Flame of the Homeland, which burns permanently as a symbol of Portugal’s continuity.

Monument to the First Aerial Crossing: located near the Torre de Belém, the monument is a reproduction of the Santa Cruz seaplane from the First Crossing of the South Atlantic. The Monument to the First Aerial Crossing was inaugurated on 17 June 1972 by José Joaquim Laranjeira Santos and António Rodrigues Fernandes.

Museu Nacional de Etnologia: one of the principal centres for the study of Portuguese and world anthropology, with approximately 42,000 objects from 380 cultures across 80 countries and all five continents. The Museu Nacional de Etnologia was established in 1965 in temporary premises before moving to its current building near Restelo in 1975. From 1990 it became part of the Instituto Português de Museus and officially adopted the name Museu Nacional de Etnologia. The main points of interest are:

• Permanent Exhibitions: Wayang Kulit Theatre of Bali; Franklin Vilas Boas through the lens of Ernesto de Sousa; Playing and Being Serious, with dolls from south-west Angola; Music and Daily Life, with Portuguese folk instruments; Matter of Speech, with pot lids bearing proverbs; The reed of Rio de Onor; Animals as people; Masks and Marionettes from Mali.
• Rural Life Galleries: displaying agricultural tools and working instruments connected to Portugal’s traditional rural past.
• Amazon Galleries: depicting the Amazon rainforest reserves.
• Library / Media Centre: with more than 20,000 works in the fields of Ethnology, Anthropology and related disciplines.
• Michel Giacometti Sound Archive: comprising archives of Portuguese folk music from each rural region of Portugal, including the Cante Alentejano.

Museu de Arte Popular: located near the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the museum is organised into five permanent exhibition rooms, each dedicated to a region of Portugal: Entre Douro e Minho, Trás-os-Montes, Algarve, Beiras, Estremadura and Alentejo. The Museu de Arte Popular was inaugurated on 15 June 1948 and designed by António Reis Camelo and João Simões. The highlights are the Entre Douro e Minho Room; the Alentejo Room; the Algarve Room; the Estremadura Room; the Beiras Room; and the Trás-os-Montes Room.

Museu da Eletricidade: a museum dedicated to the theme of electricity in Portugal, located on Avenida Brasília alongside the Tagus River and integrated within the Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia (MAAT) of the EDP Foundation (Energia de Portugal). The museum was inaugurated in 2006 in the former Central Tejo building, which began supplying electricity to Lisbon in 1909, with the main building subsequently expanded in a major construction phase between 1914 and 1951. The main references of this power station are:

• Main Hall: with a permanent exhibition on the history of the Central Tejo.
• Energy Sources: a space with temporary exhibitions dedicated to various energy sources, including renewable energy.
• Experimenting Section: where visitors can explore and experience some of Lisbon’s electrical phenomena.

Museu da Vida Subaquática e da História Submersa: a museum inaugurated in 1953 with the aim of researching three areas: Marine Biology, the History of Diving and Underwater Archaeology. Today it preserves and promotes underwater heritage and offers various services including recreational and technical diving, freediving and gas fills with air, nitrox, oxygen and trimix. Located near Restelo and integrated within the Centro Português de Atividades Subaquáticas, the museum’s points of interest include the Underwater Life Section and the Submerged History Section.

Forte do Alto do Duque: built between 1875 and 1890 as part of the Monsanto defensive system, located between Restelo and the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, it offers a unique panoramic view over the Tagus River, Belém and Algés. It was at the Forte do Alto do Duque that Portugal’s first wireless telegraph (TSF) connection was established on 17 April 1901, and it served as the general headquarters of the Comando Operacional do Continente (COpCon) during the Revolution of 25 April 1974.

Green Spaces of Belém

Parque Recreativo dos Moinhos de Santana: located between the Ajuda neighbourhood and Restelo, notable for the presence of two windmills. The park was inaugurated in 1997. The main points of interest are: the view over Lisbon and the Tagus River; the Moinhos de Santana, built in the 18th century for the Irish Dominican nuns of the Convento do Bom Sucesso on the Serra de Monsanto — the mills were responsible for grinding the flour that supplied Lisbon; the Restaurant; the Picnic Area; the Children’s Playground; the Skating Rink; the Skate Track; the Fitness Circuit; the Open-Air Amphitheatre; and the Bandstand.

Jardim Botânico Tropical: located near the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, covering approximately seven hectares. The Jardim Botânico Tropical was inaugurated on 25 January 1906. The park and greenhouses of the Jardim Botânico Tropical contain approximately 600 species from all regions of the world, including tropical and subtropical flora. The Jardim Botânico Tropical is open to the public every day. The main points of interest are:

• Butterfly House: created for the study, breeding and development of butterfly species.
• Royal Greenhouse: established in the 18th century, incorporating a three-hectare green space.
• Palácio dos Condes da Calheta: built in the 18th century by Dom João Gonçalves da Câmara, 4th Count of Calheta, and purchased by King Dom João V. The palace served various functions, including as an Agricultural Colonial Museum and the colonial section of the Exposição do Mundo Português in 1940. It now houses the Documentation Centre. The highlights of the Palácio dos Condes da Calheta are the various azulejo panels depicting hunting scenes and the several rooms of the palace.

Travel Options from Central Lisbon to Belém

There are many easy options for travelling directly to Belém from the centre of Lisbon. Belém is approximately seven kilometres from the city centre. From Praça do Comércio, the Tram 15E runs a direct route. Visitors can also travel by bus (numbers 704 or 728) or by train from Cais do Sodré. There is also the option of making the 7-kilometre coastal journey on foot or by bicycle, using one of several shared bicycle services. A good option is to purchase the Lisboa Card, a transport pass that includes museum entry, a free map and a travel guide. The Lisboa Card can be purchased at Lisbon Airport, at Palácio Foz in Restauradores, at Santa Apolónia station, in Praça do Comércio, on Rua Augusta and in Belém.

A Brief History of Belém

Belém grew from the village of Restelo. It was from Belém that several expeditions during the Portuguese Age of Discovery departed, including the expedition for the Conquest of Ceuta in 1415, Vasco da Gama’s expedition that discovered the Sea Route to India in 1498, and Pedro Álvares Cabral’s expedition that discovered Brazil in 1500. The neighbourhood of Belém survived the earthquake of 1 November 1755 and was consequently chosen as the residence of the Royal Family. In the 19th century it experienced significant growth following the arrival of the railway and was elevated to the status of a municipality, with Alexandre Herculano as its first president. In 1940 the Exposição do Mundo Português was held in Belém, from which the neighbourhood inherited the Estação Fluvial de Belém, the Museu de Arte Popular, the Espelho de Água and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. In the 20th century, the Central-Tejo — now the Museu da Eletricidade — was opened to supply Lisbon with electricity from 1909, and the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro was completed by Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral in 1922.

Main Streets of Belém

The most important arteries of Belém are Rua de Belém, Rua Vieira Portuense, Rua dos Jerónimos, Calçada do Galvão and Avenida do Restelo. Rua de Belém is a street of local commerce and culture where visitors can find the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém, the Palácio Nacional de Belém, the Museu da Presidência da República, the Museu Nacional dos Coches and the Praça Afonso de Albuquerque. Rua Vieira Portuense is notable for its former fishermen’s houses — which until the 19th century were lapped by the waters of the Tagus — now converted into terrace restaurants offering traditional Portuguese cuisine. Rua dos Jerónimos is home to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Casa-Pia da Correção da Corte, the football stadium of Os Belenenses, the Capela de Santo Cristo and the Ministry of Defence building. Calçada do Galvão connects Belém to Ajuda and is notable for the Jardim-Museu Agrícola Tropical. Avenida do Restelo is known as a tranquil residential area of houses and embassies.

Rua de Belém is one of Belém’s busiest streets, connecting Praça do Império to Rua da Junqueira. The Rua de Belém — formerly Rua Direita de Belém — is a wide and spacious street where thousands of visitors from all over the world can be seen daily, alongside Lisbon’s trams, restaurants, cafés, traditional shops and historic landmarks. The main attractions on Rua de Belém include:

• Picadeiro Real, former site of the Museu dos Coches;
• Palácio do Presidente da República;
• Museu da Presidência;
• Jardim Afonso Albuquerque;
• Pastéis de Belém.

Rua da Junqueira is the street of palaces and the nobility, connecting Rua de Belém to Rua Primeiro de Maio. The Rua da Junqueira takes its name from the presence of rushes — a plant species that grows in flooded and marshy ground — owing to the Rio Seco that flowed here in the 13th century. Rua da Junqueira is a stately, spacious street of pink palaces with gardens and brightly coloured azulejo tiles. The street is busy during the day, served by Tram 15 connecting Praça do Império to Largo Martim Moniz. The points of interest on Rua da Junqueira include:

• Museu dos Coches;
• Biblioteca de Belém;
• Universidade Lusíada;
• Chafariz da Junqueira;
• Biblioteca Central da Marinha;
• Embassy of Malta;
• Hospital Egas Moniz;
• Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical;
• Centro de Congressos de Lisboa;
• Palácio Burnay;
• Palácio dos Condes da Ribeira Grande;
• Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau;
• Library of the Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau.

Avenida Brasília is a road running parallel to the Tagus River and the railway line that begins at Cais do Sodré in Lisbon, connecting the CRIL to Avenida Infante Santo and continuing to Cascais. Avenida Brasília took its name in 1960, the year Brasília was inaugurated as the capital of Brazil. It is a road lined with gardens, parks, restaurants and monuments offering a continuous route for walking, exercise and sightseeing. Notable points along Avenida Brasília include:

• Fundação Champalimaud;
• Jardim Anna Sommer;
• Forte do Bom Sucesso;
• Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar;
• Jardim da Torre de Belém;
• Torre de Belém;
• Monument to Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral;
• Doca do Bom Sucesso;
• Jardim do Japão;
• Museu de Arte Popular;
• Portugália Cervejaria de Belém;
• Padrão dos Descobrimentos;
• Wind Rose;
• Doca de Belém;
• Estação Fluvial de Belém;
• Museu da Eletricidade;
• MAAT — Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia;
• Jardim Docas da Ponte;
• Doca de Santo Amaro;
• Alfândega Marítima de Lisboa;
• Museu do Oriente.

Rua de Pedrouços is an inner street of the Belém neighbourhood connecting Rua Damião de Góis to Rua Bartolomeu Dias. Rua de Pedrouços is an essentially residential street — quiet, safe and well-shaded by trees — with points of interest including the Instituto Universitário Militar and the Chafariz da Princesa.

Belém Curiosities

• Tram 15E runs between Belém and Praça do Comércio approximately every fifteen minutes;
• Belém was largely unaffected by the earthquake of 1 November 1755, which led the Royal Family to relocate to this Lisbon neighbourhood;
• The municipality of Belém was established on 11 September 1852;
• The first president of the municipality of Belém was the historian Alexandre Herculano;
• Belém was the venue for the Exposição do Mundo Português;
• The Pastéis de Belém are considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Gastronomy.

Quick Facts about Belém

• Belém has approximately 17,000 inhabitants;
• The primary economic sector is tourism;
• It is a highly sought-after area for young families;
• It offers an excellent balance of tranquillity, safety and quality of life.

Educational Establishments

• Centro Helen Keller
• Colégio As Descobertas
• Colégio Bola de Neve
• Colégio do Bom Sucesso
• Colégio Jacob Rodrigues Pereira
• Colégio Mira Rio
• Externato de São Francisco Xavier
• Externato de São José
• Park International School
• Universidade Lusíada

Health Institutions

• Hospital São Francisco Xavier
• USF Descobertas

Tourist Accommodation

• Altis de Belém Hotel & Spa
• Palácio do Governador
• Hotel Jerónimos8

Transport and Access

• Belém Railway Station
• Lisbon Trams:
  Number 15E and Number 18

Location of the Belém Parish on the Lisbon Map