When I was in the army, in Lisbon, I passed a few times by the Tower of Belém but I never did a proper visit. This week I returned to Lisbon, this time to see a great concert by the band Ghost, and we visited these two monuments.
 |
Tower of Belém |
This postcard was sent by me to myself
Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/263
 |
Tower of Belém |
This postcard was given to me by my cousin Isabel
Belém Tower (Portuguese: Torre de Belém) or the Tower of St Vincent is a fortified tower located in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Belém in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal. The tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
 |
Tower of Belém |
This postcard was sent by Zé "Pombal" with a great stamp that shows also the Tower of Belém
The tower was built in the early 16th century and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style, but it also incorporates hints of other architectural styles. The structure was built from lioz limestone and is composed of a bastion and a 30 m (100 foot), four storey tower. It has incorrectly been stated that the tower was built in the middle of the Tagus and now sits near the shore because the river was redirected after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. In fact, the tower was built on a small island in the Tagus River near the Lisbon shore.
 |
Tower of Belém |
This postcard was sent by Vanesa
 |
Monastery of the Hieronymites |
This postcard was sent by Gracinha. Unfortunately was damaged by the post service.
 |
Monastery of the Hieronymites |
The existing structure was inaugurated on the orders of Manuel I (1469–1521) at the courts of Montemor o Velho in 1495, as a final resting-place for members of the House of Aviz, in his belief that an Iberian dynastic kingdom would rule after his death. In 1496, King Manuel petitioned the Holy See for permission to construct a monastery at the site. - in: wikipedia