Belém Tower

The military architect Francisco de Arruda built the tower for King Manuel I between 1514 and 1519, as a fortification at the mouth of the Tagus and a ceremonial point of departure and arrival for Portuguese explorers. It is about 30 metres tall and 12 metres wide, built in the Manueline style with Moorish-inspired watchtowers. Together with the nearby Jerónimos Monastery it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, and in 2007 it was voted one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Look for the carved rhinoceros on the outside, considered the first sculpture of the animal in Western European art; it probably depicts the rhinoceros Manuel I sent as a gift to Pope Leo X in 1515. Inside, a bastion with a cistern at water level is topped by four storeys: the Governor's Hall, the King's Hall with its loggia over the river, the Audience Hall and a chapel with rib vaulting, and finally the terrace with views along the Tagus.

On Tiqets you can buy an entry ticket, a guided tour, or an audio guide app for the whole Belém district.

The floors are linked by a single narrow spiral staircase, so expect to wait for your turn when it is busy, and come early in the day. The Jerónimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries are a short walk away along the river.