TORRE DE BELEM by LysDor
It is a must-see, even if it is probably the most photographed monument in Portugal. This tower used to locate out in mid-stream of river Tagus when Vasco da Gama left to India and other sailors of the Age of Discoveries left to other destinations to be explored.Belém is linked to Portugal's Golden Age of Discoveries as the site where the famous navigators set sail to discover the world. Today it is a spacious green suburb with many gardens, parks and monuments that are well worth a visit. Amongst Belém's attractions are the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Torre de Belém, the Belém Cultural Centre and Rua Vieira Portuense.
Originally it served as a fortress. Nowadays local people seem to gather here around the park during the summer weekends. Wishing I had some sparkling in my backbag...
