There are lots of monuments by the River Tagus. Our work will try to describe some of them, as we talk briefly about their essential history. These monuments are: the Belém Tower, Belém’s Cultural Centre, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Jerónimos Monastery, the 25th April Bridge, the Oceanary, Vasco da Gama’s Tower, and the Vasco da Gama Bridge. Let’s start with:
The Belém Tower
- It was built in 1515 by D. Manuel, and until 1580 it was used as a fortress.
- In 1580, the Tower couldn't withstand the Spanish siege, and it becomes a dungeon for the estate. The bastion was increased, in order to provide more room for the soldiers.
- In 1589 Filipe II (the Spanish Sovereign) orders the construction of a parallelepiped building, named "os Quartéis Filipinos" (the Filipine Quarters), which would be demolished during the New State (Estado Novo).
UNESCO proclaimed it World’s Heritage site in 1983.
Belém’s Cultural Centre
Belém´s Cultural Centre is one of the most striking examples of contemporary Portuguese architecture. It houses a centre for shows, an exhibition Centre, and a Congress Centre, plus various areas for leisure and shopping.
Jerónimos Monastery
Its construction began in 1501, on the orders of King Manuel I. It was chosen as the Royal Pantheon and was financed by the gold brought from India. It combines the European late-Gothic and early Renaissance trends. Not only it is of unquestionable technical mastery, but it also has an elegant ribbed dome that covers the whole church. It was also classified by UNESCO as a
World Heritage Site.
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