On my last day in Lisbon, I decided to take a water taxi rather than a trolley car to visit the Belem area of the city. Belem is a historic riverside district in western Lisbon renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage sites and served as the departure point for 15th century explorers. Museums, parks, and the original pastry – Pasteis de Belem – can be found in Belem.

One of the first attractions noted from the water is the Cristo Rei statue. This statue is 90 feet tall and stands on top of a 246-foot-tall pedestal. The idea for the statue came soon after World War II as a way for Catholics to thank God for escaping the bombings that destroyed other European cities. The monument was unveiled in 1959.

As we followed the shoreline to the Belem area, we came to the Padrao dos Descobimentos also known as the Monument to the Discoveries. This monument on the northern bank of the Tagus River was where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. The monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries.

A short distance beyond the Monument to the Discoveries is the Belem Tower. The official name of this tower is the Tower of Saint Vincent, in honor of the patron saint of Lisbon. This is a 16th century fortification that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. Unfortunately, the tower was being renovated during my visit. You can see the scaffolding around the tower in the video below. Since 1983, the tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often portrayed as a symbol of Europe’s Age of Discoveries.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the Belem area is the Jeronimos Monastery. This is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. On December 28, 1833, by state decree, the monastery was secularized and its ownership transferred to a charitable institution. This monastery was constructed in the early 1500s near the launch point of Vasco da Gama’s first journey. Vasco da Gama’s remains were moved to a tomb in the nave of the monastery’s church in 1880.

The original bakery producing the famous Portuguese custard pastry began operations in 1837 in the Belem area near the monastery. As a result of the 1820 liberal revolution, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down. In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in one of the local shops near a sugar refinery. These pastries quickly became known as Pasteis de Balem. The baking of the Pasteis de Belem began in the buildings attached to the sugar refinery near the monastery. To this day, the “secret recipe” from the monastery remains unchanged.

While in Belem, near the monastery, I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Adega de Belem restaurant. I ordered salmon and vegetables and was so pleasantly surprised when Portuguese cabbage was part of the meal. The salmon was wonderful; however, I really enjoyed the cabbage so much that I searched for the recipe and made it twice so far at home. In case you are interested in a great Portuguese cabbage recipe – click here!

I took a trolley car from the Belem area back to the area of Lisbon near my hotel and found the Convento da Graca. This beautiful church sits on Lisbon’s highest hill with a beautiful view overlooking the city. The convent was established in 1271 and rebuilt in the 16th century after the 1755 earthquake. Renovations took place again in the 21st century. The convent is now classified as a National Monument of Portugal. In the video below, you will see beautiful views of the city from the rooftop of the church.

My last adventure in Lisbon brought me to the Mercado da Ribeira. What a great place for lunch and a fun way to try out all the wonderful Portuguese food choices.

This adventure began in Manresa, Spain and continued to Porto and Lisbon, Portugal. What an amazing trip! I truly enjoyed the experience. I am so happy to be able to share this adventure with each of you. My next adventure will be a cruise leaving from Amsterdam to explore several Baltic countries including Estonia and Finland.

Enjoy the video below!

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