Belém

Tower of Belém

Belém, also called Santa Maria de Belém, freguesia (parish) within the western limits of the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is situated on the northern shore of the Tagus (Tejo) River estuary near its outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.

A former royal residence, Belém (Bethlehem) is known for its Manueline (early 16th-century) architecture, notably the Jerónimos monastery, founded by Manuel I in 1499 in honour of the explorer Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India, and the white Tower of Belém, built in 1515–21 to protect the entrance of the Tagus. The two monuments were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Also notable is the Ajuda National Palace. Replacing the royal palace, which was destroyed by fire, the Neoclassical edifice was left unfinished when the royal family, to escape the forces of Napoleon I, sailed into exile in Brazil in 1807. The finely furnished palace rooms are open to the public.

The Belém Palace is the official residence of Portugal’s president. In its east wing is housed the National Coach Museum, with an exceptional collection. Nearby are the Folk Art Museum, the Naval Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium, and the National Archaeological Museum. Dominating the riverside promenade is a tall Monument to the Discoveries. The starkly modern Belém Cultural Centre, built in 1990 and initially controversial, has become a popular setting for concerts and exhibitions. Pop. (2001) 9,756; (2011) 8,541.