For the Torre de Belém was the starting point from which Vasco da Gama set sail in July of 1497 on a historic journey. He rounded the fearsome Cape of Good Hope and in May of the next year landed in India.
It was the landmark to which he returned from India a year later to be showered with honours from his King and Queen.
A fairytale structure as it stands floodlit on the banks of the Tagus (o río Tejo) looking across to the gigantic open-armed statue of Christo Rei , its present-day innocent appearance is totally deceptive.
It is and was designed as a working fortress when it was built in the fifteenth century.
Now The Tower of Belém is a World Heritage Site with a modern as well as a past claim to fame.
For it was from Belém too that the Portuguese made air history by flying to Rio de Janeiro, the first ever air crossing of the South Atlantic in 1922.
Not only is the Lusitania, the seaplane, commemorated, the journey too is carved on a stone plinth nearby.
One of Portugal's most famous poets, now buried nearby, was Fernando Pessoa.This site has links in both English and Portuguese.
Another poetic site related to the Torre de Belem
contains texts from more modern poets, the one on colours being particularly suitable for even a beginner in the language who is learning words for colour.
An excellent and well illustrated article relating to the Voyages of Discovery, this is a good overview of the 15th century explorations. It ends with Vasco da Gama's journeys and a clear map of the voyages undertaken.
Another excellent article, big print and easy-to-read, summarising Portuguese discoveries and the fears which had previously deterred sailors from making journeys which would lead to their falling off the edge of the world can be found here
I promised a fortress, a poet and a king. The poet was Fernando Pessoa but his quotations relating to the Torre have gone missing, and must like the king wait for another day.
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