A walk through Lisbon's Belem neighbourhood

Hi,

It has been many editions since I last participated in the #wedenesaywalk organized by @tattoodjay and today I have not hesitated to participate with a walk taken several weeks ago through the Belém neighbourhood in Lisbon.

The reason for writing about this walk through the Belém neighbourhood is because I have been notified that I will soon be returning to Lisbon for work, a city that I love to visit.

Every time I have been to Lisbon I have always gone to the Belém neighbourhood and I do an almost routine tour that starts at the famous Belém Tower on the banks of the Tagus River.

This tower, which in ancient times was a lighthouse and a point of defence for the city in colonial times, has served multiple uses throughout history, such as a tax collection centre and also as a prison.

On previous visits to the city I have always arrived in the Belém quarter late in the afternoon and always found it closed, so I hope that on my next visit I will be able to visit the interior.

Apart from the Belém Tower, in the vicinity of the tower we can walk through a very pleasant park with many shady places with leafy trees and approach the museum of the combatants, finding next to it a monument in homage to all the combatants of the Portuguese armed forces in which we find a flaming cauldron as a symbol of peace.

Very close to the Belém Tower, about 500 metres away, we find another of the great monuments of this area, which is the monument of the discoveries.

To get there you can walk along a promenade on the banks of the Tagus River, watching some of the boats that run along the river with tourists and also watching some of them fishing.

Undoubtedly, on my last walk in this area I arrived at the best moment to walk around the area when I saw a beautiful contrata of colours in the sunset sky with the 25 April bridge in the background.

As my strength does not falter walking through such a beautiful place, my last walk through the Belém neighbourhood continued to the other side of the train tracks and to the surroundings of the Jerónimos monastery, but before going to this outstanding place it is essential to visit the shop where the first cream cakes of Belém were born.

After filling your stomach with a few pastries and a coffee with milk, a visit to the church of Santa Maria de Belém and the Jerónimos monastery is a good way to round off a stroll around Belém as night falls.

The church of Santa Maria de Belém stands out with its lighting that highlights the white colour of the material used for its construction and its Portuguese Gothic style (Manueline).

On the other hand, the Jeronimos convent with its amber lighting, the multiple towers and the grandeur of its facade make it a very nice place for the end of the walk through this neighbourhood, which obviously has many more places to visit that for the next time I go to Lisbon I will visit and I will bring you in the form of a walk.

Best regards.