Stairs leading to the basement/storage room

Beyond its function in the defense of Lisbon, the Tower of Belém also served as a state prison. Political opponents were held here, mainly during the reigns of Filipe I of Portugal, D. João IV, D. José and D. Miguel. The prisoners were normally held in the basement of the bulwark, which was originally a storage area, but prisoners were sometimes held in other rooms of the Tower.