Welcome to Tower of Belém

Any visit to the Tower of Belém should begin outside the tower on the steps facing it. From here one has the best view of the bartizan, the tourret in the northwest corner. On the right hand side, when facing the tower, the base features a representation of a rhinoceros. It probably depicts the animal that was sent to Lisbon as a gift to Manuel I from the Sultan of Cambay.

Entering via the drawbridge and main entrance, one has direct access to the interior of the bulwark, which houses the tower's artillery placed with 17 cannon holes. The floor slopes downward from the centre outwards giving the artillery a secure position and allowing for the runoff of water that enters the tower. 

In the centre, there is a small cloister-like open patio surrounded by gothic arches. It served to dispel the smoke from the firing of the cannons. 

Going back to the right coming through the entrance hall is a steep staircase that leads to the bulwark terrace. 

The bulwark terrace features six bartizans or projected turrets on the bulwark terrace. These have lookout windows and ribbed cupolas at the vertices of the bulwark's polygonal form. In the terrace's centre, a parapet surrounds the open space of the patio on the lower level.

On the southern side of the parapet stands an image of Our Lady of Safe Homecoming also known as the Virgin of the Grapes. 

A narrow flight of stairs takes one to the first room in the Tower where one finds the octagonal opening of the tank that collected stored rainwater. The ceiling in this room is vaulted and covered in lime mortar. In the northeast and northwest one can access the turrets. To the left is a winding staircase that leads up to the top of the tower, providing access to the tower’s other rooms.

The name of this room probably comes from the 16th century when there was a Governor of the Tower of Belém. The first Governor was Gaspar de Paiva who was appointed in 1521. The office was always one of great prestige and royal distinction as the Governor represented the monarch and exercised military as well as administrative and judicial powers. A palace was built close to the Tower of Belém as a residence for the successive governors.

This room leads onto a balcony on the tower's southern facade, which features eight round holes in the floor, known as machicolations, through which the garrison could fend off attacks by shooting or dropping projectiles. In the centre of each of the other three sides of the room, doors open up onto balcony windows that reveal graceful Venetian inspiration. In the northwest corner is an exceptional stone fireplace with a mantelpiece adorned with half spares.

This living room has a fireplace that is more modest than the previous floor. In the south wall of this compartment, two windows are visible with ballaustrate, a semicircular arch with four arch revolt and cominent torso. In this decoration there are two armillary spheres intercalated with a great stone depicting arms with a real coat of arms. On the other side of the room are two Windows with perfect back arches and central column denoting a mark ornamental balance.

Climbing up a spiral staircase one arrives at the chapel. The astaire beauty of this room evokes a sense of worship. The junctions of the vaulted ceiling, the heraldry associated with the reign of king Manuel I, such as the military sphere, the cross of the Order of Christ, and the Portuguese coat of arms. This room leads onto a balcony, which has 8 round holes in the floor, known as machicolations through which the Garrison could fend off attacks by shooting projectiles.

The top of the tower affords views of the Tagus river banks as well as Belém's monuments. If one goes back to the river and looks Northwest from the terrace one can see the chapel of st. Jerónimos among the trees on the top of Avenida de Torre de Belém. It was built in 1514 on land belonging to the Hironymite monks.