Belem area, Lisbon (Portugal)
The Belem area of Lisbon has several worthwhile attractions all within close proximity to each other. So it makes a great day in one area.
Jeronimos Monastery is probably the biggest draw with its gothic decorative excesses – buy tickets online to avoid the lines (and note that there are two entrances to the building: one for buying tickets and the attached museum, and one to enter the Monastery with bought tickets). Go early either way. There are all different carvings in the cloister area, which you can see from the ground level and the upper level. The carvings that have been protected from the elements by chance are very detailed and you can clearly examine the workmanship as you can get right up to them. It is very ornate and there are lots of things to look at, so you may want to go around once clockwise and then go around again counterclockwise. After climbing thousands of stairs in the past few days, I give the stairs in this location a score of 10/10 for tread height, depth, and width. (Things I thought I’d never be rating when I travel but do after doing 60 – 90 flights of stairs a day in Lisbon).
The museum at the monastery has some interesting artifacts, and I was surprised to find a living/breathing Anubis watching over the Egyptian section. I would’ve taken a picture, but none are allowed in the museum.
Outside is a nice garden and fountains. And then by the water is the large Monument to the Discoveries which is a very large ship-shaped monument with sculptures of famous Portuguese people on it. There is an elevator to the top if you are interested in getting an overview of the area.
To the east of the Monastery is the Pastel de Nata original maker – Pasteis de Belem. I had liked all the Pastel de Nata versions I had tried, but I would say these were the best as they were the flakiest on the outside and exceptionally creamy inside, but all were quite good, so you don’t have to make a trip here if you don’t want to. The monasteries had an excess of egg yolks because so many egg whites were used for the starching and pressing of the nuns’ habits. So many recipes were egg yolk heavy and the Pasteis de Belem’s original owners purchased this recipe from the monks in the 1830s who were selling the pastries as a fund-raiser.
Further down is the Museum of Coaches, which has notable coaches from Kings, Queens, Popes, and other dignitaries. One of the coaches on display is from 1618 and was used by the King of Spain when he visited Lisbon. Some of the details and adornments are amazing for being vehicles. You can see how the knowledge of the day changed how the coaches were designed over the centuries, as well as adjustments made for narrow streets and such.
To the west of the Monastery is the 16th century Belem Tower, which is quite a scenic viewpoint. It is austere inside, but the outside is marvelous. For a tower, it is not very tall, but it is heavily fortified and served as a gateway to Lisbon. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
