National Monument and World Heritage (UNESCO), the symbol of the city of Lisbon and Portugal in the world, it is associated historically and artistically with the Jerónimos Monastery and the Portuguese Discoveries. Built, between 1514 and 1519, on a basaltic outcrop, some distance from the north bank of the river, it combines two distinct architectural models: the tall tower, in the style of a keep, with a medieval appearance; and the bastion, a modern military device. This hexagonal body – positioned on a low elevation and advanced in the river, equipped with gunboats – allowed firing in a low shot. The Torre de Belém is, therefore, a valuable testimony that, at the time, the old neurobalistic war, of throwing, provided by the high and receding tower, gave rise to the pyrobalistic war of heavy artillery and low-strike, guaranteed by the bulwark.

In addition to the building’s structure, it is the ornamental overhead, the festive decoration in the Portuguese “Manueline” late-Gothic modality, which denounces its construction during the reign of D. Manuel I (1495-1521). The royal heraldry, obsessively present, mixes with diverse ornamental motifs such as, for example, ropes, knots and animals, and there is no lack of elements of Moorish allusion. It should be noted the presence, on the south façade of the high tower, of the extensive veranda, a loggia, designed to welcome the spectacular cutting ceremonial that, certainly, would intensify on the arrival and departure of the vessels.

The construction of a fortress on the north bank of the Tagus, to defend the bar, was planned since the time of D. João II. However, it was during the reign of King Manuel I that Francisco de Arruda, an architect experienced in defensive structures, designed and directed the execution works for the Tower dedicated to São Vicente, which was called Torre de Belém from an early age.

In the same period and in the same territory, opposite Praia do Restelo, the Jerónimos Monastery was built – the great monastic house founded by D. Manuel I, delivered to the Order of São Jerónimo, whose works began in 1501-1502.

There are many written and visual sources that testify to the relationship between these two great enterprises. For example, in the Chronica of the Felicissimo Rei Dom Emanuel, 1566-1567, writes Damião de Góis:

“In front of this building he ordered the King to build the S. Vicente tower, which is called Belém, founded in water, to guard this Monastery, and the port of Lisbon, a building that, although not large in quantity, nevertheless the his structure is magnificent. Which tower is sailed at night, and by day, so that no sail can pass without being seen, and obeys the volleys that it makes with the artillery. ”