• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos - Jerónimos Monastery

Monuments

Situated along the banks of the Tagus River, this site is a pinnacle of Manueline architecture.

Originally, a small hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria, built by Infante D. Henrique in 1452, stood where the Jerónimos Monastery is now located, near the old Belém beach. In the early 16th century, King Manuel I’s plan to construct a grand monastery was approved by the Holy See and entrusted to the Order of the Friars of St. Jerome. This monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture and closely tied to the Age of Discoveries, is the most significant Portuguese monastic complex of its era and one of Europe’s foremost churches.

Construction began in 1501 and spanned a century, led by an exceptional team of architects and master builders from both Portugal and abroad. Initially designed by French architect Boytac, the project was continued by other masters, including João de Castilho and, mid-century, Diogo de Torralva. Following Portugal’s arrival in India, the crown funded the project with profits from Eastern trade. King D. Manuel I allocated a significant portion of the “Vintena da Pimenta” (a Spice Tax, about 5% of trade revenues from Africa and the East, equivalent to 70kg of gold annually) to finance the construction.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is notable for its facades, church, and cloisters. On the south facade, admire the portal crafted by João de Castilho, where figures are arranged hierarchically: below, Infante D. Henrique guards the entrance, the Virgin of Bethlehem blesses the monument, and Archangel Saint Gabriel, Portugal’s protector, completes the arc. The western portal, the entrance to the sacred space, was created by Nicolau Chanterenne. To the left, protected by St. Jerome, is the statue of King D. Manuel, believed to be a realistic portrait, and to the right is Queen D. Maria, his wife, protected by St. John the Baptist.

Inside, the church-hall, a Manueline masterpiece by João de Castilho, is remarkable for its architectural achievement, with the beautiful vault of the transept unsupported by columns. At the entrance, after the lower-choir, are the cenotaphs of poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic “Os Lusíadas,” and Vasco da Gama, commander of the 1497 expedition to India. The side chapels house the tombs of King D. Manuel I’s descendants. In the main chapel, later reconstructed by Jerónimo de Ruão, lie the tombs of D. Manuel I, his son D. João III, and their wives. The solid silver tabernacle, a mid-17th-century Portuguese silversmith masterpiece, is particularly noteworthy.

• Torre de Belém - Belém Tower

Monuments

The harmonious and intricate ornamentation of the Belém Tower resembles a finely crafted jewel. However, its contemporaries viewed it as a formidable bastion defending the Tagus entrance, capable of combining firepower with the St. Sebastian tower on the opposite riverbank. Commissioned by King Manuel I (1495-1521) and constructed by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521, the tower was built on a basalt island near the right bank of the Tagus, opposite Restelo beach. Over time, the river’s course shifted, leaving the tower nearly engulfed by the bank.

The tower’s quadrangular shape is reminiscent of medieval castles, featuring a polygonal bulwark designed to withstand heavy bombardment from the sea. The watch posts, adorned with burgeoning cupolas at each corner, reflect Moroccan fortification influences. Besides these Moorish elements, the decoration embraces the Manueline style in the stone layouts, heraldic designs, and even the famous rhinoceros, Europe’s first stone statue of the animal.

The tower’s most ornate side faces south, with a narrow balcony. On the cloistral wall above the bulwark, a sculpted image of the Virgin with Child from the 18th century forms the tower’s prow.

The interior is worth exploring, especially for the top floor’s breathtaking views over the Tagus estuary and the city’s western side, still reminiscent of Portugal’s Age of Discovery.

In 1983, UNESCO designated the Belém Tower as a World Heritage Site.

• Padrão dos Descobrimentos - Monument to the Discoveries

Monuments

The striking Monument to the Discoveries makes a bold statement on the Belém riverside. Designed in 1940 to commemorate the “Exposition of the Portuguese World,” promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the 800th and 300th anniversaries of Portugal’s founding and restoration (1140 and 1640, respectively), it was completed in 1960 to mark 500 years since Prince Henry the Navigator’s death. Architect Cottinelli Telmo designed it, and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida contributed to its creation.

Standing 52 meters tall, the monument symbolizes a caravel, led by Prince Henry the Navigator, followed by 32 prominent figures from the Age of Discoveries, including King Afonso V (1432-81), who spearheaded early discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524), who discovered the sea route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil, and Ferdinand Magellan, who completed the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, among others.

The façade facing the ground resembles a cross adorned with the Sword of the Order of Aviz, the primary financial backer of the voyages.

• MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology - The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is a contemporary art museum in Lisbon, Portugal, that integrates three disciplines in a space for debate, discovery, critical thinking, and international dialogue.

• Parque Eduardo VII - Eduardo VII Park

Gardens, Parks, and Forests

Eduardo VII Park is located in the Parish of São Sebastião da Pedreira, north of Avenida da Liberdade, offering panoramic city views. Initially named Parque da Liberdade, the gardens were renamed in honor of British King Edward VII during his 1903 visit to Lisbon.

Since their inception, the gardens have hosted fairs, exhibitions, and various entertainment forms. Designed by Keil do Amaral, the gardens feature a central lawn flanked by Portuguese cobblestone pavements, marking a significant development in Lisbon’s landscape.

The park includes a Sports Pavilion built in 1932 in the João V style, later renamed the Carlos Lopes Pavilion in tribute to the renowned Portuguese athlete, a Greenhouse with a vast array of plants from around the world, lakes, and various statues, including a bust of King Edward VII and a monument to the 25th April Revolution by João Cutileiro.

Additionally, there is a children’s playground, a viewpoint, a bandstand, a picnic area, the Club VII sports complex with tennis courts, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a restaurant.

• Praça dos Restauradores - Restauradores Square

Located in Baixa de Lisboa, at the southern end of Avenida da Liberdade, just meters from Praça Dom Pedro IV (commonly known as Rossio), Restauradores Square is distinguished by its 30-meter-high obelisk, the Monument to the Restorers, inaugurated on April 28, 1886, at a cost of 45 contos de reis [1]. This monument commemorates the country’s liberation from Spanish rule on December 1, 1640.

The central plate’s sidewalk features traditional Portuguese cobblestones.

• Praça do Rossio - Rossio Square

Other

Emerging from the ruins of the 1755 earthquake, this charming Lisbon square marks the northern boundary of the Pombaline Downtown. It extends in a quadrilateral shape, dominated by the neo-classical elegance of the D. Maria II Theatre, built on the former site of the House of the Inquisition.

According to the Marquis of Pombal, Praça do Comércio was intended to be the city’s focal point and a symbol of the new social order he envisioned for the nation.

However, over time, Rossio, a vibrant and inviting square, became the bourgeois hub of Lisbon.

The square thrived with hotels (now gone) filled with travelers, shops, and tobacconists. It also boasted the quintessentially Portuguese institution—the café. These venues became forums for conversation, conspiracy, politics, and the arts.

While life has evolved, Café Nicola (on the western side) and Pastelaria Suíça (on the eastern side) remain as reminders of the past.

At the center stands a 28-meter-high column erected in 1870, topped by King Pedro IV holding the Constitution in his right hand.

Two monumental fountains, added in 1889, now serve as a backdrop for florists displaying their goods.

To the south, observe the graceful arch connecting to Rua dos Sapateiros. This fine example of late 18th-century Pombaline architecture features ornamental details, including a window with a veranda overlooking the square. Its construction was funded by businessman Pires Bandeira and later became known as the Arch of Bandeira.

The entire square recently underwent a comprehensive renovation, restoring the original Portuguese cobblestone’s splendor, with the central area featuring blue and white stones tracing sea waves.

• Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paço) - Commercial Square

Other

This is one of Europe’s most stunning squares, opening southward onto the vast Tagus estuary.

Before the era of mass aviation, this was Lisbon’s grand reception hall for visitors arriving by sea, who could better appreciate its beauty from their vantage points on slowly docking vessels.

It was here that kings and heads of state would disembark when visiting Portugal.

Before the 1755 earthquake, it was known as Terreiro do Paço (Royal Yard). The Royal Palace had been located on the square’s western side since the 16th century when King Manuel moved the court from the Castle of São Jorge (St. George).

In 1580, Filipe I of Portugal commissioned a new square, with the work overseen by Filippo Terzi and Juan Herrera (the architect of the Escorial).

The earthquake destroyed everything. The name Praça do Comércio (Commercial Square) belongs to the Pombal era and represents the new social order that Minister to King José I sought to promote: the trading, financial, and bourgeois classes that played a significant role in rebuilding the city.

In the square’s geometric center, facing the river, stands a statue of José I on his horse Gentil, sculpted by Machado de Castro.

It was unveiled with great pomp on June 6, 1775, the king’s birthday. He discreetly observed the event from a Customs building window. The celebrations lasted three days and included a grand banquet for all Lisbon residents.

On a pedestal by the riverside, there is a likeness of Pombal (removed when the minister fell from favor but reinstated by the Liberals in 1834) raised onto the royal shield. The sculpted figures on either side represent Triumph, with a horse, and Fame, with an elephant, alluding to Portugal’s overseas possessions. On the pedestal’s rear side, in low relief, is an allegorical depiction of royal generosity toward a city in ruins, with Commerce opening a chest of money for this royal generosity.

Underneath the northern arcade, near the entrance to Rua do Ouro, be sure to visit the Martinho da Arcada café-restaurant. This is a cultural landmark in the city.

Before heading up Rua Augusta, which leads to Rossio, take a moment to admire the Triumphal Arch overlooking the thoroughfare.

• Fado in Chiado - The Fado Tour begins with an evening stroll through Lisbon, visiting the city’s most iconic monuments, including the Torre de Belém, the Gardens of the Jerónimos Monastery, and the Terreiro do Paço, with stops at various viewpoints to enjoy the city and the Tagus River.

The tour concludes with dinner at a traditional Alfama restaurant featuring a professional Fado show.

• Private transportation
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Bottled water
• On-board WiFi
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning

The Fado Tour begins with an evening walk through Lisbon, exploring the city’s most iconic landmarks such as the Torre de Belém, the Gardens of the Jeronimos Monastery, and the Terreiro do Paço. The tour includes visits to various viewpoints offering stunning views of the city and the Tagus River.

Following the tour, guests will enjoy dinner at a traditional Alfama restaurant, accompanied by a professional Fado performance.

Fado, a product of historical and cultural fusion in Lisbon during the late 19th century, is a genre that transcends language barriers, with its emotion conveyed through the singer’s voice and the Portuguese Guitar. Recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Fado is quintessentially Portuguese, performed globally but truly felt in its homeland.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.