Travel in Portugal, Day 9, Belem & The Alfama

posted in: Home, Portugal | 0

This was our last day in Portugal and we only had time for a small taste of Lisbon.Henry the Navigator and his followers are celebrated on the Monument to the Discoveries built in 1958. On the ground in front of the Monument is a Compass Rose, gifted by the South African government in memory of Vasco da Gama, the first to round the Cape of Good Hope.

Monument of the Discoveries

Monument of the Discoveries

The Monument is close to the Tower of Belemand on the Tagus River.

Marina on the Tagus River
Marina on the Tagus River

We drove into Lisbon to park the car, and then walked past the Arco de Rua Augusta into the Alfama District. 

Arch of the Rua Augusta

The Alfama District is the oldest part of Lisbon, between the Tagus River and the Sao Jorge Castle on the top of the hill – and it is a proper hill! This was the Moorish town and it was not destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. The Castle – crowded with tourists and so avoided on this occasion – is Mediaeval and used to be the Royal Palace. A walled town

A view of the Alfama from the Miradoura Santa Luzia
A view of the Alfama from the Miradoura Santa Luzia
Lisbon Cathedral, in the Alfama District
Lisbon Cathedral, in the Alfama District

A final temptation and then it was back to London!

Patisserie in Lisbon

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