Portugal Lisbon Belem Tower

The second place that we went to travel in Lisbon, Portugal was Tower of Belém, set up between 1515 and 1521, formed part of the most outstanding works of the Manuel style.
Originally, this bastion with the looks of prow of ship was located at the medium of the river. The enemy boats, which entered the estuary, knew that the national fleet was ready to make fire. During centuries, Tage was silted up and the tower became integral part of the shore.
It was built in the early 16th century in the Portuguese late Gothic style, the Manueline, to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition. This defensive, yet elegant construction has become one of the symbols of the city, a memorial to the Portuguese power during the Age of the Great Discoveries. In 1983 it was classified, together with the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tower itself, 35 metres high, has four storeys and a terrace that offers wonderful views of the surrounding landscape.
The powder magazine is at water level. The next storeys are reached via a narrow spiral staircase. The next storey was the commander's room. The second storey has covered balconies on each side. Of the tower floors, the most interesting is the chapel of the fourth floor, with a magnificent Manueline rib vault decorated with the armillary sphere and the cross of the military Order of Christ, who participated in many Portuguese conquests. The oratory is on the top floor.