Jeronimo Monastery, Tower of Belem, Monument to the Discoveries, Pasteis de Belem(yum!)
We made our way to Belem, which is only a few miles outside Lisbon, easy to get to by tram or taxi from Praca de Commercio...
The first stop was Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Jeronimos Monastery is the last place where sailors would pray before leaving for their expeditions, it is also the place that holds the tomb of Vasco de Gama...
We then made our way to Torre de Belem, Belem Tower, is a magnificent structure built to commemorate the explorations of Vasco de Gama... You can walk around the interior, check out the many canons that are positioned throughout the building, and go down to the dungeons and see where the prisoners where held captive...
After the tower, we walked over to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Monument to the Discoveries, which celebrates the achievements the Portuguese during the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th century.
After all that history we were hungry, so we made our way to Casa Pasteis de Belem... Pastéis de Belém is a a small cream tart found throughout Portugal's pastry shops or cafés. legend has it that it was created before the 18th century by Catholic Sisters at the Jerónimos Monastery Casa Pastéis de Belém in Belem was the first place outside the convent selling this creamy dessert, and there they're called Pastéis de Belém, after the name of the area. Since 1837, locals and tourists alike have been coming here to get them warm straight out of the and with as much cinnamon and powdered sugar as they want!!!
Legend has it that Casa Pastéis de Belém was the first place outside the Jeronimo Monastery selling Pasteis de Nata, a custard filled dessert, called Pastéis de Belém by the locals, after the name of the area. Since 1837, locals and tourists alike have come here to get them warm out of the oven and sprinkled with as much cinnamon and powdered sugar as they please! Come in, have one, two, or six like I did :)))
You can't help but love these sugary goodies when you try to tell yourself to stop, you end up eating one more haha
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
Belem Tower was the last place that Portuguese sailors saw when beginning their expeditions and also the first place that they saw upon returning from their voyages. When in Belem it is a must visit for everyone!
