Circuit 1/ B - West Lisbon - Belém

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At this point you should take a well-deserved break and enjoy coffee and cake at the famous Fabrica dos Pastéis de Belém. The pastry shop has been open since 1837 and it is renowned for its speciality "Pastéis de Belém", a unique kind of flan in puff pastry powdered with cinnamon. According to history this recipe was invented by the monks in the monastery and it is very well preserved. The pastéis are very good and you can relax in this café decorated with azulejos.

- Museu Nacional de Arqueologia
It is situated in one of the wings of the Monastery Dos Jerónimos, it presents several objects which tell us the history of the Portuguese territory since its origin to the end of the Roman era. There are weapons, jewelry, pottery....

- Museu Nacional de Etnologia
This museum has anthropology and ethnography collections, and temporary exhibitions with different themes are often organized there.

- Museu de Arte Popular
In this museum of regional portuguese art you will find the most diverse objects - ceramics, furniture, paintings, tools, carpets, costumes, all related to the museum's theme of popular art. The works displayed are from across the country with Algarve, Alentejo, Estremadura, Berias, Trás-os-Montes, Minho, and Entre-Donro being some of the regions showcased.

- Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
This neoclassical palace was built after the 1755 earthquake to be the residence of the kings of Portugal, and was used by the royal family until 1910.
The Palace is square-shaped with a central courtyard. The West wing of the palace is unfinished, while the East wing is now the main façade with two towers at the corners. The central part of the façade has a tympanum with the coat-of-arms of Portugal and an entrance hall with statues of the virtues by Joaquim Machado de Castro and his disciples dating from the early 19th century. The interiors were decorated by many important 19th century Portuguese artists. In the palace rooms there is an art museum displaying furniture, decorative objects, china, tapestries, ceramics, paintings, glosses, ceiling paintings, as well as personal objects.
Part of the building is used as an art gallery, and the dining hall is often used for official banquets by the President.

Palácio Nacional de Ajuda
Jardim Botânico de Ajuda

- Centro Cultural da Belém
This building was inaugurated in 1992, and it is now fundamental in the cultural life of Lisbon. It is the largest building with cultural facilities in Portuga, it includes an auditorium for opera, ballet, symphony concerts and congresses, high security meeting halls, a 7,000 m² exhibition area, as well as a bar, restaurant and shops. Also located in CCB is the Jacques Delors European Information Center.
CCB is the work of architects Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado; the interior was planned by Daciano Costa.

- Jardim Botânico da Ajuda
The oldest botanical garden in Portugal. It covers an area of 4 ha, and was laid out in 1768 by order of the Marquess de Pombal to show the people of Lisbon all the exotic plants from various parts of the world. The garden has trees more than a century old and a wonderful view of the Tagus river. Divided into three different areas, it countains four hothouses, one of which being actually used as a restaurant, three lakes, porcelain flower-pots from the 19th century, and a marvelous 18th-century baroque fountain decorated with writhing serpents, winged fish, sea horses and mythical creatures. The garden is situated next to the Ladies Garden where you will find waterfalls and ponds, and which was formerly the favorite walking place for the ladies of the court.

- Jardim Tropical do Ultramar
This tropical garden was opened in 1906. It features extremely rare tropical and subtropical trees and plants gathered from Portugal's former colonies. From there one has a beautiful view over the river.

It is now time to go back to your holiday home and the fresh ocean breeze.

 
 
 

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