Some say that the Lisbon experience is only complete after a boat trip along the Tagus River and we, of course, tend to agree. Admiring the magnificent monuments of the Portuguese capital by boat is an opportunity that should not be wasted. There are several buildings from different time periods and with different forms, but they all share a remarkable beauty. Find out 5 Lisbon monuments below that you can admire while travelling by boat with Lisboat.
1. Belém Tower
Formerly known as the Torre de São Vicente a Par de Belém, it is one of the most iconic attractions in the city of Lisbon. The Belém Tower is located on the right bank of the Tagus River, in the parish of Belém, mixing medieval architecture with the Manueline style. It was built by King D. João II with the aim of protecting and guarding Lisbon. We dare say that the tower exists to be admired from the river, as it was built so that sailors and pirates could fear and marvel at its warlike bearing.
2. 25th of April Bridge
The Portuguese State had wanted to build a bridge connecting the two banks of the Tagus River since the ending of the 19th century, however the project only started in 1950, during the dictatorship. The bridge would be inaugurated in 1966 as Bridge Salazar, in honor of António de Oliveira Salazar, the chief of state at the time. The name change to 25th of April bridge took place after the Carnation Revolution, in honor of the date of the coup d’état. Crossing under the bridge by boat is, without a doubt, something magical.
3. Monument of the Discoveries
The monument was initially thought to be a tribute solely to Infante D. Henrique. However, the Monument of Discoveries not only immortalizes the main driver of the Portuguese Discoveries, but also its collaborators and followers, whose statues appear behind that of Infante D. Henrique, the leading figure of the attraction.
4. Jerónimos Monastery
Officially known as the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém, this monument is the pinnacle of Manueline architecture and is one of the main hall churches in Europe. It took more than a hundred years to complete its work, which represents the glory of the Portuguese Discoveries. The Jerónimos Monastery is located close to the Tagus River and it can easily be seen from the water. Because of the nautical nature rooted in its construction, it is symbolic to appreciate the monastery from a boat, like a sailor from ancient times.
5. Electricity Museum/MAAT
The Electricity Museum is one of our favorite buildings due to its orange color, which results from the brick cladding that makes up the infrastructure. It is considered one of the most beautiful examples of industrial architecture of the 20th century. The building was an old thermoelectric power station, responsible for supplying electricity to the city of Lisbon. It started to function as a museum in 1990. Nowadays, it integrates the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), whose futuristic structure of a whitish color is visible to its right (when looking from the river).