2015500th Anniversary of the Torre de Belém - Set

The saga of the Portuguese discoveries, embarked upon in the fifteenth century, ushered in new prospects of interactions between people through better knowledge of our planet, the humanist movement and relations on a worldwide scale. Lisbon blossomed at the time of the Discoveries, with its growing importance as a cosmopolitan city, rapidly becoming a reference and meeting point for cultures, peoples and knowledge, and its port an obligatory stopover for those navigating the international trade routes. Portugal was at this time the protagonist of a pioneering globalisation which united continents, peoples and nations by sea. Protecting the city of Lisbon became a crucial necessity. King D. João II (1455-1495) took the initiative of outlining an innovative and effective plan, which consisted of the creation of a tripartite maritime defence between Cascais bulwark, the fortress of São Sebastião da Caparica (also known as Torre Velha) on the other bank of the River Tejo, and a third fortress, Belém Tower, erected by his successor D. Manuel I. The crossfire thus achieved between the two banks of the river would prevent the entry of enemy ships.