Belém Palace

Lisbon, Portugal

Situated high up in gardens on a gently sloped hill, the Belem Palace is the official residence of Portugal's president since 1910. It was built in 1559 and altered in the 18th century by King João V.

In 1755 King Jose I was inside the palace where the Great Earthquake was felt only to a slight extent, and just like most buildings in this area, it wasn't severely damaged. It still retains its richly furnished halls, carvings, tiles, and numerous works of art that may be visited on Saturdays only.

The Presidency Museum is part of the palace and can be visited every day except Mondays. tells the story of the Portuguese Republic and its Presidents, with a permanent collection explaining the history of the nationals symbols (flag and anthem) and the role of the presidents through photographs. In one gallery are portraits of every Portuguese president and in another are the gifts each received from world leaders and other prominent figures.

In front of the palace is a square with well-tended gardens and a statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, the Viceroy of India, standing atop a 20m-high Neo-Manueline pedestal in the center.

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Details

Founded: 1726
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Portugal

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4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Saidur Rahman Babu (4 months ago)
This is the grounds for the Presidential Palace although the Portuguese presidents do not use it as residence but as office. Built in 1559, It is an understated but extremely elegant palace. The garden is pure paradise with a breathtaking view over the Tagus river. It was the grounds which saved the lives of the royal family in the deadly earthquake in 1755 when the family was taking a vacation here. Their main residential palace at the city was totally destroyed by the strong tremors. The palace and the garden is a wonderful visit to get a feeling of this country’s touch to beauty. Located in the historical Belem area, it is neighbors to many other historical monuments like the Discoverers monument and the Jerenimos Monastery.
Artur Victoria (5 months ago)
The Belém Palace has been the Official Residence of the President of the Republic since the establishment of the Republic in 1910. With a history of more than five centuries, it was classified as a Public Interest Property in 1967 and elevated to National Monument in 2007. In the 16th century, D. Manuel de Portugal, a figure of the Portuguese Renaissance, built the central core of the building on land leased to the Jerónimos monks. In 1726, the property was purchased by D. João V for a summer farm, remaining in the possession of the royal family until 1908. After the regicide, D. Manuel II offered the Palace of Belém to the State, under the supervision of the Ministry of Business Foreigners, who used the Palace to welcome foreign official guests visiting Portugal, until the establishment of the Republic.
Tetyana Vlasko (7 months ago)
It is always closed, you cannot enter it as the security guard explained, but the view is beautiful, and you can take pictures of the palace guard and watch the ceremonial change.
CAPATINA ROXANA (12 months ago)
Portugal has a semi-presidential republican form of government, for that reason, ere, on the main gait of Palacio National de Belem you can see, from across the street, the change of the national guard at lunch at precisely at two o'clock (14:00 p.m.)
peter toczyski (13 months ago)
Excellent place to visit and learn some Belem history.
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