Belem Tower: built as a defensive tower at the entrance of the Tagus River, this elegant structure from the 16th century almost appears entirely surrounded by water and has come to symbolise the Portuguese capital. A UNESCO protected site, the projecting bastion is a stunning low-ceiling chamber of vaulted arches and would have been used for housing cannons in the event of attack. A winding staircase leads to the top of the structure on the fourth floor, a chapel. Jeronimos Monastery: another of Belems famous sites, this monastery took nearly 70 years to complete costing a fortune for the 16th century Portuguese economy, which was partly funded by the booming spice trade. It is considered the archetypal Manueline or late Portuguese Gothic structure in the world, featuring breathtaking detail on its exterior and its high-ceilinged interior. Monument of the Discovery: celebrating the Portuguese explorers of the new world, this gigantic slab of concrete standing more than 50 metres high points out to the Tagus estuary, the gateway to the open sees that proved so profitable for Lisbon around 500 years ago. Built for the World’s Fair in 1940, it features famous explorers including, of course, de Gama, who is lead by Henry the Navigator, the sponsor of the Age of Discovery, along with 28 other explorers of note from the 15th and 16th centuries. Santa Justa Lift: one of the strangest of Lisbon’s monuments, this 100-year-old neo-Gothic elevator made of iron connects the street below to Carmo Square, which is considerably higher. Each booth can hold up to 24 passengers up the 45-metre climb. Aguas Livres Aqueduct: used to transport water to the heart of the city when it was built in the 1700s, the Aguas Livres Aqueduct was at the time an engineering masterpiece and is still a remarkable looking multi-arched structure today. | 
