Description of the attraction
Lisbon, a city with a long history, is located at the mouth of the Tagus River. The city was spread over seven hills, and this location was very beneficial for the city in the event of an attack. Lisbon is full of contrasts: tiny streets and wide avenues, modern buildings and houses of the 19th century, and this makes it very attractive for tourists.
The Belem National Palace, built on a hill, is located in the Belém area, which is home to many architectural monuments of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. The palace was the official residence of the Portuguese kings, as well as the presidents of the Portuguese republic thereafter. When the President of Portugal is staying in the palace today, the national flag is raised. The palace overlooks Afonso Alburkerke Square, which adjoins the banks of the Tagus River, and the Jeronimos Monastery is located nearby. Due to the color of the facade, the Belem Palace is often called the "pink palace".
The palace was built in 1559 by the Duke of Aveiras. In the 18th century, João V bought the palace, and by his order the interior of the palace was completely changed. The main facade of the palace consists of five buildings. The architecture of the central building combines Mannerism and Baroque style. The two side buildings form a terrace, which is separated by balustrades and can be reached by side stairs. At the top, the side stairs are decorated with 12 azulejos tiles. On the terrace, you can see 14 panels of "azulejos" tiles, which depict scenes from the life of mythological heroes, such as "The exploits of Hercules" and others. At the entrance to the palace, we find ourselves in the "Zala-dash-Bikash" (literally - "Water supply hall"), in which the floor is decorated in black and white, and the walls are lined with multicolored tiles azulezhush.
