-
1 Belém, Tower of
Built during the country's early imperial age when Portugal was a world maritime power, the Tower of Belém (Torre do Belém) in Lisbon was constructed as a defense against maritime attack in the Tagus River. This historic stone tower, one of Portugal's most perfect Manueline architectural style monument-treasures, was begun in 1515 by order of King Manuel I. The first architect was the military architect Francisco Arruda, and the tower was built in the River Tagus.With changes in tides, time, and the shoreline since, the tower today rests close to the Belém shoreline. The tower was built to accommodate a garrison, a prison, and artillery to ward off pirates and other raiders coming from the Atlantic up the Tagus River. Eclectic in architectural style, the tower's styles include Roman-Gothic and Manu-eline, with touches of Venetian and Moroccan influence. Located not far from the massive Monastery of Jerónimos convent, the tower is square and is surrounded by a polygonal bulwark, as well as by walls facing the Tagus. Centuries after its use in defense had ceased, the tower in its restored state became a memorable symbol of Portugal's Age of Discoveries and expansion, as well as a much-photographed icon in tourist literature. -
2 Castles, Portuguese
"Castles in Spain,' still a common phrase in English, can conjure up romantic images of scenery in neighboring Spain. Although less well known, "Castles in Portugal" are also quite numerous and equally remarkable, romantic, and scenic. Virtually all have been fully restored since the 1930s, when preparations began for the 1940 Double Centenary celebrations. Major Portuguese castles are listed below and several of them have individual entries in this dictionary (noted in boldface type). This is by no means an exhaustive list.Lisbon Region São Jorge Castle Palmella Castle* Belém Tower Moorish Castle, Sintra Pena Palace, Sintra Tagus River ValleyCastle of Torres Novas/Castle of São Filipe (Setúbal)* Castle of Almourol Central/ Southern Portugal Castle of AbrantesCastle of Belver Castle of Silves (Algarve)Castle of Torres Vedras Castle of MarvãoCastle of Óbidos Castle of VideCastle of Peniche Castle of Alter do ChãoCastle of Ourém Castles of ElvasCastles of Tomar Castle of Estremoz*Castle of Pombal Castle of SalirCastle of Montemor-o-Velho Castle of BejaCastle of MértolaCastle of Bode*Castle of Louzã Castle of GuimarãesCastle of Feira Castle of LanhosoCastle of S. João da Foz Castle of MontalegreCastle of Chaves Castle of ValençaCastle of Monção Castle of BragançaCastle of Penedono Castle of Celórico da BeiraCastle of Belmonte Castle of Sabugal*Indicates castle is now a pousada (state inn) where visitors can stay. -
3 Community of Portuguese language countries
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Paises de Língua Portuguesa, CPLP) was founded at a meeting of presidents and other leaders of the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) countries at Belém, Portugal, 17 July 1996. That meeting, a constituent summit, brought together leaders of the seven countries whose official language is Portuguese: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea- Bissau, Cape Verdes, São Tomé, and Príncipe. Belém, this cultural summit's venue, held a symbolic, historical significance for the conferees since they met only a short distance from the historic Tower of Belém and from the embarkation point of Vasco da Gama's 1497-99 voyage, which pioneered an all-water route from Portugal to India.The Community of Portuguese Language Countries did not experience an easy birth. Despite earlier postponements, the July 1996 Summit was successful, but some key issues divided the membership. Several members, most notably, Brazil, showed scant interest in the project. Further, while the language question—the common use of Portuguese—was intended to be a unifying element, sometimes language issues were divisive. For example, West African CPLP member Guinea-Bissau has joined a Francophone (French-speaking) community in West Africa, and the use of Portuguese is giving way there to that of French. Also, a more important CPLP member, Mozambique, has effectively joined The Commonwealth, an Anglophone community, since its principal neighbors in southern Africa are Anglophone. Unlike the cited Francophone and Anglophone communities, however, the CPLP has an official center or headquarters (in Lisbon), as well as a budget and constituent bureaucratic organs.Historical dictionary of Portugal > Community of Portuguese language countries
-
4 Discoveries, Monument of the
Located on the Tagus shore in Belém, not far from the Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument of the Discoveries is a stone tribute of relatively recent origin. Built originally in 1940, as part of the Estado Novo's Double Centenary Exposition of the Portuguese World, the Monument of the Discoveries was constructed of temporary, lightweight materials. Unlike most of the exposition's constructions, however, the monument was not torn down after the exposition closed in December 1940. It remained in place and was reconstructed out of permanent materials and stone in time for the 1960 celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry of Aviz (Prince Henry the Navigator).The monument is the work of sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. It is complemented by an enormous mosaic wind rose showing the points of the compass, which was contributed by the Union of South Africa and is set in the open square just inland from the monument. This modern construction forms an imposing caravel in full sail, with Prince Henry the Navigator at the prow and a group of the country's chief navigators and sailors behind him. Notably, Columbus, who sailed for Spain, is not among them.Historical dictionary of Portugal > Discoveries, Monument of the
См. также в других словарях:
Belém Tower — Infobox World Heritage Site WHS = Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon State Party = POR Type = Cultural Criteria = iii, vi ID = 263 Region = Europe and North America Year = 1983 Session = 7th Link =… … Wikipedia
Belem — can refer to: *The Belem (ship) , a three masted barque from France *Belem Vitor, Portuguese plastic artist.Belém is the Portuguese word for Bethlehem. This spelling may refer to: * Belém, capital city of the Brazilian state of Pará * Belém,… … Wikipedia
Belém — /beuh lem /; Port. /be layonn /, n. a seaport in N Brazil on the Pará River. 949,463. Also called Pará. * * * City (pop., 2000 prelim.: metro. area , 1,271,615), northern Brazil. The capital of Pará state, the port of Belém lies on the Pará River … Universalium
Belém Cultural Center — Coordinates: 38°41′43.47″N 9°12′31.18″W / 38.6954083°N 9.2086611°W / 38.6954083; 9.2086611 … Wikipedia
Santa Maria de Belém — Infobox Parish pt official name = Santa Maria de Belém Municipality = Lisbon area total = 3.39 population total = 9,752 (2001) population density = 2,878 website = http://www.jf belem.pt/ footnotes =Santa Maria de Belém, or just Belém, pron.… … Wikipedia
Lisbon — For other uses, see Lisbon (disambiguation). Coordinates: 38°42′49.72″N 9°8′21.79″W / 38.7138111°N 9.1393861°W / 38.713811 … Wikipedia
Monuments of Portugal — The Monuments of Portugal were constructed throughout the Portuguese territory, and date back to the period of pre historic settlement of occupation. Subsequently, the region that is today Portugal has been colonized by many civilizations, which… … Wikipedia
Jerónimos Monastery — Coordinates: 38°41′51.60″N 9°12′21.60″W / 38.697667°N 9.206°W / 38.697667; 9.206 … Wikipedia
Varig Flight 254 — Accident summary Date 3 September 1989 Type Belly landing after fuel exhaustion Site … Wikipedia
Portugal — This article is about the country. For other uses, see Portugal (disambiguation). Portuguese Republic República Portuguesa (Portuguese) … Wikipedia
Manueline — The Tower of Belém, in Lisbon, is one of the most representative examples of Manueline style. The Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th… … Wikipedia
