Empire Square fountain showing coats of arms of former colonies

Belem -- the jewel in Lisbon's crown

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August 28th 2015
At the western end of Lisbon's waterfront, near the 25thof April suspension bridge, is an area of great historic and cultural significance called Belém. That is where ships departed for their great voyages of discovery, where defences against pirates were built, and where some of Lisbon’s most important historic and cultural sites and museums are located. They are all near the huge Empi ... read more

Europe » Portugal » Lisbon & Tagus Valley » Lisbon

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Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil a... ... read more