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Lisbon Apartment Ajuda

The President of the Republic knows how to do things. There are several reasons for his official residence to be situated in Belém: the river, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Belém pastéis (custard cakes).

From Alcântara to Bélem the view is the same, the Tagus river. Alcântara comes from the Arab al-qantara, whose meaning (bridge) makes sense with the imposing April 25 Bridge, linking Lisbon to the South Bank. In this area of the city, at the beginning of the last century this was a republican neighbourhood conspiring against the monarchy, fun is guaranteed. The Alcântara Docks (commonly called Docas) represent a centre of fun (restaurants, bars and discos), occupying old factories and warehouses. No one remembers what Lisbon looked like before you could have a cocktail on the riverside. Not to be missed: "Speakeasy" with live jazz (Cais das Oficinas, armazém 115 at Rocha do Conde de Óbidos, "Espalha Brasas". Grilled meats (Doca de Santo Amaro, Armazém 9) and the "Op Art Café", with the best House Music DJs at Doca de Santo Amaro.

The Belém Tower (considered World Heritage in 1983) was built in honour of the city's patron saint, St. Vincent, at the place where the Great Vessel lay anchored. The tower is on the Right Bank of the river and is a monument to be visited. In the beginning it was surrounded by water on all sides, but today lies on land. The greatest symbol of the Manueline style in Portugal, it has Islamic and Eastern influences.

Do not miss a visit to the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument of Discoveries, the Tropical Botanical Garden, the Navy Museum, the Electricity Museum and the Coach Museum (one of the world's most impressive collection of coaches). If you have children, take them to the Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium. It is fun (and education) for sure. But Belém is not only History. A proof of this is the Belém Cultural Center, at the Praça do Império (a bold architecture project by Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado), with the city's and country's most comprehensive cultural programs, among the best in Europe (like the Berardo Museum - museum of contemporary art).

Try the famous Belém custard cakes at the original bakery (Rua de Belém). There are several rooms, full of fantastic azulejo tiles, with many seats and always busy waiters.