Some of Lisbon’s best and brightest, in my view, originate here in Belém (aka Bethlehem), a well-heeled district west of downtown that boasts a little something for everybody (ancient culture, modern art & museums, great food, and fun shopping – it hits all the spots!). One can quite easily spend an entire afternoon (or even a day) here, and end with a bang with dinner at Feitoria, located in the design hotel Altis Belém.
We began our journey at the epicenter of Belém that is the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos – a stunning Unesco World Heritage monastery. Once occupied by the monks of St. Jerome, this place seems to be made of pure fantasy. You sense an otherworldly transcendence that is quite impressive from the moment you step inside, where I literally felt like I’ve descended onto the “Game of Thrones” and wondered where my dragons were. There’s a tomb of Vasco da Gama (super exciting for my inner nerd!), and indeed, the mosteiro was originally conceived as a means to commemorate da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India in 1498 (certainly a big deal for the great colonizing history of Portugal).
Of course, having worked up an appetite at this ancient relic, we headed to Antiga Confeitaria De Belém (Rua de Belém 84-92), which, in spite of the overwhelming throngs of tourists, should not be missed! Possibly one of Belem (not to mention Lisbon’s) most famous pastry spot, this is where you can get the perfect Pastéis de Belém, otherwise known as Pastel de Nata (you can literally find them all over Lisbon, but the best ones are here). It was said to been founded in 1837, with a secret recipe that keeps the customers coming in droves. The line is long, but worth the wait!
On a gorgeous day, you can take your pasteis to the historic waterfront, where you’ll find the lovely park (Praça do Império) and the famed Monument to the Discoveries. From there, we meandered to the Centro Cultural de Belém, which boasts some fantastic shopping (here you can find interesting concept stores and non-kitschy & unique gifts for home). When all is said and done, you can go end your cultural excursion with a contemporary art fix at the Museu Coleção Berardo, the modern pop art museum inside the cultural center, which showcases the works of Warhol and Lichtenstein. It is the absolute antithesis to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, but a wonderful complement to one’s overarching Belém experience!
