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Belém Tower


Belém Tower
Photo Information
Copyright: Aires Dos Santos (airessantos) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 203 W: 1 N: 217] (1031)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-09
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture
Exposure: f/4.8, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-11 5:50
Viewed: 474
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi dear TL friends,

I was inside this monument, nice place to visit.

I hope you like it.

Belém Tower was built in the Age of the Discoveries (when defending the city was of paramont importance) in tribute to the patron saint of the city, Saint Vicente.

In order to enhance Lisbon’s defence, King João II drew up a plan that consisted of forming a three-fortress-defence on the Tagus’s estuary. It formed a triangle and on each angle, a fortress was constructed: Cascais's fortress on the right bank, S. Sebastião da Caparica on the left bank and Belém Tower in the water.

The tower is replete with Manueline decoration, symbols of the King’s power: cables encircling the building and terminating in elegant knots, armillary spheres, crosses of the Military Order of Christ and naturalistic elements such as the rhinoceros, the first such representation in stone known in Europe.

In time, with the construction of new, more modern and more effective defences, the Tower of Belém lost its role as defender of the entrance of the River Tagus.
As centuries passed, new functions were given to the tower. It was a customs control point, a telegraph station and even a lighthouse.
It also served as a political prison, its storerooms transformed into dungeons, since the time when Philip II of Spain became king of Portugal (1580) and during periods of political unrest. Finally, in 1983 UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site.
vandana2923, Patricia, gypsygirl58, pablominto, dsldub, milas, calbreaz, Niva, Tzazu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2639 W: 1 N: 1262] (15433)
  • [2007-04-11 6:14]

Hola Aires,
maravillosa vista de la Torre,
buenos detalles y bella postal.
genial trabajo.
saludos

An amazing piece of architecture Aires! It looks majestic against the background of blue sky. Very nicely composed and POV. TFS. Regards, Pat.

Hi Aires,
Impressive piece of architecture!! Looks wonderful against the blue sky and the water, looks like a great place to visit, good notes too! TFS
Cheers Tina :-)

  • Great 
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1372 W: 0 N: 1] (12003)
  • [2007-04-11 6:57]

Hi Aires
I Like Portugal. We are there.
This is a good architecture picture in good light.
Gr Jos

Hello Aires,
A well composed image, featuring this interesting piece of architecture!
I understand the purpose originally was defensive, but still with clear decrative elements...
Attractive details are captured!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Vista muito bonita da Torre de Belem.
tfs.
Manuel F.

Superb architecture, blue sky, silver water and reflections. Great clarity. It seems some fairy-tale castle.

TFS,

Andreea

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2720 W: 405 N: 2973] (32719)
  • [2007-04-11 13:25]

merhaba Santos;
verygood capture, and colors..super ...selamlar

Well taken, only the person and the construction in the right side look a bit distracting.

merhaba dear aires
beautiful historic tower.beautiful composition.well done my friend.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

Hi Aires,
This is a great shot of this impressive monument. It certainly does look like it is popular with the tourists. The grey of the building contrasts well with the lovely blue sky. Nice.
Cheers,
Debbie

Hi Aires,

Great view! Love the colors and the DOF. You are very lucky to visit such a nice place. TFS

Allan

  • Great 
  • lopa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1083 W: 244 N: 847] (8927)
  • [2007-04-12 6:00]

Hi Aires,
Excellent composition. A simple composition but its the light which makes this so special. Love the blue BG.
TFS
Lopa
:)follows

  • Great 
  • Juliet Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 875 W: 64 N: 1969] (13538)
  • [2007-04-12 8:31]

Hi Aires,
Fantastic monument. Excellent sharpness and colors. Really a lovely scene here. TFS Julie

PT

Bom dia Lisboa
Compliment for a very nice photo from a famous Town!
Oubrigado from Holland

Adeo

John T
** pl

Hello Aires, very nice architecture. Well composed, sharp. TFS

Vandana

Olá Aires,
Uma belíssima fotografia da famosa Torre de Belém!
Parabéns.
Abraços,
Isa

hello, aires
fine picture of this monument.
I recall you have another tower like this built on the place Vasco Da Gama started his journey to find the way to India...
please correct me if I'm wrong.
regards, cal

  • Great 
  • Niva Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1148 W: 2 N: 838] (10435)
  • [2007-04-23 9:24]

Torre de Belém, nossa "velha" conhecida em Lisboa! Parada obrigatória!
Bom para relembrar,
uma boa foto, Aires!
Um abraço brasileiro,
Nivaldo

  • Great 
  • Tzazu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 266 W: 31 N: 77] (3500)
  • [2007-04-27 11:16]

Hello Aires!
Wonderful and magic arquitecture. You made a good work!
Colours and POV are fantastic. I can imagine the preety and young princess with her long plait ;-).
Um abraço,
Arantxa

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 225 W: 3 N: 205] (1317)
  • [2007-05-29 6:32]

What a beautiful castle and marvellous shot, Aires!!
Excellent sharpness, colors, POV and composition.
I love it!
Very interesting note too.
Congratulations and TFS
Greetings
Maite

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