Lisbon Photo Gallery - Belem's Museums

The Tagus river meets the sea at Belem, and it was from here the Portuguese caravels set out to explore the world. Portugal kicked off the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, when Prince Henry the Navigator financed many sea expeditions in search for trade, riches, and China. They explored the African coast and eventually rounded the southern tip to reach India, Indonesia, and China. Christopher Columbus had actually lived in Lisbon but was rejected by the Portuguese to sail west for China, but got backing from Spain instead.

As riches from the bustling trade came, so did royalty and the wealthy class. Today, this part of town has a lot of monuments and museums worth exploring, and is a day trip in its own right.

The Maritime Museum celebrates Portugal's seafaring history with hundreds of models of old and modern vessels.

The National Coach Museum has a lot of gold, fit for the royalty that once used these vehicles between the 17th to 19th centuries.

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