Portugal 🇵🇹 | Belém Day Trip Guide

📍 Belém: Where Portugal's Golden Age Lives On ⛵️ Must-See Sights 1️⃣ Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) Honors Portugal’s 15th-16th century Age of Exploration, featuring 32 carved figures of explorers like Vasco da Gama. Note: The winds here are brutal—hold onto your hats (and cheeks)! 🫠 2️⃣ Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery) A UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Manueline architecture (Portugal’s unique style with nautical motifs like ropes and astrolabes). Built with golden pedra lioz limestone—glows in sunlight! ✨ History buffs: Vasco da Gama prayed here before sailing to India. 3️⃣ Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum) €8 entry (worth every cent!) for ship models, ancient maps, and navigational tools. Reflects how Portugal rose (and fell) as a global naval power. Cue existential thoughts about empires... 🍽️ Lunch Break Walk 15 mins to a local seafood spot for: Arroz de Marisco (saffron-infused seafood rice) Grilled salmon & chicken (surprisingly good!) 📌 Pro Tips ✔️ Skip Cabo da Roca if it’s windy—Belém’s gusts are training wheels for the "Edge of Europe." ✔️ Pair with: Pastéis de Belém (world’s 1st custard tart shop is nearby!). #Lisbon #PortugalTravel #HistoryGeek #SeafoodLover