With about 1200 kms of coast, Portugal has the sea in its history, in its experience, in its culture. And, from the sea, always came benefits and losses.

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O salty sea, how much of thy salt

Are tears of Portugal! ​

To cross you, how many mothers wept,

How many children prayed in vain!

How many brides didn't married

So that you could be ours, oh sea!

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Fernando Pessoa

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The Tower of Belem, 1514, first served to defend Lisbon from attacks that could suffer by sea.

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Then, it performed various other functions such as lighthouse, customs and prisons.

 

Today, ex-libris of Lisbon, it represents the strength and courage that our people had to give ''new worlds to the world'' and serves as a world-renowned icon of our garden by the sea.