Portugal’s cultural landmark, the Torre de Belém, is undergoing conservation and restoration work, as announced by the state-run agency, Museus e Monumentos de Portugal (MMP), responsible for its management. Throughout the various stages of this project, the possibility of opening the site to the public will be continuously assessed, prioritizing the safety of both visitors and staff.
Official sources from the public institute, Património Cultural, which oversees the implementation of the heritage aspect of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), clarified that this endeavor, valued at 1.05 million euros, is expected to be completed within a year.
The Torre de Belém is a major tourist attraction, drawing over 377,000 visitors in 2023. Recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1983, the structure, erected between 1514 and 1520, features distinct Manueline architectural styles, incorporating decorative elements like twisted ropes, armillary spheres, Military Order of Christ’s crosses, and naturalistic motifs, as detailed on UNESCO’s National Commission website.
Concerns were raised by MMP’s president at the close of last year over the simultaneous closure of several Lisbon-based sites under its jurisdiction in 2025 due to ongoing construction, which coincides with a targeted heritage tourism campaign.
Highlighting the challenges, the president remarked, “The outlook for the year is not very promising concerning the facilities [under the agency’s management].” Efforts are being directed towards developing communication strategies to redirect visitors to alternative venues as a compensatory measure.
