Beautiful, culturally resplendent and immensely significant in Portuguese history, Belém is one of the jewels in Lisbon’s crown. In terms of places to visit and sights to see, this elegant area of the city probably holds the record. Situated alongside the River Tagus, at the point where it meets the Atlantic, Belém is the place from which the caravels sailed on their voyage of discovery and in the 16th century life here revolved around the port. Nowadays it is an area of leisure and recreation where historical monuments lie cheek and jowl with modern museums, contemporary art exhibitions and busy cafes.