Page 44 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 LISBON EDITION

Walking Tour of Belem

Our first walking tour on this visit to Portugal ment, the tours are better - livelier and more in-
explored historic Belem, a political power center formative. For this outing, our guide was Joao,
in Portugal for centuries. A short train ride from whose knowledge was matched by his great
Lisbon, it’s the home of the Presidential Palace, a sense of humor.
grand cathedral, the riverside point where Por- Our first stop was the park in front of the pink
tuguese explorers set sail, and monuments to Presidential or Belem Palace, a summer royal
their remarkable achievements. These days, residence built in the middle of the 16th century.
though, it’s as famous for Pastel da Natas, Portu- In 1755, when an 8.9 earthquake obliterated
gal’s popular sweet treat, which originated here. most of Lisbon, including the royal palace, the
We generally opt for free walking tours over king fled to his Belem home. He never set foot in
fixed-priced tours, not because they are free — the city again, leaving rebuilding to others. To-
they’re not. You pay what you believe the tour is day the palace is the working residence of the
worth. Because guides have to earn each pay- President of Portugal. Tourists can visit when

44 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023