POINTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE TAGUS RIVER

During your boat tour on the Tagus River, you will see some of the most iconic landmarks of Lisbon and the South Bank. Below is a short historical and cultural introduction to each site visible along the route.

🏛️ 1. Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio)

Once the site of the Royal Palace, destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, Commerce Square was rebuilt as Lisbon’s grand riverfront gateway. It is one of the city’s most important squares, featuring the equestrian statue of King José I and the monumental Rua Augusta Arch.

🏰 2. São Jorge Castle

Standing on Lisbon’s highest hill, São Jorge Castle offers a panoramic view over the city and the Tagus River. Originally fortified by the Moors, it was captured in 1147 and later served as a royal residence, playing a central role in Lisbon’s history.

⛪ 3. National Pantheon

Housed in the former Church of Santa Engrácia, the National Pantheon honors some of Portugal’s most important historical figures, including explorers, writers, artists, and presidents. Its long construction gave rise to the famous expression “the works of Santa Engrácia.”

✝️ 4. Christ the King (Cristo Rei)

Inspired by the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro, Christ the King stands on the south bank of the Tagus in Almada. Inaugurated in 1959, it was built as a symbol of gratitude for Portugal’s neutrality during World War II and today represents faith, peace, and protection over the city.

🌉 5. 25 of Abril Bridge

Opened in 1966, the 25 de Abril Bridge connects Lisbon to Almada and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Its central span resembles San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge carries both road and rail traffic and was renamed after the 1974 Carnation Revolution, a symbol of freedom and democracy in Portugal.

⚡6. MAAT & Central Tejo

The MAAT – MUSEUM OF ART, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY, complex combines contemporary architecture with the historic Central Tejo power station. Once responsible for supplying electricity to Lisbon, it is now a cultural space dedicated to art, architecture, technology, and industrial heritage.

Old Tagus Central – Electricity Museum

⛵ 7. Monument to the Discoveries

Shaped like a caravel, this monument celebrates Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. Prince Henry the Navigator stands at the front, followed by explorers, cartographers, and artists such as Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral. It honors the great voyages that connected continents.

🏰 8. Belém Tower

Built between 1514 and 1519, Belém Tower is one of Lisbon’s most famous monuments and a masterpiece of Manueline architecture. It once guarded the entrance to the Tagus River and symbolized the starting point of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries.

🏯 9. Old Tower of Caparica (São Sebastião Fortress)

Older than Belém Tower, the Old Tower of Caparica was part of the original defensive system of the Tagus estuary. Later rebuilt and expanded in the 16th century, it played a key role in coastal defense and later served as a lazaretto and military facility.

🌊 Enjoy your tour on the Tagus River!

Lisbon reveals its history best from the water — a unique perspective that connects monuments, stories, and centuries of maritime heritage. Relax and enjoy it!

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