The Ajuda Palace is a large, ornate neoclassical building that was once home to the Portuguese royal family. It stands on a hilltop commanding spectacular views of the historical center of Lisbon and the River Tagus.
The Ajuda Palace is located on the site of a former wooden building where the Royal family sought refuge during the 1755 earthquake. The first design was by Manuel Caetano de Sousa who planned a baroque rococo structure. Later architects, Jose da Costa e Silva and Francisco Xavier Fabri designed a more ornate structure in modern neoclassical style. Construction of palace began in 1796 and lasted till the early 20th century when it was converted into a museum and opened to the public in 1968.
The Ajuda Palace Museum has two floors with highly decorated rooms filled with works of art and elaborate furniture. Notable among them are a collection of clocks, a large throne room, the Queen’s porcelain collection, the formal ballroom, a magnificent library a Spanish tapestry hall, ceiling frescoes including one depicting the return of John VI from Brazil and the elaborate royal dining room with crystal chandeliers, silk covered chairs and a complete royal dinner service. Guides take visitors on a 3 hour tour around the Palace.

Also known as the Overseas Agricultural Tropical Garden, Jardim do Ultramar is a pleasant park with lakes, waterfowl and peacocks that attracts surprisingly few visitors. It was established in the early twentieth century (January 25, 1906) by King Charles I as the research center of the Tropical Institute of Sciences. The focus of the garden is on trees and rare plants from the tropical and subtropical regions, many of which are endangered. Among the most interesting species here are the dragon trees, natives from the Canary Islands and Madeira, Araucaria, and a beautiful avenue of Washington palms. The oriental garden with ponds, bridges and hibiscus includes a large gate that represented Chinese Macao in the Portuguese World Exhibition held in 1940. The Museum of Tropical Research is situated in the Palace of the Counts of Calheta, an eighteenth-century mansion with an interior covered with tiles that date back three centuries.

The Jeronimos Monastery was built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage to India and remains a symbol of Portugal’s power and wealth in the Age of Discovery. It was declared a World Heritage Monument by the UNESCO in 1983.
The Jeronimos Monastery was built on the site of an old church where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent time in prayer before embarking on their historic voyage. It was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the success of the voyage and as a fitting tribute to the historic discovery of the sea route to India. It is the finest example of the Neo Manueline style of architecture. Construction began in 1501 and was completed in 1601. It was given to the order of St. Jerome whose duty was to pray for the King and give guidance to sailors who set out to discover sea routes and new lands to return with goods that would enrich the country.
Many great figures from Portuguese history are entombed in the monastery. The most prominent among the tombs are that of the great seafarer, Vasco Da Gama whose body was brought from Kochi in India to be entombed at the entrance of the Monastery. It also has the tomb of poet Luis de Camoes who wrote the epic poem Lusiads that glorifies the exploits of Vasco da Gama during the Age of Discovery.

Located in front of the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery, the Belem Cultural Center is the largest building with facilities for events and cultural purposes in the country. It was built to accommodate the offices of the European Union when Portugal assumed presidency in 1992.
The Belem Cultural Center building was commissioned by the State Agency for Culture in 1988 and was completed in 1993. It was designed by Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti and Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado. The interiors were planned by Daciano Costa. It has three principal structures connected by structural blocks and courtyards. It won the International Stone Architecture Award at the Verona Fair in 1993.
The Belem Cultural Center covers an area of 6 hectares and a built up space of 97,000 square meters. It is connected by two inner streets and a pedestrian walk at the side. It is fitted with sophisticated equipment and other services and has specific spaces for different types of events. It has a conference center and has hosted important events like the summit meeting of the Heads of State of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a performing arts center and an exhibition centre. The Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art forms part of the building.

The Forte do Bom Sucesso is a fort that was once used to defend the city of Lisbon from enemies. It is located near the Tower of Belem and houses a small military museum and monument to Portuguese soldiers who served overseas.
The Forte do Bom Sucesso was constructed under the directions of General William of Velleree as a defense post and completed in 1782. The fort has been fitted with different types of artillery to strengthen its defense capabilities since its establishment. The ground floor has a tunnel that gives easy access to the beach of Good Success. In 1994, the monument to soldiers who served overseas was installed. The League of Combatants run a museum dedicated to the three branches of the armed forces within the fort.
The small museum has rooms filled with military memorabilia. The atmosphere in the museum is unique because visitors view exhibits inside a preserved military fort. The area dedicated to the Portuguese air force is inside a well preserved bunker under a wall that faces the sea. Beyond the courtyards at the back is a room with photographic displays about the overseas exploits of the Portuguese armed forces. There is also a valuable collection of military art and offices where official visitors are received.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) is a monument that celebrates the Portuguese who took part in the Age of Discovery, or the Age of Exploration, of the 15th and 16th centuries. It is located on the estuary of the Tagus river in the Belém parish of Lisbon, where from ships once departed to the frequently unknown destinations. The monument consists of a 52-meter-high slab of concrete carved into the shape of the prow of a ship. The side that faces away from the river features a carved sword that stretches the full height of the monument. It was designed by Portuguese artists, architect Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida, as a temporary beacon for the Portuguese World Fair held in 1940. The Monument to the Discoveries represents a romantic idealization of the Portuguese past that was typical during the regime of Salazar.