Global Treasures: Torre de Belem

Television Director: Ullman, Frank

Producer: Scarson, Peter O.

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Catalogue Number: GTR-DVD-1010

UPC: 879061006098

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Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Widely visible, and in the form of a ship rising out of the sea, Portugal's Torre De Belem, "Belem Tower," is a fascinating structure which symbolizes the spirit of discovery of its creator, King John II, and was completed by King Manuel I. Here, Byzantine, Venetian, Arabian, and even Indian building elements combine in monumental Manueline style.

In order to protect the approaches to Lisbon, cannons point threateningly out to sea, and its vast cellars were originally used as a means of defence. Massive stone blocks hermetically seal the interior from the outside world. It was here that the discoverer Vasco da Gama dreamed of distant lands.