In 1755, two monuments escaped a catastrophe: an earthquake which struck the Portuguese capital with violence. Discover this story in this bonus episode of "At the Heart of History".

Listening to the account of the earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755, you may have wanted to know if treasures of art and history had been spared by the disaster. In this bonus episode of "At the Heart of History", the history specialist Jean des Cars tells you the story of two monuments that miraculously escaped disaster: the Tower of Belem and the Jeronimos monastery.

If Lisbon was destroyed in 1755 by a violent earthquake, two remarkable monuments in the Belem district, two symbols of the history of Portugal, were spared, by miracle. The Jeronimos Monastery is still on the site of a hermitage founded by Henri the Navigator. This prince had explored the coasts of West Africa and built a cartographic and nautical observatory in the south of the country.

In 1502, King Manuel I had an imposing monastery built here, a masterpiece of what will be called the Manueline style. His art glorifies great discoveries. Indeed, on his return from the Indies, the caravels of Vasco da Gama docked there. The influx of wealth in Lisbon makes it possible to build an imposing construction.

Did you know that the French boytac, in charge of the works, adopted the Gothic style there? Later, the aesthetics of the cloister will borrow Renaissance tastes, with a double gallery of arcades. At the end of the 16th century, the architects added a note of classicism. When it is noon, the sun enters the windows of the church. Its high pillars, sheathed with fine sculptures, ignite like Easter candles.

The Belem Tower, the emblem of Lisbon

The other monument to the earthquake of 1755 is the Tower of Belem. In white limestone, it is the emblem of Lisbon. In the past, passing by, the sailors greeted her because they were leaving for a long journey: towards Brazil, the Indies, distant China, often towards the unknown. They were going to face many dangers.

When they returned, the Tower announced to them the coast and the end of their perils. The Tower was built between 1515 and 1519, in the middle of the Tagus, the river that crosses Lisbon. It defended its mouth and the Jeronimos monastery. During the earthquake, the course of the Tagus was shifted. Today, the Tower of Belem is on the edge of a beach.

It is a true jewel of Romano-Gothic architecture, with loggias and balconies reminiscent of Venice. But there are also domes that evoke the Morocco where his architect, Francisco de Arruda had stayed. The Tower is square, fitted out for artillery: cannons defended Lisbon. The monument is flanked by a platform. Its battlements, decorated with escutcheons, carry the cross of the order of Christ. Built on five floors, the Tower of Belem also served as a prison. In its soil, one can still see the openings through which prisoners were thrown into often flooded pits.