Finally, the scaffolding has been removed from one of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks. Lisbon’s Belém Tower has reopened to visitors after nearly a year of restoration work costing more than €1 million. The official reopening ceremony took place on Tuesday, while the monument opens to the public today.

During the restoration, conservators carried out the first deep cleaning of the tower’s interior stonework in its entire history — work that, according to реставраторов, had not been done for around 500 years. The project covered four floors, the terrace and the tower’s 93-step spiral staircase. Window frames, plasterwork, ceilings, electrical systems and internet infrastructure were also upgraded. The restoration was funded through Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) with the participation of the Lisbon Tourism Association.

Starting May 26, visitor access is limited to around 900 people per day through timed entry slots every 30 minutes.