History of Belém Tower

Built between 1514-1520 during the reign of King Manuel (and the height of the Portuguese Renaissance) by Portuguese architect and sculptor Francisco de Arruda, Belém Tower is sometimes known as The Tower of St Vincent as its construction celebrated the expedition to India of Vasco da Gama, the famous Portuguese explorer. It is considered one of the best examples of the architecture of its time, known as the Manuelino style, but it also includes distinctive Moorish features such as ornately decorated turrets.

The Tower served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon, as well as being used to defend the city. (Indeed a heavily armed 1,000 ton ship, the Grande Nau, guarded the estuary at the mouth of the Tagus until the fort’s completion).

The first suggestions of improving and strengthening the tower arose in 1571, when Francisco de Holanda advised the monarch that it was necessary to improve the coastal defences in order to protect the kingdom’s capital. Such suggestions continued throughout the tower’s history, and at various points over the centuries, the Belém Tower was fortified further to make it a stronger coastal artillery battery.

(Around 1655, the Tower also functioned as a customs control point and for navigation along the Tagus. Vessels were obliged to pay a tax as they entered the harbour, imposed incrementally).

The first moves to preserve the tower began in 1940, when the Ministry of Finance undertook small conservation works, followed by a project in 1953 to integrate the tower with the local shoreline. In 1983 the site hosted the 17th European Exhibition on Art, Science and Culture, and various projects involving the building were undertaken, before it received a full restoration from 1997-1998.

Belém Tower today

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site (since 1983) together with the nearby Jeronimos Monastery, Belém Tower is a beautiful mix of sturdy fortifications and intricate detail.

In 2007, the Belém Tower was included in the registry of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, and indeed features as one of our top ten tourist attractions in Portugal.

Getting to Belém Tower

Belém Tower is located about 6 miles from Lisbon. Tram 15 (or 15E) departs from Praça da Figueira, Belém (heading towards Algés – Jardim) runs every 10-15 minutes and takes about 25 minutes. Get out at Mosteiro dos Jerónimos stop, or two stops after at Largo da Princesa, closer to Belém Tower (then walk 5 minutes towards the River Tejo).

Alternatively, take the train heading to Cascais from Cais do Sodré station to Belém, which is 3 stops away, or bus lines 27, 28, 29, 43, 49, 51 and 112.

Bujaco Tower history

The Ummayyad Caliphate conquered the Christian Visigothic kingdom of Hispania in the 8th century BC, including Cáceres. The following centuries saw conflict over Al-Andalus (Spain) between the Muslim rulers and Christians from the north. While Cáceres was under Christian rule thanks to the conquest in 1170 by Ferdinand II of Leon, the Order of the Knights of Santiago was established in the city.

Until they yielded to the Muslim’s six month long siege in March 1173, the tower had served as a defensive bastion for the Knights of Santiago. It was at this time of reconquest that the Arabs rebuilt much of the city, including a wall, palaces and defensive towers including the Bujaco Tower. The namesake of Bujaco Tower was Caliph Abú-Ya’qub, who led his troops to victory in conquering Cáceres.

Cáceres was reconquered by the Christians led by the Kingdom of Castile in 1229. The successful cohabitation of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the city was later disturbed when the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1492, expelled the Jewish population from the city’s important Jewish quarter, home to almost 140 families in the 15th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, as Spain and Cáceres prospered from the Reconquista and colonial venture in the Americas, the tower became known as ‘the Clock Tower’.

Bujaco Tower today

The 10m tall tower remains today, still dominating the town of Cáceres from the main square, Plaza Mayor. Open to the public, visitors pay only three euros to climb the tower and share the same vies as the Arabic watchmen would have originally intended. it is also a great starting point for continuing a trip into Cáceres old town, orienting yourself from the Bujaco Tower before walking along a small section of city wall to a second smaller tower.

The Bujaco Tower also houses the Interpretation Centre of Three Cultures, a symbol celebrating Spain’s diverse historic cultures.

Getting to Bujaco Tower

In Cáceres you can get around easily on foot, but if using public transport the central bus station on Tunez 1 street.

Alternately, taking a taxi in Caceres is not too expensive: you will find taxis in the main streets or can call one.

History of Burana Tower

The Silk Road was a network of caravan trade routes that ran through Central Asia, linking countries from the west of the Mediterranean to China and India. Due to its location in the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan was once a hugely important country on the Great Silk Road, and there are still many monuments that once stood along the road that remain. 

One of these monuments is a minaret called the Burana Tower in Balasagun, located about 80km outside of Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. It is one of the few monuments that remain of the Karakhanid Empire which thrived from the 10th century, until it was overrun in the 14th century by Mongol troops. Over succeeding years, the once great city fell into disrepair, with numerous earthquakes wiping out almost everything that was left behind. 

The Burana Tower is now one of the oldest architectural constructions of Central Asia. A minaret, it is decorated with intricate geometric patterns that were used as a template for other similar structures. A 1970s restoration project renovated what was left of the minaret, and opened the whole site as an open air museum. 

Burana Tower today

Standing against the barren landscape, the tower may not initially appear to be hugely spectacular. However, once you consider that the site used to be a large city that was not only central to trade, but one of the most prominent and thriving cities in the world, it assumes a magnificence that transcends its size and lonely appearance. 

Visitors can climb the steep spiral staircase for 60som (about £1) and be rewarded with stunning views over the whole site and the surrounding Tian Shan mountains. 

In the grounds of the site are a collection of ancient bal-bals, gravestones that were used by nomadic Turkish tribes who roamed Central Asia in the 6th century. They are oddly shaped stone figurines with detailed carvings of faces and hands.

Getting to Burana Tower

The tower is located about 80km from Kyrgyzstan’s capital city Bishkek. The only way to access the site is by driving for an hour and 20 minutes along a main road that runs in parallel to the scenic Chu River.

History of Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower was constructed in the late 19th century as part of the 400th commemoration of John Cabot, an explorer who set sail from the port of Bristol in the Matthew, and who ‘discovered’ Newfoundland/Canada. Cabot remains a prominent name across Bristol’s urban landscape (look out for his name appearing on road names!), but his legacy has become more complex in the modern day and age.

The tower was designed by a local architect, William Venn Gough, and paid for by public subscription. The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava laid the foundation stone in June 1897, and the tower was finished just over a year later. It stands 32m tall, and is built from red sandstone, covered with cream Bath stone.

Notably, the commemorative plaque was installed by the Peace Society, ‘in the earnest hope that peace and friendship may ever continue between the kindred peoples of this country and America’.

In 2007, the tower was shut as cracks began to appear: the ironwork which supported the bricks had seriously corroded, and urgent work was needed in order to stabilise the tower and ensure its future. It reopened to the public in 2011.

Cabot Tower today

The tower is well worth the steep climb (a lift was planned but never installed) – although be warned the staircase is narrow and meeting other people can be a bit of a squeeze to get past one another. The viewing platform at the top is also not big: wait for any other visitors to leave and enjoy moments up there by yourself.

The vistas across Bristol and North Somerset are fantastic on a clear day, and you’ll be able to see the majority of Bristol’s landmarks – including an excellent view of the university’s Wills Memorial Building and the harbourside.

The tower stands atop Brandon Hill, which itself is a pleasant park with benches, a children’s play area and some nice paths/walks.

Getting to Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower is a 20 minute uphill walk from Bristol’s harbourside. Regular buses depart from Bristol Temple Meads to the top of Park Street, including the number 1, 2, 8, 72 and 72a. Bristol Temple Meads has two trains an hour to London Paddington, and is well connected to the rest of the South West, Wales and the Midlands.

Clifford’s Tower history

Constructed by William the Conqueror in 1086, the first Clifford’s Tower was a wooden structure placed high on the motte that still stands today. It was destroyed early in its life by rebellion, and subsequently rebuilt.

In 1190 however, the castle would again be destroyed when to escape an angry mob, the Jews of York took refuge in Clifford’s Tower. Rather than renounce their faith as the mob demanded, most committed suicide, burning down the structure down with them inside. This incident is commemorated by a plaque at the foot of Clifford’s Tower.

The tower that stands today was rebuilt from limestone in the 13th century as part of the defences of York, and in 1334 began serving as a Royal Mint under Edward III. It was later installed as a prison, and by the 16th century executions would commonly be carried out by hanging the condemned over the side of the walls.

During the English Civil War, Royalist troops garrisoned the Tower yet were eventually forced to surrender to Parliamentary forces. Following the Restoration, the interior of Clifford’s Tower was destroyed by an explosion in 1687, leaving its walls burnt pink and its structure a shell.

Left in disrepair, the 18th and 19th centuries saw the Tower become a vastly overgrown ruin, even perhaps being used as a cattle shed, before being placed under state guardianship in the 20th century.

Clifford’s Tower today

Managed by English Heritage, visitors to Clifford’s Tower can climb up its steep and winding steps for beautiful views of York. When atop its battlements, one can see York Minster in all its grandeur, as well as Terry’s chocolate factory and even all the way to the North York Moors. The inside courtyard details the Tower’s history with a model of the original York Castle, and a gift shop hosts a range of souvenirs, including a variety of replica medieval and Viking swords – should you desire one!

Getting to Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s Tower is situated in the centre of York near the Coppergate Shopping Centre and York Castle Museum. It is approximately a 20-25 walk from the train station, and the 3 bus service has a stop directly beside it. There is a large carpark beside the Tower, and York also operates a number of Park and Ride services.

The Empire State Building history 

Before the Empire State was constructed, the site on which it now sits was owned by the prominent Astor family and had been since the mid-1820s. In the 1890s, rival Astor cousins built two adjacent hotels on the site which, when combined in 1897 to form the Waldorf-Astoria, was then the world’s largest hotel.

By the 1920s however the hotel was outdated, and the Astors sold it off to rebuild elsewhere. It eventually landed in the hands of Empire State Inc., who joined the fierce ‘Race to the Sky’ to build the tallest building in the world. 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building were already under construction for this goal, yet were just beaten when Empire State Inc. redesigned to include a 200ft metal ‘crown’ and 222ft antennae, intended to moor dirigibles for what they believed was the future of air travel. 

Its construction was completed in record time, taking a total of 410 days. More than 3500 workers were involved at its peak, many of whom were Irish and Italian immigrants. Their work at dizzying heights was captured in a collection of breathtaking photographs by Lewis Hine.

The Empire State Building was officially opened on 1 May, 1931 and took the title of the tallest building in the world, which it kept for some 40 years until the construction of the World Trade Centre in 1970.

The Empire State today 

Today the Empire State Building remains one of New York’s most-visited sites and provides a stunning panoramic view over the city. From its famous open-air observation deck on the 86th floor, New York City’s iconic landmarks can be admired, from Central Park, to Brooklyn Bridge, to the Statue of Liberty – but wrap up warm, it’s cold 1000ft up!
The Empire State’s indoor observatory on the 102nd floor also provides floor-to ceiling panoramic views of the city, and on a clear day you can see 80 miles around.

Exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floor give the fascinating history of the site and its construction, as well as the Empire State Building’s most defining moments. You might even have a run-in with King Kong!

Getting to the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is located in the Heart of Manhattan on 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, and can be seen from most places in the city. Its nearest subway stations are Penn Station and Herald Square Station, which are both a 5-minute walk away, while Grand Central Station is also just a 10-minute walk.

Today, the high, cone-topped rounded tower continues to dominate the skyline and for those willing to climb to the top, offers a stunning panoramic view of historic Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

Galata Tower history

Built in 1348 during the expansion of the Genoese colony in Constantinople, Galata Tower was the tallest building in the city when it was built. Reaching 66.9 metres high, the upper section of the tower was a cone-shape, modified several times under the Ottomans when it was used for spotting fires.

Over the centuries, Galata Tower has been used for several purposes. For example, in the 16th century it is said the tower acted as a jail under Suleiman the Magnificent as well as an astrology observatory. There is also a story in which an aviator by the name of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi took off from the tower using artificial wings in 1638.

In 1794, Galata Tower was devastated by a fire, its lead and wood roof flammable. This was somewhat ironic given that it was serving as a fire watchtower at the time. The tower was further damaged in 1831 by fire, and in 1875 a storm ripped off the cone. The cone was only reconstructed during the 1960s when the tower was opened to the public.

Galata Tower today

Today, the main attraction inside the tower is a restaurant, although people also go to the top for the views. From the top, you can see the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the point where Asia meets Europe, highlighting why Istanbul remained such a significant trading point for so long.

Getting to Galata Tower

Located in the heart of Beyoglu, one of Istanbul’s most popular tourist districts, the tower is easily reached on foot from other historic sites such as Taksim Square and Karakoy. You could get the tram from Sultanahamet to Kabatas and walk 10 minutes to Galata Tower.

Named after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Gediminas, who first built fortifications on this site in the 14th century, the remaining Gediminas Tower actually dates back to the 15th century when the Upper Castle was reconstructed.

Today, Gediminas Tower is open to the public as part of the Vilnius Castle Museum. Inside it houses models of what the castle once looked like and it has an observation deck from which you can get great views of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic quarter.

Gediminas Tower history

The first wooden fortifications at the site of Gediminas Tower were built by Gediminas himself, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. According to legend, Gediminas was hunting in the woods of the Šventaragis Velley and brought down a bull on a hilltop. That night, the duke dreamt of a wolf made of iron, and his magician said the dream meant Gediminas should built a great city in the spot, which would later become Vilnius.

The tower’s stone successor was completed in 1409 by Grand Duke Vytautas and was an imposing defensive structure overlooking the Neris River. Another pair of castles were built following Gediminas Tower: the Lower and the Crooked, which was burned down by the Teutonic Knights in 1390, never to be rebuilt. The Teutonic Order continued to attack Vilnius’ castles, yet were only able to capture the tower in 1655 during the Battle of Vilnius.

Following the battles, the damaged castles lost their importance and were abandoned.

Gediminas Tower today

Today, the Gediminas Tower remains as an important symbol of not only the city of Vilnius but of Lithuanian nationality. On 1 January each year, the tricolour Lithuanian flag is hoisted to the top of Gediminas Tower to commemorate Flag Day. From the tower’s viewing platform, visitors also get a fantastic panorama of the city.

Open 10am to 5pm, the tower houses a museum (opened in 1960) displaying many findings from the hill and its surrounding areas. Particularly interesting are several models of the Vilnius Castles between the 14th and 17th centuries, alongside armaments and iconographic material of the Old Vilnius.

You can reach the hilltop either on foot or by lift.

Getting to Gediminas Tower

Located in the city’s old centre near Vilnius Cathedral, you can reach Gediminas Tower by trolleybuses 2, 4, 10, 17 or buses 10 and 33, all stopping around the park where the castle stands. For those driving, there is parking across the Vilnia River, a 9 minute walk over the bridge and past the Old Arsenal.

History of the Hassan Tower

The Hassan Tower is actually a 140-foot red stone minaret built during the reign of Yacoub El Mansour, a sultan of the Almohad Dynasty who ruled from 1184 AD.

Construction of the Hassan Tower began in approximately 1195 AD and was intended to result in the largest mosque on earth. The buildings were influenced by a variety of Muslin and Moorish styles, from Al-Andalus in Spain, to Marrakech and Alexandria. However, the capital of the Almohad Caliphate remained Marrakech rather than moving to Rabat.

However, only four years of construction had elapsed when the sultan died and, with him, the project. What was built of the mosque (348 columns and the beginnings of its walls) was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755.

In the 20th century, French and Moroccan archaeologists fully excavated the site and reconstructed what they could. In the 1960s, the ruins of the mosque were moved to accommodate the building of Mohammed V’s mausoleum near by.

Today several columns surround the Hassan Tower, showing the intended layout of the mosque. Indeed, even the Hassan Tower was not completed. In fact, it was supposed to double in size, although it’s already 44m tall. Inside the Hassan Tower are six levels, each with a solitary room connected by ramps to allow the muezzin to ride a horse to the top for the call to prayer.

The Hassan Tower today

The complex remains Rabat’s must-see sight – along with the neighbouring mausoleum – and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Look out for the gorgeous decorative sekba panels on the outside and be sure to visit the extremely photogenic pillar stumps. The dawn and dusk light casts a particularly lovely hue over the complex, making it the best time to visit.

Getting to the Hassan Tower

The tower is located in the Quartier Hassan, behind the Mausoleum of Mohammed V – you should be able to stroll through the grounds to it easily. It’s about 2km from Rabat’s Medina – walkable, but with some busy roads to cross. Taxis are plentiful around the medina, so hail one if the heat or chaos gets to you.

As a defence, a network of coastal watchtowers were constructed at strategic vantage points, serving as lookouts to warn the island’s inhabitants of any impending threats. 7 of these watchtowers still stand on the main island, providing visitors with spectacular views.

History of Ibiza’s Pirate Towers

After being under Arab rule for over 300 years, Ibiza and Formentera were recaptured by the Catalans in 1235 during the Reconquista. However, the island’s former rulers used their knowledge of the archipelago to carry out pirate attacks, raiding homes, stealing goods and animals, and capturing women and children for ransom. This prompted the Catalans to build a series of watchtowers around the island, strategically positioned to enable sentries to spot incoming pirate ships and raise an alarm.

Initially an acoustic warning was given, using a shell horn, though a more advanced system involving fire signals was later adopted. The nearest watchtower would be lit as a warning signal, and this signal would be relayed from one tower to another until the entire island was aware of the impending danger. The watchtowers were crucial for protecting the island’s inhabitants, who would then either seek refuge in the fortified towers or nearby churches (which were also fortified).

The watchtowers were constructed between the 16th-18th centuries by royal stonemasons. They were round, with 2.5 metre thick walls, and around 9 metres tall. The towers had 2 storeys, with a spiral staircase along the inner wall and an exterior platform with arrow slits. The doors were only accessible with a ladder, which could be retracted once defenders were inside, making the towers difficult to breach.

The towers proved so effective that local people were inspired to form their own group of vigilantes, known as ‘corsairs’ (effectively similar to pirates themselves). These armed corsair ships were granted royal permission to hunt down pirates and protect the island from seaborne threats. One notable corsair captain, Antonio Riquer Arabi, is claimed to have conquered over 100 pirate ships, preventing significant damage to the island. To honour him and these corsair defenders, a monument was erected on the harbour front in Ibiza – the only known pirate statue in the world.

Ibiza’s Pirate Towers today

7 of these pirate towers are still preserved today on the main island, including the: Torre Des Carregador, Torre d’en Rovira, Torre d’en Valls, Torre de Portinatx, Torre de Balansat and the Torre des Savinar (one of the best places to watch the sunset in Ibiza).

Most of the towers are still in good condition. As they were strategically built on raised ground (such as mountain ridges, headlands, and cliffs), they consequently provide fantastic views of the island’s beautiful countryside. Over the last century, several of the watch towers have been inhabited, yet still remain testament to Ibiza’s cultural heritage.

Getting to Ibiza’s Pirate Towers

The towers are easy to find and are clearly marked on every tourist map. Most are located along a stretch of the coast which can easily be accessed by car and are also easily accessible by foot. Popular routes start at the corsair monument in Ibiza’s harbour, then head south.