Loving Lisbon Day 7: A River Cruise

Christ the King stands guard over the river

We were excited to take a cruise on the Tejo River in order to gain a better understanding of this incredible artery of Lisbon life. It was a nice relaxing way to start our day as we viewed all the sites that we had already explored on land.

The Christ the King statue was modelled after the much larger Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro as a way to mark the Portuguese peoples' gratitude for being spared the devastation of World War II.

Belem Tower

After the cruise, we returned to the Carmo Convent Ruins in order to enjoy the many artifacts housed inside. This church was built in 1389, but was destroyed during the earthquake of 1755. Fortunately for us, the decision was made to leave the church standing in its ruined state as a reminder of the disaster. It is an awe inspiring structure, with much of the interior intact, but the roof open to the sky, leading one to look up in wonder. It makes me think that maybe all churches should be open air!




The roof of the nave was eventually replaced, allowing for the creation of a museum, which carries relics from as early as the 4th century, including pieces from Moorish and Roman times.