The Belém Tower was built to pay homage to the patron saint of Lisbon - St. Vincent - in the place where the large defensive vessel, the Grande Nau (Great Ship), had rested at anchor establishing a crossfire with the Forte de São Sebastião (St. Sebastian Fortress). Thus, the wooden structure was perpetuated on stone.
Francisco de Arruda was made Master for the Belém Bulwark construction, which started in 1514 and was completed in 1520, under the supervision of the kingdom's Master Builder, Diogo de Boitaca. As a symbol of the king's prestige, its decoration displays particularly Manueline symbology combined with naturalistic features.
