Torre de Belém is one of Portugal’s most iconic monuments. It is more than 500 years old and its history dates back to a time when Portugal was one of the most powerful countries in the world.
It used to be a defense tower, then it was a prison, and now it is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO and is known as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Yes, Torre de Belém is a big deal in the land of Tiago Pires, Frederico Morais, and CR7.
So what does all this have to do with surfing? Well, most of the time, nothing at all. This amazing monument is located closer to the heart of Lisbon than to the ocean. Deep in the Tagus, you’re more likely to find a constant flow of tourists taking photos, but none of them are surfing.
But during a recent storm, João Kopke, a professional surfer and musician from Portugal, had the idea to bring his surfboard to Torre de Belém. It just may be a historic surf session, even if the wave was exactly all-time. It’s the novelty of it all.
“I think this is also what surfing is about: finding new spots,” he said. “This is a bit of a cliché, but surfing is the search for that perfect wave. And that doesn’t always mean the best wave. Sometimes it means the wave that makes you feel the most incredible sensations.”
Photos & video courtesy of: White Flag Productions
