Visit the Monument of Discoveries with Lisbon Card

With the Lisboa Card you can access the Monument to the Discoveries by taking advantage of the 20% discount. By presenting your tourist pass at the entrance, you will get discounted access to this iconic Lisbon attraction.

The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) is an icon of Lisbon and a UNESCO-recognized site. This impressive structure stands on the bank of the Tagus River and symbolizes the era of the great Portuguese explorations. Let us discover together the Monument to the Discoveries and how to take advantage of thediscounted admission with Lisboa Card.

Monument to the Discoveries Lisbon: description

The Monument to the Discoveries is a monumental structure located in the neighborhood of Belém, famous for its architecture evocative of the period of the great portuguese explorations.

This monument was first erected in the 20th century on the occasion of the1940 Exposition, only to be rebuilt in concrete and limestone in the 1960 (to remember the Age of Discovery).

The building is a masterpiece of modern architecture and represents a tribute to Portuguese heroes and explorers who contributed to the discovery of new worlds.

The structure presents a ship's bow shape, with the figure of the Prince Henry the Navigator leading the expedition, surrounded by several key figures of the time.

The interior of the Monument to the Discoveries offers exhibition spaces that tell the story of Portugal's great explorations and the discoveries that marked an era.

Monument to the Discoveries: history

The monument enshrines a fascinating story.

During thePortuguese World's Fair 1940, the dictator António de Oliveira Salazar aimed to extraordinarily enhance the Portuguese discoveries, transforming Belém with new buildings and monuments.

However, The fast construction and use of fragile materials led to the failure of many projects.

The Monument to the Discoveries, the last building erected, aroused some misgivings on the part of Salazar, who seemed displeased since obscured the majestic Tower of Belém.

One year after its construction, a violent cyclone subtracted the main hero of the monument: the wind tore the figure of Infante D. Henrique. In 1960, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his death, the Monument to the Discoveries was reconstructed.

The navigator returned to steering the bow., and the monument has continued to dominate the Lisbon landscape with grandeur ever since.

The Monument to the Discoveries is undoubtedly One of the jewels that the Portuguese people are proud of, representing one of the most significant achievements in world history.

What to visit at Lisbon's Monument to the Discoveries

It is shaped like a ship, with 32 figures aligned on a stylized prow, representing 15th- and 16th-century personalities subsequent to Prince Henry: only one of them is a woman, Queen Filipa de Lencastre, who was the mother of Prince Henry.

Inside the monument, you will find a auditorium which, every day at 3:30 p.m., screens a 47-minute video that delves into the history and importance of the monument itself. In addition, there is a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions, offering visitors a constantly new and interesting experience.

For climb to the peaks of the monument and enjoy a panoramic view, an elevator takes visitors to the upper terrace.

From here, the gaze opens to an elevated perspective of the river and the monuments of Belém, with the possibility of also admiring the map of the world engraved in the sidewalk below.

This map, made of marble, is Part of a 50-meter-diameter wind rose, donated by the nation of South Africa. This gesture commemorates Portugal's remarkable rounding of the Cape of Good Hope, which opened new sea routes to the east.

Detailed map shows Portuguese travel routes and dates, tracing virtually the entire globe.

Around the map and the Wind Rose, the floor is decorated with a traditional Portuguese cobblestone pavement, with undulating patterns that add an artistic and striking touch to the surroundings.

Here are some tips for visiting the monument:

1. During the high season and weekends, the Belem district is very crowded, so it is advisable to visit the monument early in the morning (before the groups arrive) or in the late afternoon;
2. It is always recommended book tickets in advance To avoid long lines;
3. In addition to exploring the monument itself, you can admire the surrounding landscape And walk along the Tagus River.

Monument to the Discoveries: characters

The characters carved on the Discovery Monument are:

Eastern side:

• Afonso de Albuquerque - Governor of Portuguese India
• Bartolomeu Dias - First to sail past the southern tip of Africa, passing the Cape of Good Hope.
• Diogo Cão - First to reach Congo.
• Francis Xavier - Missionary to Asia
• Martim Afonso de Sousa - Brazil's first royal governor.
• Vasco da Gama - Discoverer of the sea route to India
• Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia - Explorer and one of the first settlers of the Azores
• Cristóvão da Gama - Explorer and son of Vasco da Gama
• Estêvão da Gama - Explorer and son of Vasco da Gama
• Gaspar Corte-real - Discoverer of Greenland
• Nicolau Coelho - Explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama and Cabral
• António de Abreu - First to reach the Moluccas, Timor and possibly Australia.
• King Afonso V - King from 1438 to 1481
• Ferdinand Magellan - The first explorer to circumnavigate the Earth
• João de Barros - Writer and historian
• Pedro Álvares Cabral - Discoverer of Brazil

Western side:

• Queen Filipa de Lencastre - Mother of Prince Henry the Navigator
• Frei Henrique de Coimbra-who accompanied Pedro Alvares Cabral and celebrated the first Mass in Brazil.
• Infante D. Fernando - Brother of Prince Henry the Navigator
• Jácome de Mallorca - Cartographer
• Nuno Gonçalves - Painter
• Pêro de Alenquer - Piloted the ship S. Gabriel, captained by Vasco da Gama, during a voyage to India.
• Fernão Mendes Pinto - Writer
• Gil Eanes - The first to sail past Cape Bojador
• João Gonçalves Zarco - Settler of the Madeira Islands
• Pedro Nunes - Mathematician
• Pêro de Escobar - Discoverer of the São Tomé Islands
• Frei Gonçalo de Carvalho - Missionary to India
• Gomes Eanes de Zurara - Chronicler
• Infante D. Pedro - Brother of Prince Henry the Navigator
• Luís Vaz de Camões - Poet, author of "The Lusiads."
• Pêro da Covilhã - Diplomat in Asia

Facts and trivia about Lisbon's Monument to the Discoveries

• The monument was desired by the dictator António de Oliveira Salazar, which aimed to extol Portuguese discoveries during thePortuguese World's Fair 1940.
• The Monument to the Discoveries aroused some misgivings on the part of Salazar, who seemed displeased because obscured the majestic Tower of Belém.
• One year after its construction, a violent cyclone subtracted the main hero of the monument: the wind tore the figure of Infante D. Henrique, which was later rebuilt in 1960.
• Of all the figures represented, only one of them is a woman: Queen Filipa de Lencastre, who was the mother of Prince Henry.
• The prince is the tallest figure, measuring 9 meters, while those behind him are 7 meters high.
• The entire monument is 56 meters high, 20 meters wide and 46 meters long.
• It is located on the waterfront, near the Belém Tower, From where many explorers' ships departed For their travels.

Frequently asked questions about Lisbon's Monument to the Discoveries.

• How long does it take to visit the Discovery Monument? A typical visit takes an average of 20 minutes for the exhibition halls and 15 minutes for the viewing platform.
• How to get to the Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon? The Monument to the Discoveries is located in front of the Jerónimos Monastery, reached by an underpass. It is within walking distance of Belém train station, which can be reached by the Cascais train that leaves every 20 minutes from Cais do Sodré station.
• How much does admission to the Discovery Monument cost? Admission to the exhibitions, cinema and terrace is €6.00. Tickets for the exhibitions alone cost €3.00. With the Lisboa Card you can take advantage of a discount of 20%.
• How tall is the Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon? The entire monument is 56 meters high, 20 meters wide and 46 meters long.
• What does the Monument to the Discoveries represent? The Monument is shaped like a ship, with 32 figures lined up on a stylized prow, and is a tribute to Portuguese heroes and explorers who contributed to the discovery of new worlds.

Things to know before visiting the Discovery Monument

Reservation: To fully appreciate the experience without having to wait in long lines, we strongly recommend that you purchase a "skip the line" ticket in advance. This will allow you to avoid waiting at the ticket office and gain quick access to this beautiful fortress. Also, you might consider planning your visit in the afternoon to enjoy the panoramic view of Lisbon at sunset.

Guided tour: There is no guided tour in the ticket cost. However, you can easily visit the monument on your own.

Turnout: This attraction is extremely popular and gets booked up quickly. If this is one of your "must-sees", reserve your spot as soon as possible!

Input: Upon arrival, present the reservation confirmation that will come to you via smartphone. Show the pass to the attendant present at the attraction entrance and enter the attraction by skipping the queue at the ticket office.

Getting there

• Address: Av. Brasilia 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
• Nearest streetcar stop: Belem station
• Nearest bus stop: Belem station

Opening Hours.

• Days: Monday to Sunday
• Timetable: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Last entry: 30 minutes before closing time

Contact

• Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
• Email: info@padraodosdescobrimentos.pt
• Tel: +351 21 303 1950

Padrão dos Descobrimentos: conclusion

Here we come to the end of this post on the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, an imposing Lisbon monument celebrating the golden age of Portuguese history.

Initially built in the 1940 for the World's Fair, this monumental stone caravel commemorates the great Portuguese navigators of the 15th century.

Check out the Cultural Center of Discoveries, admire the view from the top over Praça do Império, and soak in the atmosphere that saw caravels plying the oceans from Belém in the 15th century.

Photo credits:

• Photos of Bruno Martins at Unsplash
• Photos of Bruno Martins at Unsplash
• Photos of Slices of Light via Flickr
• Photos of Tony Fernandez via Flickr