Monument to the Discoveries

Monument to the Discoveries

The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) is a monument in Portugal commemorating the Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries, and it is also one of Lisbon's most famous landmarks. The monument is situated on Avenida da Brasília in Lisbon’s Belém district, right in front of the Jerónimos Monastery and near the 25th of April Bridge. This location marks the spot from which Portuguese explorers set sail during the Age of Discovery.

The Monument to the Discoveries was first displayed at the 1940 Portuguese World Exhibition and was built by Portuguese architect Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. It was reconstructed in concrete in 1960 and completed on August 6 of that year to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of the famous Portuguese navigator Prince Henry the Navigator. The monument is a 52-meter-high concrete slab structure carved in the shape of the prow of a ship. On the east and west sides of the monument are two sets of square Portuguese coats of arms, and on the north side (the side facing away from the Tagus River), there is a large sword carving. The first floor of the monument hosts a multimedia exhibition about Lisbon’s history, and the second floor is an observation deck.

To the north of the Monument to the Discoveries, extending to Avenida da Brasília, lies a mosaic-paved square designed by Cristino da Silva and gifted by South Africa. The square features a 50-meter-diameter nautical compass made of various types of marble, with a world map in the center showing the routes and years when Portuguese explorers first reached different parts of the world during the Age of Discovery.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Must-visit reason: One of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Portugal[Portugal]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Lisbon District [Lisbon District]

City where the attraction is located: Lisbon [Lisbon]