Monument to the Discoverers (Monumento dos Descobrimentos) description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon (Topic)

Monument to the Discoverers (Monumento dos Descobrimentos) description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Monumento dos Descobrimentos.

Photo and description

The monument to the discoverers is located in Belem. The monument stands near the Tagus River, from where ships went on scientific and commercial expeditions to India and the East. The monumental ensemble celebrates the era of the great geographical discoveries of Portugal in the 15th-16th centuries.

The monument was originally built as a temporary structure and was timed to coincide with the opening of the World Exhibition in Portugal in 1940. The idea for the monument belongs to the Portuguese architect Jose Angelo Cottinelli Telmo and the sculpture by Leopold de Almeida. In 1943, the building was demolished. In 1958, the Portuguese government supported the intention to build a permanent monument to the great discoveries. In 1960, a new monument was built, larger than its 1940 predecessor. Concrete and pink stone brought from Leiria, central region of Portugal, were used in the construction, and the sculptures were sculpted from limestone brought from Sintra.

The unveiling of the new monument was part of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Heinrich the Navigator. The height of the ensemble, built in the form of a caravel, reaches 52 meters. On the nose of the caravel is the figure of Heinrich the Navigator. On the sides of the Infante there are figures (16 on each side) depicting prominent persons of the era of great geographical discoveries. Among them are monarchs, scientists, cartographers, artists, researchers, missionaries and many others. Each figure is depicted moving forward, towards the unknown.

Inside there are exhibition halls, an elevator takes you upstairs to the observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the Tagus River and the Belem Tower. A wind rose and a map of the world with the trajectories and dating of Portuguese sea expeditions, 50 m in diameter are laid out in front of the monument of different types of marble.

We also recommend reading The Old Windmill description and photos - Australia: Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast

Topic: Monument to the Discoverers (Monumento dos Descobrimentos) description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon.