Why visit / Interesting facts:
- Iconic Lisbon monument
- World explorers in stone
Time required: 20 minutes
Phone: +351 21 303 1950
Opening hours:
| Time period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| May - Sept daily: | 10am - 7pm |
| Oct - Apr, Tue - Sun: | 10am - 5:30pm |
Admission:
| Ticket type | Charge |
|---|---|
| General: | 2.5 € |
Public transport:
- Tram Line 15: Centro Cultural De Belém stop
Address: Av. de Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: Tony Moorey
Things you need to know:
- The Discovery Monument pays homage to those who took part in the the Golden Age of Discovery. It was first erected in 1940 for the Lisbon World Exhibition
- In 1960, the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator, the original monument was pulled down and a new one was erected in concrete
- The momument takes the shape of a caravela with its sails billowing in the wind. Caravela is the type of ship Portuguese explorers used in the period
- In the front of the ship stands Henry the Navigator who played a leading role in the development of Portuguese explorations
- Henry is followed by important historic figures such as King Manuel I (holidng an armillary sphere), poet Camões (with a paper scroll), Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and other famed explorers, cartographers, monks and crusaders
- The only woman in the group depicts queen Felipa of Lancaster, Prince Henry's mother, the mastermind behind the discoveries
- The square in front is decorated with a mosaic (a gift of South Africa) representing a compass. The map in the center shows the routes Portuguese explorers followed
What to do there:
- Admire the impressive monument
- Enjoy the view of the river Tejo and bridge April 25 in the background
Tips & Insights:
- Inside there is an exhibition space with temporary exhibits
- An elevator takes visitors to the top for some bird's-eye views of Belem and its monuments
- Discount with Lisboa Card
