Viewpoint of the Monument to the Discoveries

Category: Civil Architecture > Memorial

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém

Location

Situated on the right bank of the Tagus River, in the Belém area of Lisbon, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos Viewpoint is located at a point with a strong connection to Portuguese maritime history. Its position, by the water, evokes the place from which, historically, the great expeditions that shaped the world's view departed.

The urban surroundings of this spot in Lisbon are characterized by their spaciousness and proximity to the estuary, allowing for a sense of vastness and openness to the horizon.

A Nautical Homage

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries), a monument that incorporates this viewpoint, was conceived as a stylized caravel setting sail. At its prow stands the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator, the driving force behind Portuguese maritime explorations, holding a caravel and a map.

Along its sides, the monument features 32 statues of important figures from the Age of Discoveries. Among navigators and cartographers, warriors, evangelists, chroniclers, and artists, each figure is represented with symbols that individualize them. This monumental structure was first erected in 1940 for a major exhibition and later, in 1960, reconstructed with durable materials such as concrete and stone, consolidating its presence in Lisbon's landscape.

The Panoramic View

The viewpoint, accessible inside the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, rises more than fifty meters from the ground, offering a wide panorama over the Tagus estuary. From this point, the observer contemplates the vast expanse of the river and the surrounding landscape, feeling the breeze that comes from the estuary's mouth.

It is a place that invites observation of the movement of the waters and the colors of the sky, which transform throughout the day, providing different perspectives of the fluvial and urban surroundings.

The World Map on the Ground

In the space in front of the monument, an impressive Rose of the Winds is drawn on the pavement, fifty meters in diameter. At its center, a large-scale planisphere marks the main routes of Portuguese expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries.

This ground drawing, which includes representations of ships and mythological figures, gains a particular dimension when observed from the viewpoint. The sunlight projects the shadows of the statues onto the map, creating a dynamic effect that changes with the sun's position, inviting a different and interactive perspective on the history of the discoveries.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt