Monument to the Discoveries - Discoveries Cultural Center

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém

Location

Located in Belém, a historic district of Lisbon, the Monument to the Discoveries stands on the bank of the Tagus River. Its riverside location is symbolic and offers a broad perspective on the surrounding area, intimately linked to the era of great maritime voyages. It is a prominent landmark in Belém's riverside landscape, easy to identify for those strolling through the area.

Origins and Significance

The history of the Monument to the Discoveries dates back to 1940, when it was first erected for the Portuguese World Exhibition. The monument seen today is a permanent version, inaugurated in 1960. Its construction aimed to perpetuate the memory of the Portuguese maritime voyages that changed the world map and to honor central figures of that period, with special emphasis on Prince Henry the Navigator. It is a symbolic landmark of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries.

Exterior Form and Symbolism

Viewed from the outside, the main structure evokes the silhouette of a caravel ready to set sail, with prominent figures from the Age of Discoveries sculpted on its sides. These statues represent navigators, cartographers, scientists, and other key participants in the maritime endeavors. On the pavement in front of the monument, a vast marble Wind Rose is laid out, which includes a planisphere. This exterior element is an interesting point for observation and reflection on the routes followed by the navigators.

Interior and Viewpoint

The interior of the Monument to the Discoveries functions as a cultural center. It houses rooms dedicated to temporary exhibitions addressing themes related to Portuguese history and culture, an auditorium, and an elevator that provides access to the top. From the viewpoint, at approximately 56 meters high, one obtains a panoramic perspective over the surrounding area in Belém, the Tagus River, and the other bank. It is an elevated point that allows one to appreciate the scale of the monument and the beauty of the riverside landscape.

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