Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Av. Brasilía, Lisbon) — .a.k.a. the Discoveries Monument, this was built on the north bank of the Tagus River in 1960, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.
It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I carrying an armillary sphere, poet Camões holding verses from The Lusiads, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers, following Prince Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small vessel. The only female is queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the Navigator.
Inside is an exhibition space with temporary exhibits, an interesting film about the city of Lisbon, and an elevator that takes visitors to the top for some bird’s-eye views of Belem and its monuments.
Admission: General (€3), Children (12-18 years) & Seniors (€2), Free for children under the age of 12. Hours: 10 am to 6 pm (daily except Mondays)(October-February); 10 am to 7 pm (March-September).