Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Located on the north bank of river Tagus, the Monument to the Discoveries was unravelled in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. The maritime achievements of sea explorers during the 15th century are integral to Portugal’s history. It saw Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil and Vasco da Gama rediscovering a shorter route to India. The Golden age was later defined as the ‘Age of Discovery’, during which Portugal established trade posts and colonies across three continents. The explorers brought fortunes creating the most prosperous era for Portugal. The monument, shaped like a ship's prow, is built at the same place from where the explorers set sail for distant lands. The statues on the monument represent all the historically important sailors, cartographers, mathematicians, poets and the King Manuel I from the discovery era, lead by Henry the Navigator. The visit to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a trip down the maritime history of Portugal. Check out the giant marble wind rose embedded at the foot of the monument. It represents a compass with the map of the world depicting the lands that Portuguese explorers set foot on. Do not miss the observatory at the top of the monument offering bird's-eye views of Belem and expansive Vasco Da Gama Bridge across the river.