Monument to the Discoveries – “Padrão dos Descobrimentos”

Last Saturday I went with my students to an outdoor activity, the topic was “A Morning in Belém”.

We went on a guided tour to Padrão dos Descobrimentos, where we leant the monument was first erected in 1940 and designed by the architect Cottinelli Telmo and the sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.

This monument to the discoveries was completed in 1960, for the celebration of 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Henry the Navigator, son of Queen Filipa de Lencastre and King João I, was known in history as symbolizing the glory of discoveries.

In front of the Monument to the Discoveries we can find the “wind rose” made from marble donated by the republic of South Africa. There we can find the main routes of the Portuguese voyages of discovery.

Outside this caravel shaped monument several individuals of Portuguese history are displayed, Prince Henry the navigator holding a caravel in his hands, Queen Filipa de Lencastre (his mother and the only woman in the monument), Fernão Mendes Pinto (writer), Luis Vaz de Camões (Poet), Gomes Eanes Zurara (Chronicler), Vasco da Gama (Navigator), Pedro Álvares de Cabral (Navigator), Diogo Cão (Navigator), among other.

The guided tour was fantastic, the lanscape on the top of the monument was magnificent and I also have to praise the movie about Lisbon – “Lisbon Experience” .

Once we’re in Belém we couldn't resist and this activity was followed by a quick bite at the famous Pastéis de Belém!

It was a remarkable morning spent with my students…