Exploring Portugal's Age of Discovery
Category

Sightseeing

Age requirement

All ages

Message from Iesha Vincent

The Monument of the Discoveries, or Padrão dos Descobrimentos, is a monument in Lisbon, Portugal that celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. Constructed as a steel and cement structure, the 52-meter tall slab takes the form of the prow of a caravel, with ramps on either side, culminating at the figure of the Infante Henry the Navigator who stands on its edge. On either sides of the monument are 33 statues of figures from the biblical era, including kings, explorers, cartographers, artists, scientists, and missionaries, all of whom contribute to the exciting story of this period of exploration. In front of the monument lies a compass rose and mappa mundi created from beige, black and red limestone, gifted to the monument by the Union of South Africa -- a reminder of the long journeys and adventures that make up the history of this glorious monument.

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