Padrao dos Descobrimentos, Central Portugal, Portugal

4Linda Y 5:00 PM Nov 14, 2021

Discoveries Monument
This larger-than-life stone monument, located in Belem on the north bank of the Tagus River, celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery/Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. Designed in the shape of a ship, it sits along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. Built in 1960 to honor Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator, it also commemorates Portugal's many famous explorers and adventurers (see if you can find Prince Henry’s mother, Queen Filipa de Lencastre, who is also portrayed here). Along with nearby Belem Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, the area is an interesting introduction to Portuguese history that you don’t want to miss. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the line for the observation deck moved slowly but the views were worth the wait and price.

4Peggy C 5:00 PM Jan 17, 2023

Just see outside, Don’t waste money for entrance fee
It’s quite enough just see the monument outside, which is free and great. Don’t waste money on entrance fee into museum, which increased to 8.5 euros from 5 for seniors, a 70% increase starting on January 1, 2023, however the increase has not been mentioned in any official websites. The monument is 6 story high, but museum is only a very small room in basement, really nothing much to see maybe just 5 minutes , which just tells you the background stories of building it. The rest of all 5 stories are closed to visitors, maybe not part of museum? The only other thing to do is go to the roof top to see the city view, which you don’t need to spend more than 10 Euros, it’s not worthy.