The Monument to the Discoveries that stands on the Belém waterfront today is not the one that was built first. The original went up in 1940 for an exhibition, made of plaster, gypsum and burlap over a wood frame, designed to last a few months. It was torn down in 1943. The concrete version tourists photograph now — the one that looks permanent, monumental, carved from stone — is a replica completed in 1960, eighteen years after the first one was demolished.
Most guides skip that detail and treat the monument as if it had stood there since the Age of Discovery itself. It has not. It is older than the 25 de Abril Bridge visible from its viewing deck — the bridge opened in 1966, six years after the monument — and it commemorates events that were already four and a half centuries old by the time it was rebuilt in permanent form.
This guide covers why the monument exists in two versions, who the 33 statues represent and why some of the choices are more complicated than the postcard version suggests, what is inside today, and the practical details — hours, tickets, and how to combine a visit with Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery next door. We take clients past this monument on nearly every Lisbon tour we run, and it is one of the few stops where the story behind the building is more interesting than the view from the top.
A Monument Built Twice: 1940 and 1960
The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) that stands in Belém today is actually the second version of the monument. The original was built as a temporary structure for the Portuguese World Exhibition of 1940, designed by architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. Constructed from plaster, gypsum and timber, it was intended to last only for the duration of the exhibition and was demolished in 1943.
The site remained empty for more than a decade before the Portuguese government approved a permanent monument in 1958 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. Construction began later that year and was completed in 1960, with the monument officially inaugurated on 9 August 1960.
Following Cottinelli Telmo’s death in 1948, architect António Pardal Monteiro adapted the original design for the permanent version, while engineers Edgar Cardoso, Ruy Correia and António Franco e Abreu were responsible for the structural engineering. The monument was built from reinforced concrete clad in Leiria limestone, with the 33 sculpted figures carved separately from Sintra limestone.
Standing 56 metres high, the monument is designed to resemble the prow of a caravel with its sails filled by the wind, facing the mouth of the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Unlike Belém Tower, which originally stood in the river before land reclamation altered the shoreline, the Monument to the Discoveries has always stood on dry land. It was conceived as a symbolic memorial rather than a functioning maritime structure.
Why It Was Rebuilt in 1960
The permanent reconstruction of the Monument to the Discoveries in 1960 was far more than the replacement of a temporary exhibition structure. It marked the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator and formed part of the Estado Novo government’s programme of national commemorations.
Under António de Oliveira Salazar’s regime (1933–1974), Portugal’s maritime expansion and the Age of Discoveries occupied a central place in the state’s historical narrative. Rebuilding the monument in reinforced concrete and stone transformed what had been a temporary pavilion from the 1940 Portuguese World Exhibition into a permanent national memorial.
For its first decades, however, the monument was primarily an external landmark rather than a visitor attraction. In 1985, the interior was adapted to include a cultural centre, exhibition galleries and an auditorium, allowing public access to the building and its panoramic viewpoint. Since 2003, the monument has been managed by EGEAC, the municipal organisation responsible for several of Lisbon’s cultural venues.
That also explains why the Monument to the Discoveries looks noticeably different from nearby Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Although it celebrates 15th- and 16th-century Portuguese exploration, the monument itself is unmistakably a work of mid-20th-century architecture, reflecting the design language and political context of 1960, rather than the Manueline style of Portugal’s Age of Discovery.
The 33 Statues: Who’s on the Monument and Why
The Monument to the Discoveries features 33 figures: Henry the Navigator stands alone at the prow, holding a model of a caravel, while 16 figures line each side of the monument.
On the east side (facing upriver) are many of Portugal’s best-known explorers and military leaders, including King Afonso V, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Bartolomeu Dias, Ferdinand Magellan, Afonso de Albuquerque, Diogo Cão, and Saint Francis Xavier, together with navigators such as Gaspar Corte-Real, Nicolau Coelho, and Estêvão da Gama.
The west side (facing the Atlantic) brings together monarchs, scholars, artists and explorers, including Peter, Duke of Coimbra, Queen Philippa of Lancaster, Luís de Camões, Nuno Gonçalves, Gomes Eanes de Zurara, Pedro Nunes, Gil Eanes, João Gonçalves Zarco, Pero da Covilhã, and several religious figures.
The selection reflects the historical narrative promoted when the monument was rebuilt in 1960. Explorers, monarchs and missionaries occupy centre stage, while the experiences of the enslaved and colonised peoples affected by Portuguese expansion are absent. The monument therefore represents not only the Age of Discoveries itself, but also the way Portugal chose to commemorate that period during the mid-20th century.
One of the most debated inclusions is Ferdinand Magellan. Although Portuguese by birth, his famous circumnavigation expedition (1519–1522) was undertaken in the service of the Spanish Crown, after Portugal declined to support his proposal. His presence on the monument reflects his Portuguese origins and training rather than the nationality of the voyage for which he is remembered.
Rather than forming a chronological timeline, the statues are arranged as two symbolic processions that lead the eye towards Henry the Navigator at the bow, emphasising his role as the central figure of the composition.
The Compass Rose and the South African Gift
In front of the Monument to the Discoveries lies a 50-metre compass rose paved in black and cream lioz limestone, with a 14-metre world map at its centre illustrating the principal routes of the Portuguese voyages of exploration. Designed by architect Luís Cristino da Silva, it was inaugurated on 5 August 1960, a few days before the monument itself.
The compass rose was presented as a gift by the Government of South Africa to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. The political context is significant. In 1960, South Africa was governed under apartheid, while Portugal remained under the Estado Novo dictatorship. The exchange reflected the diplomatic relationship between two governments that were increasingly isolated internationally because of their racial and colonial policies. Although this background is well documented in historical research, it is not explained on-site.
From a visitor’s perspective, the pavement is worth more than a quick photograph. At ground level, it is difficult to appreciate the scale of the design, while many of its finer details—including decorative wind heads, smaller compass roses and maritime motifs—are best seen from the observation deck at the top of the monument, where the entire composition can be viewed as intended.
What’s Inside: Viewpoint, Exhibition and Auditorium
Although the Monument to the Discoveries looks like a solid sculpture from the outside, its interior serves as a cultural and exhibition space. Inside are a 101-seat auditorium, two exhibition galleries, several multipurpose rooms, and the lift and staircase leading to the observation deck at the top.
For most visitors, the viewpoint is the main attraction. From 56 metres above ground, it offers panoramic views over the Tagus River, the compass rose below, Belém Tower to the west, Jerónimos Monastery to the north, and, on clear days, the 25 de Abril Bridge upstream, Cristo Rei Statue.
The exhibition galleries host temporary exhibitions alongside multimedia displays related to Lisbon’s maritime history and the monument itself. Unlike a traditional museum, there is no large permanent collection of historical artefacts. The focus is on the monument, its symbolism and the panoramic views rather than on displaying original objects from the Age of Discovery.
Most visitors spend 30–45 minutes here. The exhibition spaces can be explored fairly quickly, while the observation deck is where most people choose to linger.
Practical Information: Tickets, Hours and Closures
The Monument to the Discoveries underwent a programme of rehabilitation works between 16 December 2024 and 25 April 2025. The project included upgraded accessible restrooms, improvements for visitors with reduced mobility, and refurbishment of the exhibition hall’s acoustic ceiling. The monument reopened on 25 April 2025, Portugal’s Freedom Day.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full ticket (viewpoint + exhibition) | €10 |
| Exhibition only | €5 |
| Discounts | Youth (13–25), students, seniors (65+), culture professionals, visitors with disabilities and other eligible groups (typically 50% discount) |
| Free entry | Children under 12, Lisboa Card holders, Lisbon residents on Sundays and public holidays until 14:00 |
| Opening hours (October–February) | 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30) |
| Opening hours (March–September) | 10:00–19:00 (last entry 18:30) |
| Closed | 1 January, 1 May, 24–25 December and 31 December |
Admission is not included in our tour price. Online tickets are available here. If you’d like to visit the observation deck, your guide can help you decide whether it fits your itinerary and assist with purchasing tickets. Compared with Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, queues are usually shorter, and same-day ticket purchases are normally straightforward.
How to Get There and What to Combine It With
The Monument to the Discoveries stands on the Belém waterfront, within easy walking distance of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. The three landmarks are all less than 10 minutes apart, making them easy to visit as part of a single itinerary. Check location on Google maps.
Tram 15E: From Praça da Figueira in central Lisbon to Belém (about 25–30 minutes), followed by a short walk to the monument.
Train (Cascais Line): From Cais do Sodré to Belém Station (around 10 minutes), then about a 10-minute walk along the riverfront.
Bus 728: Connects central Lisbon, including Marquês de Pombal and Alcântara, with Belém.
On foot: The monument is about a 6–8 minute walk from both Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery along the flat riverside promenade.
If you’re exploring Belém independently, a practical order is to visit Jerónimos Monastery first, when queues are usually shortest, continue to the Monument to the Discoveries, and finish at Belém Tower. Before leaving the district, it’s worth stopping at Pastéis de Belém, the famous bakery that has been making its custard tarts since 1837, just a few minutes’ walk from the monastery.
Visit the Monument to the Discoveries with a Private Guide
The Monument to the Discoveries is one of the highlights of our Lisbon private tours, usually visited together with Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Seeing the monument with a guide helps explain the story behind its two constructions, the symbolism of the 33 statues, and the political context of its 1960 reconstruction—details that are easy to overlook when visiting independently.
| Tour | What’s Included | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon Private Tour | Baixa · Praça do Comércio · Alfama · Belém · optional custom stops | All you need to see in Lisbon |
| Best of Lisbon Tour | Full-day Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra in one day. | All major landmarks in one day |
FAQ
Is the Monument to the Discoveries worth visiting?
The viewpoint and the compass rose are the main reasons to visit — the observation deck gives one of the better river views in Belém, at 56 metres. The interior exhibition is modest compared to Jerónimos Monastery, so most visitors treat it as a 30–45 minute stop rather than a half-day destination.
How much does it cost to enter the Monument to the Discoveries?
The full ticket, covering the viewpoint, exhibition and film, costs €10. An exhibition-only ticket costs €5. Discounts of roughly 50% apply for youth aged 13–25, students, seniors over 65 and culture professionals, and children under 12 enter free.
Is the monument the original from the 1940s?
No. The first version, built for the 1940 Portuguese World Exhibition, was made of temporary materials and demolished in 1943. The permanent concrete and stone monument standing today was built between 1958 and 1960 and inaugurated on 9 August 1960.
Who are the statues on the monument?
Thirty-three figures in total: sixteen on each side plus Henry the Navigator at the bow. They include navigators such as Vasco da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias and Ferdinand Magellan, monarchs, missionaries including Saint Francis Xavier, the poet Luís de Camões, and several cartographers and chroniclers.
What is the compass rose in front of the monument?
A 50-metre stone compass rose set into the plaza pavement, with a 14-metre map of Portuguese maritime routes at its centre. It was a gift from the government of South Africa, inaugurated on 5 August 1960, four days before the monument itself.
How long does a visit take?
About 30–45 minutes, including the lift ride to the observation deck and a walk through the exhibition halls. Most of that time is spent at the top rather than inside.
How far is it from Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery?
Roughly 500 metres from each, a 6–8 minute walk along the flat riverfront promenade. All three can reasonably be visited in the same half-day.
Is the monument wheelchair accessible?
The observation deck is reached by lift, making the interior accessible. The surrounding plaza and compass rose are flat and open, though the limestone paving can be uneven in places.
When is the monument closed?
It closes on 1 January, 1 May, 24 and 25 December, and 31 December. It also underwent a renovation closure over the 2024–2025 winter, reopening on 25 April 2025.
Why does the monument look modern rather than 16th-century?
Because it is a modern structure. Although it commemorates 15th- and 16th-century maritime history, the permanent monument was designed and built between 1958 and 1960, two decades after the original 1940 version was demolished.
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