Atlantic Will


Monument to the discoverers in Portugal

In a prominent place on the right bank of the Tagus River, an original monument made of perishable materials was erected in 1940 on the occasion of the Exhibition of the Portuguese World in honour of historical figures involved in Portuguese discoveries. The current copy, in concrete and stone, was later opened in 1960.

Initially, the monument was considered by Cottinelli Thelmo as a tribute to Infanta D. Enrique, after several projects and competitions for Sagres, was held for many years without any construction. On the occasion of the exhibition of the Portuguese world in 1940, the chief architect of which was Cottinelli Thelmo, it became a model of discoveries dedicated not only to the Infante, but also to its employees and followers. Conceived by Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida (author of statues Made of perishable materials, it was dismantled in 1958 and rebuilt in the coming years from concrete and lyose stone by the decision of Salazar, who on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Infante contradicted the result of

Vasco da Gama
Considered a symbolic part of the Exhibition of the Portuguese world, "the cry of the exhibition and synthesis of our glorious past" (scenario of that time), the Discovery Standard was widely appreciated (Fernando de Pamplona, West, 1941; Costa Lima, Broteria; etc.), even by dissonant voices such as Adriano de Gu Finally erected something from time, aesthetically outdated from the evolution of art for twenty years, the current monument was opened in 1960 in the context of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Infante D. Enrique.
In 1985, the interior was reconstructed, endowing Standard with an observation deck, auditorium and exhibition halls. The Standard was then opened as a Cultural Discovery Centre.

The monument is inspired by ancient Portuguese standards, stone signs installed in the opening, referring to the shape of a stylised caravel, with three large candles that extend to the central vertical block decorated on both sides with bas-reliefs representing flag D. João I. Above the entrance is the sword of the Royal House of Avis. D. Henry Navigator rises on a bow with a caravel in his right hand and a map on the left. In two descending rows, on both sides of the monument, there are statues of famous Portuguese related to discoveries, including sailors, warriors, monks, scientists, cultural people (Nuno Gonçalves with a palette; Camões holds Os Lusíadas). The inspiration of the figures is rooted in the contradictory history of Nuno Gonçalves and in the "cruel classicism" proposed by Francisco Franco in his monument to Gonçalves Zark (Funchal; 1927), from which Leopoldo de Almeida did not deviate, executing and strengthening academic principles.
The floor of the border space north of the monument depicts a wind rose with a diameter of 50 metres, painted in the workshop of architect Luis Cristina da Silva and proposed by South Africa in 1960. In the centre there is a 14 m wide planisphere decorated with plant elements, wind roses, buffs, mermaid, fantastic fish and Neptune with a trident and a pipe installed on a sea creature. "Dates, ships and caravels mark the main ways of Portuguese expansion between the XV and XVI centuries."
Inside the monument, in which the Cultural Discovery Cultural Centre is located today, on the ground floor there is an auditorium for 101 seats and two exhibition halls. The upper floor has four rectangular constraints, and upstairs there is an observation deck with a beautiful panorama of Belen and the Tagus River.

In addition to the main statue of Infante Don Enrique, the Navigator holding a caravel model, there are a total of 32 figures on both sides of the ramps of the monument in the history of discoveries.
Height - 56 m; Width - 20 m; Length - 46 m; foundations depth 20 Materials: reinforced concrete structure covered with limestone of Leiria rose; sculptures made of Sintra limestone; iron, glass and wooden pores.