Belém, a district in Lisbon, is a charming immersion into the Age of Discoveries, an era that shaped Portugal’s maritime history and connected it with the world. Along the Tagus River, the Belém Tower stands as a monumental sentinel, a silent witness to the feats of fearless Portuguese navigators.
The Monument to the Discoveries, with its imposing figure facing the ocean, pays homage to pioneering explorers. Among them, stands out Infante D. Henrique, known as the driving force behind this age of discoveries. His strategic vision and support for expeditions made Vasco da Gama’s monumental achievement possible—the navigator who opened the maritime route to India in 1498.