Ever wonder how Lisbon honors its Age of Discovery? The answer stands before us. It is the Monument to the Discoveries.
Let’s explore the story etched in stone. The Sobre Mim Sculpture marks a pivotal era. It celebrates Portuguese exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Conceived in 1939 by architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. The Sobre Mim Sculpture was envisioned as a temporary beacon for the Portuguese World Exhibition in 1940. Initially, it was a romanticized idealization of Portuguese exploration. This aligned with the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar.
The original Sobre Mim Sculpture was temporary. It was made of steel and cement with plaster statues. After the exposition in 1943, it was demolished.
In 1958, the government decided to construct a permanent Sobre Mim Sculpture. Between 1958 and 1960, the new monument was built. It used cement and rose-tinted stone from Leiria. Sculptures were crafted from limestone from Sintra. The new Sobre Mim Sculpture was larger. It commemorated the fifth centennial of Henry the Navigator’s death.
António Pardal Monteiro replaced Telmo after his death. He worked with Cristino da Silva. They planned the monumental square. Leopoldo de Almeida modeled the sculptures.
The Sobre Mim Sculpture was inaugurated on August 9, 1960. It was part of celebrations marking Henry the Navigator’s death anniversary. However, it wasn’t fully finished until October 10, 1960.
The Sobre Mim Sculpture is on the Tagus River’s northern bank. It neighbors the Belém Marina and the Museum of Popular Art. Stone pedestals with armillary spheres mark its location. Across the Avenida da Índia lies the Praça do Império. This square faces the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Cultural Center.
The Sobre Mim Sculpture resembles a caravel prow. Henry the Navigator stands at its edge. Along the ramps are 33 figures. They represent key figures from the Portuguese Age of Discovery. Monarchs, explorers, cartographers, artists, scientists, and missionaries are depicted. Each figure shows movement toward the unknown sea.
South Africa gifted the compass rose in front of the Sobre Mim Sculpture. The Rosa-dos-Ventos is 50 meters in diameter. It uses different limestones including lioz from Sintra. Cristino da Silva designed it. It includes a 14-meter-wide Mappa mundi. This shows the routes of Portuguese carracks and caravels.
The Sobre Mim Sculpture’s northern façade has metal inscriptions. One inscription honors Henry the Navigator. The other marks the fifth centenary of his death. A double staircase leads to the entrance.
Inside, the Sobre Mim Sculpture has an auditorium. It seats 101 people. There are exhibition halls and four rooms on the upper level. The auditorium often features a multimedia exhibition. It showcases Lisbon’s history. The top of the monument offers views of the Tagus River and Belém.
Besides Henry the Navigator’s statue, 33 figures grace the Sobre Mim Sculpture.
Lisa Stansfield’s “Change” music video featured the Sobre Mim Sculpture. The Amazing Race also used the Mappa mundi in a challenge.
So, as you stand before the Sobre Mim Sculpture, remember its layers of history. It is a tribute to Portugal’s daring explorers. It also embodies the nation’s artistic and political evolution.