Monuments

Monuments

Monuments, statues and memorials

Praca do Comercio - Lisbon

Positioned on Praça do Comércio and acting as a grand opening onto the Baixa's central Rua Augusta, this ornate and imposing archway is also known as the Rua Augusta Arch.

As the name hints, the Arco Triunfal was originally built to commemorate Lisbon’s reconstruction following the devastating earthquake in 1755, although the version that exists today dates from 1875.

The Rua Augusta Arch is adorned with various statues of historical figures and following restoration in 2013 it now gives...

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Almendres Cromlech near Evora
Almendres Cromlech
CanStockPhoto/mrfotos

Whilst Évora may be able to boast some quite impressive historic credentials there is a site, less than half an hour's drive away that predates anything in the city by thousands of years. Built in the early Stone Age the Almendres Cromlech (Cromleque dos Almendres) dates back over 6,000 years. But it isn't just the age which is impressive - this is the largest megalithic site to be found anywhere on the Iberian Peninsula. Although not quite of the scale of Carnac in Britanny, Almendres is far more atmospheric.

The location of the stones is on the slopes of Monte dos Almendres...

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Peninsula War Monument - Boavista, Porto
Peninsula War Monument - Boavista, Porto
Can Stock Photo Inc

The Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War site in the middle of the large rotunda in the Boavista district of Porto. Despite being in the middle of a busy round-a-bout the monument is set in a peaceful tree-lined garden.

The monument celebrates the Portuguese and British victory against the French forces of Napoleon during the 1808-1814 Peninsular War. Set atop the impressive column is a lion, representing the Portuguese and British, dominating an eagle, representing the forces of Napoleon

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Monument to the Discoveries - Belem
Monument to the Discoveries

Celebrating the achievements of explorers during the building of Portugal's empire is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Discoveries Monument). It represents a ship's prow featuring more than 30 statues of historical figures who played a big part in Portugal's Age of Discoveries. These include King Alfonso V, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Alvares Cabral and Ferdinand Magellan, with Henry the Navigator being the most prominent. On the pavement, just in front of the monument you...

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Cristo Rei - Lisbon
Cristo Rei

The statue of Cristo Rei (Christ the King) with his arms outstretched dominates the skyline of the far bank of the river from Lisbon. From the city it is hard to grasp quite how big this statue is, but it is huge. Set atop a 82m (270ft) plinth the figure of Christ measures nearly 30 metres (100ft) in height. This makes it marginally smaller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and there is no denying the obvious influences.

The pedestal upon which the figure stands is fairly impressive in its own right. It consists of four arches with the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da...

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Santa Engracia - National Pantheon - Lisbon
Santa Engracia - National Pantheon

The Church of Santa Engracia is one of Lisbon's finest religious buildings. Located close to the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in the Alfama district, the white dome rises high above the surrounding jumble of cobbled streets.

The current building dates back to the 17th century although there had been previous churches on the site for around 100 years. As with the National Pantheon these churches were dedicated to Santa Engrácia, a 4th century martyr from Braga. Work began on the present day structure in 1681 after the...

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Torre de Belem
Torre de Belem
E Pawłowska

The Tower in outstanding example of 16th c. Manueline architecture. Standing on the waterside at Belem it was built as both a celebration of the age of the Discoveries and to defend the mouth of the river.

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