Positive energies this new week!
In this week's article, we will talk about some of the most emblematic Portuguese monuments, especially since on October 5th we celebrated the day of the Implementation of the Portuguese Republic! It is public knowledge that our Portugal is beautiful in natural landscapes and also beautiful in architecture and history, highlighting the emblematic historical monuments scattered throughout the national territory.
The first monument is located in Lisbon, by our beloved Tagus River, in Belém, the famous "Monument to the Discoveries", an architectural design by Cottinelli Telmo, with sculptures by Leopoldo de Almeida. This monument is situated on the right bank of the Tagus River, and in 1940 it was erected with perishable materials for the Portuguese World Exhibition, to honor the historical figures involved in the Portuguese Discoveries and maritime expansion. Its current version in concrete and stone is later, having been inaugurated in 1960.
Initially, it was a tribute solely to Prince Henry the Navigator, but it was eventually decided to celebrate not only the Prince but also his followers and collaborators. In 1985, the interior was remodeled, the Monument became a viewpoint, an auditorium was created, and exhibition rooms were added. The Monument was then inaugurated as the Cultural Center of Discoveries.
Visiting hours:
March to September - every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry 6:30 PM)
October - every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
November to February - Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
Closing days
January 1, May 1, December 24, 25, and 31
We head north to the emblematic Invicta city of Porto, visiting the "Palace of the Stock Exchange", which began construction in October 1842, following the closure of the Stock Exchange House of Commerce, which temporarily forced Porto merchants to discuss their business in the open air on Rua dos Ingleses. The building features traits of 19th-century neoclassical architecture, Tuscan architecture, as well as English neopaladian style.
The headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association now serves for various cultural, social, and political events in the city. The Arab Room is one of the palace's most notable rooms due to, as the name suggests, 19th-century stuccos gilded with Arabic characters that adorn the walls and ceiling of the room. It is in this hall that tributes to heads of state visiting the city take place. The Palace of the Stock Exchange is open for paid tourist visits, being one of the most sought-after heritage buildings in the city of Porto.
Visiting hours:
November to March - from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
April to October - from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
The guided tour lasts 30 minutes.
The last monument in this article is the famous "Chapel of Bones", located in Évora, in Alentejo, which chills even the most tolerant person to bones. Situated in the Church of Saint Francis, next to the city garden, it was built in the 17th century by the initiative of three Franciscan monks who aimed to convey the message of the transience of life, as can be inferred from the famous warning at the entrance: "We bones that are here await yours."
Besides the spiritual aspect, there was also a physical issue, as there were, in the region of Évora, forty-two monastic cemeteries that were taking up too much space and strategic locations that many wanted to use for other purposes. Thus, they decided to remove the skeletons from the ground and use them to build and decorate the chapel.
The chapel, built on the site of the original Franciscan dormitory, consists of 3 naves measuring 18.70 meters in length and 11 meters in width, with light entering through three small openings on the left side. Its walls and the eight pillars are "decorated" with bones and skulls connected by brown cement, and thes vaults are made of white plastered brick, painted with allegorical motifs of death. It is a monument of penitential architecture with arcades adorned with rows of skulls, cornices, and white naves.
It is estimated that around five thousand bones, coming from cemeteries located in churches and convents in the city, were connected with brown cement and are arranged on the walls, ceiling, columns, and even on the exterior. There are also two complete skeletons hanging by chains on one of the walls, one of which is that of a child.
The chapel was dedicated to the Lord of the Steps, an image known in the city as Lord Jesus of the House of Bones, which impresses with the expressiveness with which it represents the suffering of Jesus Christ, in his walk with the cross to Calvary.
Visiting hours:
Open every day except: January 1; Easter Sunday; December 24 afternoon; December 25.
The hours change on the day of the legal time change.
Summer legal time from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM (last entry)
Winter legal time from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry)
The history of Portugal is extensive and immensely interesting; our monuments help to remind us of historical successes and to better understand Portuguese society from previous centuries. These are just three monuments among many that exist in Portugal, most of which allow for tourist visits, creating an excellent opportunity to learn more about our history.
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