Lisbon: The Age of Discovery
|
by Lisbon with Pats in Lisbon
12 Oct 2017
45min
 1.5mi
|
| Rating |
|
|
Share
|
|
About the audio tour
“The sea with an end can be Greek or Roman. The endless sea is Portuguese”, wrote the poet Fernando Pessoa.
Lisbon is a maritime city rich in history, architecture and stories. This tour will take you through the hallmarks of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, a fascinating time of kings, explorers, writers and navigators. This was a time steeped in adventure.
From periods of discovery to periods of autocracy. You'll hear about Estado Novo, the autocratic regime of the 1940's. Find out how they redesigned the Belém district to represent a romanticized idealization of the Portuguese Exploration.
You’ll see not only 16th century UNESCO World Heritage sites, like Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, but Estado Novo hallmarks as well, such as the Empire Square or the Monument to the Discoveries, on the waterfront.
Journey into Portuguese maritime history, and find out how a tiny country on the western edge of Europe became the world's first superpower.
Major Landmarks
Jerónimos Monastery, Praça do Império, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Belém Tower
Directions to starting point
Start at Afonso de Albuquerque Square. It's the square right in front of Belém Palace and close to the Coach Museum, in Belém District.
How to get there:
By Train: Belém station
By Tram: 15
By Bus: 728 – 714 - 727 - 729 - 751
Bus/Tram Stop: Belém (the one prior to Jerónimos Monastery)
Tips
Places to stop along the way:
The Coach Museum, Pastelaria de Belém, Belém Cultural Centre, Belém Tropical Botanical Garden
Best time of day:
Morning from 10am onwards. The monuments open at 10am and close at 5.30/6pm. Please note that last admissions are, in general, at 5pm/5.30pm on Winter Schedule and that the Monuments are closed on Mondays. In the Summer, avoid the hottest time of the day (1pm-3pm) or, at least, take enough water and sun protection with you.
Precautions:
Beware of pickpockets on trams and buses to Belém.
Similar Audio Tours in Lisbon
From Posh Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon for a Ginjinha
1mi
30min
This tour starts in one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Here you can wander around a variety of fresh produce and craft markets, have a drink at one of the kiosks or a meal in one of the many restaurants offering many different types of... More»
Chiado to Principe Real: Local History, City Views and Urban Cool
1mi
45min
This short stroll takes you from one of Lisbon's most emblematic cafés in Chiado to a square packed with history and on to the trendy Principe Real district. On the way, you'll be able to admire spectacular views of Lisbon from various points,... More»
Lisbon and the Tagus River
1mi
30min
This tour is about the relationship between Lisbon and the Tagus river.
Sophia de Mello Breyner, one of Portugal's greatest writers, wrote a poem about Lisbon that reads:
"Here and there in Lisbon
In a hurry or distracted
We turn a corner... More»
