27/02/2008

#58 - 3 in 1

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"The 25th of April Bridge, also known as Bridge over the Tagus (Ponte sobre o Tejo), was inaugurated in 1966 with the name “Salazar Bridge”, the dictator who had it built. It was later renamed to commemorate the “Carnation Revolution” that happened on the 25th of April 1974. This was a day of "bloodless revolution." In the Carnation Revolution, the soldiers placed carnations in the muzzles of their rifles as they led the revolt against the world's longest dictatorship. This suspension bridge is very similar in appearance to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is 2.278km long and leaves Lisbon at high level above Alcântara and makes landfall at Almada on the southern bank of the river. Particularly busy during weekends, traffic jams can be avoided by taking the recently-built Vasco da Gama bridge or leaving your car on a parking lot and taking the train that passes on the under side of the bridge since 1999.
On the Almada side you will be able to see the towering monument of Cristo Rei, similar to the Redentor in Brazil, overlooking the Tagus. If you wish to go there, a lift will take you up 82m to the top of the pedestal, offering excellent views of the city and the river

The Monument to the Discoveries was inaugurated in 1960 during celebrations of the 500 year anniversary of the death of the Infant D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator). It evoques the maritime expansion and is designed in the shape of a caravel, showing Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small caravel, as well as many relevant heroes of Portuguese history (Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral - discoverer of Brazil - Fernão Magalhães - who crossed the Pacific in1520 -, the writer Camões and many others). Seen from the huge mariners compass this monument fascinates visitors with its impressiveness and its 50 metres height. It is visited by millions of people each year. Cut into the paving stone, the compass was a present from the Republic of South Africa in 1960 and it's best seen from the top of the Monument to the Discoveries, that you can access by elevator located inside the building. The central map, depicting galleons and mermaids, shows the routes of the discoverers in the 15th and 16th centuries.It is located in Belém, on the bank of the River Tagus, in an unique monumental area and looks particularly dramatic in the light of the late afternoon sun. "
Font: Lisbon - The Complete Holiday Destination Guide
You can also see the Flag of Lisbon. A gyronny of four parts of black and four of white.

7 comments:

MumbaiiteAnu said...

Amazing. Beautiful April bridge.
Great photo.

Anonymous said...

Lovely - I remember the monument from when I was in Lisbon a few years ago.

Thanks for taking the trouble to explain in such detail the various sights. It makes it really interesting :)

maria elisa said...

É sempre bom relembrar alguns detalhes esquecidos.

:)

sonia a. mascaro said...

Muito bonita sua foto da Ponte sobre o Tejo! Gostaria de conhecer Portugal!

Como falamos o mesmo idioma, se você tiver tempo, dê uma passada no blog de Portugal
O Silêncio Culpado , onde colaborei com um artigo sobre os idosos, um assunto que diz respeito a todos nós, jovens ou idosos.

Um abraço.

Uma por Dia said...

thaks for all your kind coments :)
I detailed information about the photos but unfortunately I do not have time to do so.
The items of this picture are emblematic of Lisbon, including the black and white flag.
Maria Elisa, não são detalhes esquecidos, são uma memória que nos tentam apagar, ou substituir, mas a história e os factos existem e na minha opinião infelizmente estamos de certa forma a voltar ao mesmo mas com o nome de democracia. Hoje deparei-me com cartazes pop de salazar nas paragens dos autocarros. foi um choque!

Travis said...

Thanks for your comments. I see these photos and it looks so warm. Want to trade places? Iowa certainly is beautiful, but the winters can be brutal. The weather changes very quickly. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Stop back if you get a chance.

Abby said...

I think that this is one of the best photos I've seen the bridge, O Cristo Rei, and the Discoveries monument. I would love to have some of your photos to put in a scrapbook for my children and myself - I have so little of Lisbon itself. I spent most of my time in the Algarve, Alentejo, Setubal and Almada. Sad for me, huh? They were beautiful, but well - Lisbon is Lisbon. It is spectacular.