Colonial Grandeur, Decolonisation and the Contested Histories of O Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon

Abstract

This article examines the complex legacy of colonialism in Lisbon, using the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument as a focal point for contemporary debates on decolonisation and collective memory. By analysing this monument, which was originally erected during the authoritarian Estado Novo regime (1933–1974) to commemorate the Portuguese ‘Age of Discoveries’, this paper delves into the broader discourse of how colonial history is memorialised and its implications for Portugal's present-day attitude towards its colonial past. By critically examining the monument's narrative, symbols and the public's interaction with it, the study explores the tension between the historical valorisation of colonial achievements and the contemporary efforts to create a more nuanced understanding of the colonial era. It highlights the role of monuments in shaping collective memory, and the efforts to reinterpret and challenge the colonial narrative through activism and artistic interventions. The conclusion posits the Padrão dos Descobrimentos not just as a relic of the past, but as a dynamic site of memory that reflects ongoing debates about history, identity and decolonisation in Portugal. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how colonial legacies are navigated in public spaces and memory, shaping national identity.