“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.