General plan of Parque das Nações

The seed for EXPO ‘98 (the 1998 Lisbon World Exhibition) was sown in 1989 by the National Committee for the Commemoration of the Portuguese Discoveries. It took place beside the Tagus, in the eastern part of the city, and marked the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the sea route to India. The theme was ‘The oceans: a Heritage for the future’. Around 150 countries took part, divided into two international zones. The key concept behind the exhibition was addressed in five themed pavilions: Oceans, Portugal, Knowledge of the Sea, Virtual Reality, Utopia and the Future. Once the exhibition was over, all of the pavilions became important facilities in their own right.

The event also provided the impetus for the creation of additional infrastructure, including the Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon Oriente train station and the extension of the metro network. EXPO ‘98 made it possible to realise an ambitious urban and environmental renewal project along the riverfront of the Tagus, near the Doca dos Olivais, formerly an industrial dockland area. This gave rise to the new Parque das Nações development, which is dedicated to recreation and housing.