Belem | |
Belem is located on Rio Tejo at the west end of Lisboa. This was the departure point for Vasco da Gama on his initial voyage of discovery to India. That voyage provides much of the inspiration for the sites around the town including the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, the Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum), the Torre de Belem, and the Pradao dos Descobrimentos. | |
|
|
Photo by Jack & Nikki Goodman |
|
|
|
|
|
The
Museo de Marinha occupies one of the wings of the monastery. It is
a fascinating place for those of us interested in boats, but should be very
interesting to those who are not boaters. The museum houses a vast
collection of ship models and artifacts of Portuguese naval history, in
particular the voyages of discovery. These artifacts include Astrolabs,
sextants, compass, cannons, etc.. Interestingly, some of the ship models are large and detailed enough that they were actually used to train Portuguese Naval Cadets in handling large sailing vessels.
|
Photo by Jack & Nikki Goodman |
Photo by Jack & Nikki Goodman. |
|
Photo by Jack & Nikki Goodman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a situation not dissimilar to that of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Both were constructed as temporary structures for a major exposition. Only the Eiffel Tower was actually built to last and did not need to be re-built. The monument represents the bow of a Caravel (the Portuguese vessel of discovery) with the principals of the discoveries depicted along the bow. At the head of the group is Prince Henry the Navigator, who provided much of the leadership and funding for the discoveries, followed by Vasco da Gama and many more discoverers. You can take an elevator inside to the top of the monument. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|