Rotunda da Boavista

Rotunda da Boavista, officially known as the Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque, is a large roundabout in Porto, Portugal. It honours Joaquim Augusto Mouzinho de Albuquerque, a Portuguese soldier who fought in Africa during the 19th century. [1]

Rotunda da Boavista and its commemorative column.

History and Symbolism

A 45 m (148 ft) column in the middle of the rotunda (Monumento aos Heróis da Guerra Peninsular) commemorates the victory of the Portuguese against the French troops that invaded Portugal during the Peninsular War (1807–1814).[2] The column, slowly built between 1909 and 1951, is a project by celebrated Porto architect José Marques da Silva and sculptor Alves de Sousa. The column is topped by a lion, the symbol of the Portuguese victory, which is bringing down the French imperial eagle. [2]

Location

The Casa da Música, Porto's modern music venue, is located in the Rotunda da Boavista.

The Rotunda da Boavista has 31416 m² of area and there are eight streets reaching this roundabout:

  • Avenida da Boavista (twice)
  • Rua de Caldas Xavier
  • Rua da Meditação
  • Rua de Júlio Dinis
  • Rua de Nossa Senhora de Fátima
  • Avenida de França
  • Rua de Cinco de Outubro

References
  1. Sofia Baptista. "Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square". localporto.com. Local Porto. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  2. "Stone statuary and the French Invasions". itinerante.pt. Itinerante. Retrieved November 22, 2015.

Media related to Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque (Porto) at Wikimedia Commons

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