Rosa dos Ventos, Marble mosaic in Belém, Lisbon, Portugal
The Windrose is a large marble mosaic in a pedestrian zone in Belém, Lisbon, shaped like a compass rose. The circle is about 165 feet (50 meters) across and shows a central planisphere roughly 46 feet (14 meters) wide, surrounded by five smaller compass roses along the edges.
The Windrose was inaugurated on August 5, 1960, as a gift from South Africa to Portugal, honoring the shared history between the two countries. It was designed by architect Luís Cristino da Silva to mark the era of Portuguese exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Windrose is decorated with mythological figures, including a Neptune holding a trident, a mermaid, and faces representing the wind. These motifs reflect the maritime imagery found across Belém and connect the mosaic to the broader story of Portuguese seafaring.
The Windrose sits in a wide pedestrian area in Belém and is freely accessible from all sides, with no barriers or entry restrictions. It is close to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, making it easy to visit both on foot during the same walk.
The mosaic maps the actual routes and ships of Portuguese explorers from the 15th and 16th centuries, with caravels and specific voyage dates worked into the design. The wave-like background pattern mirrors the traditional cobblestone paving found on the surrounding streets of Lisbon.
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