Bergantim Real, Royal barge in Belém, Portugal.
The Bergantim Real is a wooden vessel about 29 meters long that was equipped with 40 oars and operated by around 80 oarsmen. The craft was built at the Arsenal da Marinha and now stands as a display object in the Navy Museum.
The ship was commissioned in 1784 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince João with Spanish Princess Carlota Joaquina. This occasion made the vessel a symbol of royal power and political alliances of that period.
The vessel represents maritime traditions of the 18th century and shows the craftsmanship of Portuguese shipbuilders of that era. Its use in royal ceremonies reveals how central river travel was to royal life in Lisbon.
The vessel is located in the Navy Museum in Belém and can be viewed along with other exhibits such as ship models. The location is easily accessible on foot and provides a good overview of Portuguese naval history.
In 1957 the vessel carried Queen Elizabeth II during a state visit to Portugal. This journey was one of its final active duties before taking its permanent place in the museum.
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