Wind Rose

Right here lies a stunning 50 meter compass rose that journeyed across oceans as a gift from South Africa to Portugal in 1960. This magnificent pavement mosaic, known as the Rosa dos Ventos, is more than just decorative stonework. Architect Luís Cristino da Silva designed this intricate artwork using different types of limestone, including lioz, a rare beige stone found only in the Sintra region.

At its heart sits a 14 meter wide world map displaying the exact routes Portuguese carracks and caravels sailed during the 15th and 16th centuries, when explorers ventured into unknown waters searching for new trade routes to India and the Orient. The Wind Rose was inaugurated on August 5, 1960, marking the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry the Navigator's death. Henry was the royal patron who transformed Portugal into a maritime superpower by establishing a navigation school and sponsoring expeditions down the African coast.

You're standing in front of the Monument to the Discoveries in Belém, the exact spot where ships once departed on their perilous voyages. The mosaic captures maritime exploration through carved figures of ships and mermaids embedded in stone, surrounded by wave patterns crafted in traditional Portuguese pavement style. This diplomatic gift symbolized the historical ties between Portugal and South Africa during the Age of Discovery.