ARQUIVO TROVE
KING EDWARD’S VISIT TO PORTUGAL.
FIRST COUNTRY VISITED SINCE HIS MAJESTY'S ACCESSION.
LONDON, March 21.
King Edward VII. will, it is' 'anticipated, shortly leave England on a yachting cruise, some days' after Queen Alexandra has gone to Denmark. The visit of His Majesty to the King of Portugal will naturally be the chief incident, the preparations, including a military review, a regatta on the Tagus, and probably a bull fight and a ball. Intelligence from Lisbon is to the effect that the approaching visit has created an excellent impression, much satisfaction being expressed at the manner in which, the Barotse question, has been settled, and the cordial spirit noticeable between Great Britain and Portugal, which for centuries have been united by a political alliance. (NOTA: José Bento de Araújo foi um dos cavaleiros que participaram na corrida.)
Principal seaport and capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is situated on the right bank of the Tagus, nine miles above its mouth. It is built on a succession of hills, rising from the quays in the form of an amphitheatre. The extensive assortment of churches, convents, and houses of dazzling whiteness are most imposing when viewed from the river. Lisbon has been rightly designated the 'Sultana of the West’, for its situation closely rivals that of Constantinople. The streets of the older parts of the city more notably in the east, which is the oldest portion are steep, narrow, and, badly paved. That, part, however, which has been rebuilt since the great earthquake of 1755, which lies on even ground, consists of several parallel streets, which pleasantly contrast with the more ancient thorough fares. The shock was a terrible catastrophe, causing the death of 30,000 people. Property of the value of £20,000,000 was destroyed, comprising, many splendid edifices and priceless art treasures.
Our large illustration depicts the famous square, the Praca do Commercio, better known as the Terreiro de Paca.(NOTA: Terreiro do Paço) From east to west it measures 585ft., and from north to south 5.366ft. This square was rebuilt after the earthquake by order of the Marquis of Pombal. Here may be seen the Stock Exchange, the Custom House, the India Office, the Town Hall, the magnificent naval, arsenal. The Palace das Necessidades, the residence of the Kings of Portugal possesses little architectural beauty. It stands on a hill and commands a grand view, the gardens being full of aviaries, fountains, and exotics. King Carlos I has established himself in the Palace da Ajuda, a roomy but unfinished building. Lisbon is supplied with water by the Aquedutct of Aquas Livres, (NOTA: Aqueduto das Águas Livres) erected 1729 by the then reigning monarch. Its construction took 20 years, and it consists of 127 stone arches, the highest of which is 263ft.
Lisbon Cathedral, is not meritorious, but the churches of San Roque and Nossa Senhora da Graca are magnificently decorated with lapis lazuli porphyry, verd-antique, and other precious marbles. The most interesting church is the Mosterio de Bolem, (NOTA: Mosteiro de Belém) an appanage of the palace of that name. It was built by King Manuel in 1500, on the site where embarked in 1497 Vasco da Gama, the illustrious navigator.
Philip II is said to have made a mistake when he
omitted to establish the capital of his empire at Lisbon. If he had done so,
Spain and Portugal would to-day probably be one prosperous and united kingdom.
Lisbon would then be the natural seaport of the whole Spanish Peninsula, for
the Tagus runs inland for hundreds of miles into the very heart of Spain, like
a giant arm, to gather up its wealth and bring it to the Atlantic, thence to be
conveyed to Europe, India, the United Kingdom or Brazil. The harbor of Lisbon
is one of the finest in the world, commodious quays extending along the river
bank for two or three miles. Exports comprise wine, oil, fruit, cork, fish, vegetable,
and salt; imports including grain, silk, linen, iron, hardware, coal, etc. Many
lines of steamers make Lisbon a port of call. Anciently called Olisipo, under
the Romans its name was Felicitas Julia. Captured by the Moors in 716, it remained
in their possession until 1147. Lisbon was taken by the French in 1807, but'
two years later resisted an attack by Massena, one of Napoleon's most
distinguished generals.
In THE KALGOORLIE MINER, Kalgoorlie (Austrália) – 6 de Maio de 1903