THEME DAY # 13: CIRCLES AND SPHERES

(All images were downloaded from the internet)

Today is Theme Day at [CDPB], our City Daily Photo Blog Community around the Planet!!... The theme this month concerns circles and spheres. Well, today is also a National Holiday in Portugal as we are cellebrating the restoration of the Independence of Portugal in 1640, after 60 years of Spanish domination.

Thus, I decided to post a photo of a Portuguese Armillary Sphere, which is present in many monuments and in the modern flag of Portugal, having been a national symbol since the reign of D. Manuel I, the 14th King of Portugal (May 31, 1469 – December 13, 1521), who also used it in the flag of the Portuguese Royal House of Aviz-Beja.

King Manuel supported the Portuguese Navigations and the development of Portuguese commerce. During his reign, the following was achieved:

• 1498 — Vasco da Gama discovered the maritime route to India;
• 1500 — Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil;
• 1505 — Francisco de Almeida became the first viceroy of India;
• 1503-1515 — Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque secured the monopoly of the Indian ocean and Persian Gulf maritime routes for Portugal.

Finally, I take the opportunity to post the Anthem of the restoration of the Independence of Portugal, on the above image (click to better read the lyrics) and now playing at Radio Atlântico Azul!...

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