Picoto da Melriça
The monument
39°41′40″N 8°07′50″W / 39.69444°N 8.13056°W / 39.69444; -8.13056
Width3 m2 (32 sq ft)[1]
Height9 m (30 ft)[1]
Beginning date1802[1]

Picoto da Melriça is a monument and the geodesic centre of mainland Portugal. Constructed in 1802, the triangulation station sits on top of the Serra da Melriça, a 592 m (1,942 ft) high mountain range in the municipality of Vila de Rei, offering a 360° view of its surroundings. Despite being the geodesic centre, it is not the geometric centre of mainland Portugal, which is located in the neighboring Mação.[1][2][3]

Predating the construction of the monument, Francisco António Ciera, a mathematician and cartographer was commanded by Maria I of Portugal to create a triangulation of the Kingdom of Portugal, a job he delegated from 1788 to 1803. The construction of the station took place in 1802.[1]

A museum (Museu da Geodesia) was created in 2002 next to the monument.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Picoto da Melriça em Vila de Rei é o centro geodésico de Portugal". Viagens aos locais que importam (in European Portuguese). 13 July 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Lusa, Filipa Parreira. "Centro de Portugal afinal não está em Vila de Rei" (in Portuguese). Público. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Pico da Melriça: Aqui é o centro de Portugal?" (in European Portuguese). Os Meus Trilhos. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Museu de Geodesia". Município de Vila de Rei. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
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