Lisbon is a city steeped in history, where every monument bears witness to the collective memory, whether medieval or even older, such as Roman remains. For example, there are often several sculptures of figures from other times, such as the recently restored statue of Queen Catherine of Bragança.
According to the official website of the Parque das Nações Parish Council, “new stones were purchased and placed on the pedestal, the lighting was restored and the plaque was replaced”. This concluded the cleaning and maintenance work on the statue of the former queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland in the 17th century.
Across the Atlantic
The statue of D. Catarina de Bragança (1638-1705) in Lisbon is a replica of an original work designed for the borough of Queens (named after the monarch) in New York (United States of America).
However, the model created by Audrey Flack never saw the light of day due to strong public protest over its links to a colonial past. Today, only the replica installed in Parque das Nações remains.
Who was Catarina de Bragança?
Daughter of King João IV, the first king of the Bragança dynasty, the then Portuguese infanta married Charles II, sovereign of England, Scotland and Ireland. From 1662 until 1685, Catherine took on the role of queen consort.
On Protestant soil, Catherine was never particularly popular because she was a Catholic. Even so, she became known for the introduction of tea, which changed the habits of British society forever.
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook,Instagram and now WhatsApp too!