Alexandre Herculano

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Oeiras

Location and Setting

The tribute to Alexandre Herculano in Oeiras is located at one of the highest points in the municipality, within the vast Parque dos Poetas (Poets' Park). This green environment was designed to celebrate Portuguese culture and literature, offering a tranquil and inspiring setting. From this spot, one can contemplate a vast landscape encompassing the Tagus River estuary and extending to the Atlantic Ocean, inviting reflection and appreciation for natural beauty. The monument dedicated to the writer is integrated into the "Alameda dos Poetas" (Poets' Promenade), a path that guides visitors through the works of distinguished figures of Portuguese literature.

The Honoured Figure

This sculptural tribute is dedicated to Alexandre Herculano de Carvalho e Araújo, one of the most influential personalities of the 19th century in Portugal. His extensive work spans poetry, journalism, and, most prominently, modern Portuguese historiography. Herculano is recognized as a pioneer in the critical and rigorous approach to the country's historical events, being a central figure for understanding Portuguese Romanticism. The artistic representation of Herculano in this space is a creation of the sculptor Zulmiro de Carvalho.

Legacy and Inspiration

Alexandre Herculano left us a multifaceted body of work, with particular emphasis on his monumental História de Portugal (History of Portugal), which remains a fundamental reference for medieval studies. Beyond his role as a historian, his poetry, notably the work “A Harpa do Crente” (The Believer's Harp), reveals a deep sensitivity to religious themes, the grandeur of nature, and the vicissitudes of the human condition. His words convey a desire for transcendence and a conviction in the perpetuity of poetic expression. Visiting this spot in the Parque dos Poetas offers a moment of contact with the memory of a thinker who indelibly marked Portuguese culture and identity.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt