Vasco da Gama Aquarium

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Aquarium

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Algés, Linda-a-Velha e Cruz Quebrada-Dafundo > Bairro Clemente Vicente

Location

The Vasco da Gama Aquarium is located in Algés, in the Dafundo area, within the parish of Cruz Quebrada, Dafundo, in the municipality of Oeiras. It is situated in an urban setting, close to the bank of the Tagus River, providing a natural connection to its defining theme. Its position allows for easy access, nestled in an environment that invites a stroll through the surroundings.

A Marine Legacy with History

Inaugurated in 1898, the Vasco da Gama Aquarium is one of the oldest public aquariums in the world. Its creation was linked to the celebrations of the fourth centenary of Vasco da Gama's departure for India, with the support of King Carlos I, a visionary monarch and a pioneer of oceanography in Portugal. Since its origin, the aquarium has been a center for the study and dissemination of aquatic environments.

The building, initially with a single floor, underwent renovations and expansions, with a second floor added around 1916. This upper space houses a large part of the valuable oceanographic collection gathered by King Carlos I himself during his research expeditions aboard the royal yacht "D. Amélia", standing out as a cultural heritage of great value.

Exploring the Collections

The Vasco da Gama Aquarium offers a dual perspective on the marine world: the historical and scientific side of a museum and the vibrancy of an aquarium. On its exhibition tour, visitors discover a wide range of live marine species, many of them from the Portuguese coast, as well as turtles and aquatic birds. The space consists of about ninety aquariums and tanks, allowing for close observation of the diversity of underwater life.

On the upper floor, in addition to the Noble Hall that houses King Carlos I's collection, with its impressive ceiling painted with marine motifs, there are other dedicated rooms. The Shark Room displays various species, some rare, in a carefully controlled lighting environment. The Malacology Room surprises with over six hundred species of mollusks from the Portuguese coast, and the Marine Mammals and Birds Room, the largest in the museum, presents collections of exotic shells, complementing the experience.

A Window to the Digital Ocean

In 2021, the Vasco da Gama Aquarium introduced a significant modernization, transforming the old seal tank into an innovative and interactive space, named "Window to the Ocean." This environment was designed for visitor interaction, especially for the younger ones, through cutting-edge technology.

The space features a mini amphitheater and a large interactive screen, where educational films about fish characteristics and topics related to ocean conservation are projected. Interactive tables allow children to color their favorite fish, which then come to life in a digital aquarium. An artificial intelligence floor simulates the sensation of being in water, creating an immersive and playful experience that brings visitors closer to the marine ecosystem in a dynamic and educational way.

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