Picoto da Melriça

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]

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

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. "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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