Statue of Infante Don Enrique

One of the most striking elements of Infante Square (Praça do Infante) is the imposing statue of Prince Henry. It was created by sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida in 1960, to mark the V centenary of his death. The sculpture depicts the infant, 5th son of King Joao I and major figure of the Portuguese "Age of Discovery", a time of sea trips and explorations aimed at finding alternative ways of Mediterranean trade. Prince Henry was nicknamed "the navigator" and appears in the sculpture sitting with a quadrant in his hand.