Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

The Island of the Presidency of the Republic in the Second Life virtual world shows a new area dedicated to the enterprising and innovatory spirit of the Sagres School and its relevance in the history of the Portuguese discoveries.

In this new area we can find a 3D representation of the main nautical instruments enhanced by the Portuguese and an explanation of their importance in the context of the age in which they were created.

With the main highlight given to the Armillary Sphere, a national symbol shown on our national standard, other instruments are included such as the Backstaff, the Compass, the Nautical Quadrant and the Astrolabe, recreated in real size and expanded to allow a better understanding of their operation.

The history of cartography is represented on panels with ancient charts which show the knowledge of the planet in the XV century.

A ship building yard of the period can equally be visited illustrating how vessels were built and a sea port where these were fitted and provisioned and how the stone standards were loaded.

It will also be possible for visitors to navigate in period caravels and a simple means to become a helmsman in a period vessel.

A first edition of the epic work Os Lusíadas was created for the occasion and this will be available for reading anywhere in the Second Life virtual world.

Through association of the history of the discoveries with new technologies, an application to Google Earth was created which shows the main dates of the Portuguese discoveries through the location of the stone standards.

The following events may be seen in the Armillary auditorium:

• On 8 June 2010
  - Direct transmission of the encounter “Innovatory Entrepreneurialism in the Portuguese Diaspora” which will be held in the Oriente Foundation
• On 9 June 2010
  13 hours - Message of the President of the Republic to the Portuguese Communities
  22 hours - The Ballet Sleeping Beauty, virtually recreated for the first time with the use of artificial language animation
  

Throughout 9 and 10 June a number of Portuguese artists who have gained notoriety in Second Life will hold performances on the Island.

A group of volunteers will be available during the whole day to guide and help the visitors.

Similarly to the already existing space, this new area was set up by volunteers who made available a part of their time, skills and technology to create an interactive view of the History of Portugal.

After this date the space will remain open to visitors and guided tours will be made available by prior contact with the Virtual Cultural Community.

Contact: accvirtual@gmail.com, Rui Lourenço +351 962 706 631