Embassy of Portugal, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Embassy of Portugal, London |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | 11, Belgrave Square London, SW1X 8PP |
| Coordinates | 51°29′58.5″N 0°9′18.7″W / 51.499583°N 0.155194°W |
| Ambassador | Manuel Lobo Antunes |
The Embassy of Portugal in London is like Portugal's official home in the United Kingdom. It is a diplomatic mission, which means it's a place where people from Portugal work to keep a good relationship with the UK. The main embassy building is on Belgrave Square in Belgravia. There is also another office, a Portuguese consulate, in Portland Place, Fitzrovia.
History of the Embassy
Before moving to Belgrave Square, the Portuguese Embassy was located at 23-24 Golden Square in Soho, London. It was there from 1724 to 1747. A very important Portuguese statesman, the Marquess of Pombal, worked as the Ambassador there from 1738 to 1744.
The current embassy building was built around 1825. It is a beautiful house made of stucco, which is a type of plaster. The building is part of a group of historic buildings on Belgrave Square. These buildings are so important that they are called Grade I listed buildings. This means they have special protection to keep them looking the same. The famous architect George Basevi designed them.
On February 2, 2002, a special event happened near the embassy. A statue of a famous Portuguese British person, Prince Henry the Navigator, was unveiled. Prince Henry was a very important figure in Portugal's history. He helped start the Age of Discovery, which was a time when European explorers sailed to new parts of the world. His mother, Philippa of Lancaster, was from England. This statue looks very similar to another statue of Prince Henry in Fall River, Massachusetts, USA.
Images for kids
-
Side entrance to the embassy
