Vasco Da Gama Monument St Helena Bay, Western Cape

Oblique view of monument Photographer: Francois Swanepoel

Date: 1969 Type: Monument Status: Extant

Coordinates: 32°43'42.47" S 17°58'55.90" E Alt: 5m

Notes: The Monument commemorates the landing of the Portuguese navigator and explorer Vasco da Gama's expedition in 1497. Da Gama went on to open up the sea route from Europe to India. The year of birth of Vasco da Gama is contested but was for the occasion accepted as being 1469. The monument is in the form of two sculpted stylized padrões, Portuguese for 'columns', usually with crosses or in cross shape; singular form padrão, from the Latin pedra meaning 'rock' (In English probably 'standards'); with the raised facing of the one bearing the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Portugal, placed upon the surface of an exposed granite rock dome in commemoration of the quincentenary of Vasco da Gama's birth. It was donated by the Portuguese government to the Republic of South Africa and erected near the beach at Stompneus Bay in St Helena Bay at the place where Da Gama probably landed and came ashore on 8 November 1497. This monument was unveiled on 8 November 1969 by the then Portuguese Adjunct Prime Minister, Dr Alfredo Vaz Pinto (1939-1974) in the presence of the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Hilgard Muller; the Chief of the South African Navy, Admiral HH Biermann and the Mayor of St Helena Bay, Councillor JA Bester.

View from below Photographer: Francois Swanepoel Side view of monument Photographer: Francois Swanepoel Detail of engraved Coat of Arms Photographer: Francois Swanepoel