Is Magellan celebrated in Portugal like Columbus is celebrated in Spain?

Question

Christopher Columbus is memorialized in many ways in Spain (street names, etc.) Because he sailed for Spain on his journey to the Americas. His actions were debatable, but that aside, he's looked at as a hero.

Ferdinand Magellan, however, as you know sailed for Portugal when he embarked on his journey.

So my question is this. Since I'm not from Portugal nor have I ever been there, does Magellan receive the same memorialization and hero status in Portugal that Columbus does in Spain?

Sorry, my mistake, I mean Magellan sailed for *SPAIN* not Portugal when he embarked

Answer 1

I'll skip the historical part since others have answer it correctly and I would just repeat their phrases.

As for the celebrations I think we really celebrate him. Not parties or holidays but, as you mentioned, with street/parks names, in history classes and so on...

There is a statue of him in a important roundabout in Lisbon (but roundabout has not his name and I don't know why. Its Praça do Chile).

All in all, he is the third most memorialized and celebrated Portuguese sailor after Vasco da Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral. I don't think that Bartolomeu Dias has more mentions than him. Even if he was 4th it would be great because Portugal has lots and lots of famous sailors due not only to the Portuguese Discoveries but also of self-initiative.

Just to end this text, If you asked if we could/should be more celebrated I would say we surely could but he is not forgotten.

Answer 2

The correct spelling is Fernão de Magalhães, Ferdinand Magellan is in Spanish. As the first answer says his services were refused by the king, because he was accused of having some illegal deals with Moors, so he gain a reputation of thief and pirate. This is why he offered his services to Spain.
And the answer to your question is: More or less. We have some streets with his name. In fact one of the most important avenues in my hometown (Oporto) is Avenida Fernão de Magalhães, There are streets with his name in almost every town, some public gardens, etc.
If we were to celebrate all our sailors, then Portugal would be celebrating almost everyday, as we had so many great sailors, such as: Diogo Cão, Bartolomeu Dias, Gil Eanes, Pedro Álvares Cabral, João Gonçalves Zarco, Vasco da Gama, and so on and so forth. And comparing Fernão de Magalhães to Vasco da Gama, the latter is much more important... at least for Portugal.

Answer 3

You have already answered the question: as Magellan (or Magalhaes as is writen in portuguese) sail for Spain, he is not celebrated in Portugal as Columbus in Spain. Although he is recognized as an famous portuguese of the time, we (portuguese) celebrate mainly Vasco da Gama (who discovered the sea route to India around Africa in 1498), Pedro Álvares Cabral (who was officially the first european to land in South America namelly in Brazil in 1500) and Bartolomeu Dias who was the first to pass the Cape of Good Hope and open way to the route to Asia around Africa.

Answer 4

Bad year for Spain. The Inquisition decided that Spain would become an all Catholic country. Jews and Muslims had until the end of July 1492 to get out. I think I'll pass.

Answer 5

Actually no, he is more often treated as a criminal. He learned to sail while at Henry's Navigation School, but Portugal refused to give him a chance to command, so he went to Spain for support. Portugal actually sent several boats to try and destroy his mission.

Answer 6

I don't know ,but I do know that there is the website somewhere that talks about different countries and the people and holidaes that they celebrate.