In the last century, the mortal remains of D. Pedro IV were sent to Brazil, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the independence of that country, in the midst of a dictatorship. Fifty years later, history repeats itself and, this time, it is the heart of the “Soldier King” who travels from Portugal to Brazil, involved in controversy, by memories of the dictatorship and in redoubled care.
D. Pedro’s heart left Portugal this Sunday and arrives in Brazil this Monday. The party plan is well defined and, says the person in charge of the festivities, Alan Coelho de Séllos, “The heart will be received in Brazil with State honors and will be treated as if Don Pedro I lived among us”.
This last part of the chief ceremonies’ speech was, in fact, taken literally. The trip between Portugal and Brazil it was in charge of the Brazilian Air Force and the heart of the king is transported in the space reserved for passengers, in a pressurized environment and inside a box designed to protect works of art. Accompanying the journey are three Portuguese representatives, including the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, Y a representative of the Brazilian government.
This trip was negotiated and evaluated by the municipality of Porto in the last four months and, according to the city council’s statement, “the safety of the relic will be guaranteed.” First, it was done A showcasedesigned by the architect Luís Tavares Pereira, which places the heart “on a par with a heart in the human body, taking as a reference the average height of individuals in Portugal and Brazil (men 1.74 m and 1.63 m), which places the heart at approximately 1.30 m”. A kit was also sent to Brazil with formaldehyde, the chemical substance that allows the conservation of the heart, and with material to break the window in an emergency.
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Source: Observadora
