American television channel CBS News highlighted Sagres and its role during the Portuguese Discoveries in a documentary on its ‘Sunday Morning’ show on October 13.
Entitled ‘How Portugal became the first global sea power’, the documentary by journalist Martha Teichner featured the Portuguese coastline and strategic locations during the Age of Discovery and aspects related to Portugal’s role in the exploration of vital maritime routes.
Filming for the documentary took place not only in Sagres but also in Belém (Lisbon) and Nazaré. In an article on ‘the Sunday Morning’ website, Martha Teichner wrote: “Portugal is a country where the sea is and always has been regarded as a living being – to be stared down, confronted … Portugal’s greatest heroes – Vasco da Gama among them – are its explorers and their patrons during the Age of Discovery.”
Regarding Sagres, she wrote: “Here, close to where many explorers began their voyages, Prince Henry surrounded himself with scholars, mapmakers, astronomers, as well as navigators, amassing knowledge and intelligence – the 15th century version of R&D. Like a venture capitalist, he financed expeditions intended to push the boundaries of the known world – for profit, and to spread Christianity.”
