A epopeia dos golfinhos do Cais do Valongo

Research reveals that the Valongo Wharf, excavated in 2011, was not constructed to welcome Empress Teresa Cristina but rather as a response to local demand for a new Cais and Praça do Valongo. The study traces the history of two bronze dolphin sculptures through their creation, installation, and subsequent displacement using Object Biography methodology. By analyzing archives, periodicals, and images, the authors uncover the symbolic significance of these sculptures, rooted in Antiquity, and provide an unprecedented contribution by identifying their current location. This challenges the narrative that the wharf was solely built for the Empress's arrival.

Gaia, D. V., & Bustamante, R. M. d. C. (2023). The epic of the dolphins at Cais do Valongo. Revista Do Arquivo Geral Da Cidade Do Rio de Janeiro, (24), 20–67. https://doi.org/10.65625/a80a4c11