| Picoto da Melriça | |
| Width: | 3sqm[1] |
| Height: | 9m (30feet) |
| Begin: | 1802 |
| Map Name: | Portugal |
| Map Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 39.6944°N -8.1306°W |
Picoto da Melriça is a monument and the geodesic centre of mainland Portugal. Constructed in 1802, the triangulation station sits on top of the Serra da Melriça, a 592m (1,942feet) high mountain range in the municipality of Vila de Rei, offering a 360° view of its surroundings. Despite being the geodesic centre, it is not the geometric centre of mainland Portugal, which is located in the neighboring Mação.[2] [3]
Predating the construction of the monument, Francisco António Ciera, a mathematician and cartographer was commanded by Maria I of Portugal to create a triangulation of the Kingdom of Portugal, a job he delegated from 1788 to 1803. The construction of the station took place in 1802.
A museum (Museu da Geodesia) was created in 2002 next to the monument.[4]