Follow us:
Dias Museum
Located in
South Africa :: Western Cape (Garden Route)
:: Mossel Bay
Category:
Attraction :: Museum/Gallery
The Diaz Museum was officially erected in 1901 to serve as a grain and sawmill. In the Museum you will find a life size replica of Bartolomeu Dias's ship. Displayed around the ship you will find maritime history, and the early history of the Portuguese, Dutch and English navigators. When walking in the museum along the ramp you can witness many instruments used in those days for navigation. The Museum was named after Bartolomeu Dias who was the master mariner. On the 3rd of February 1488, Bartolomeu Dias was the first explorer to set foot in South Africa Mossel Bay. After arriving here on the holy day of the Patron Saint Blaize he named Mossel Bay 'The Watering Place of Saint Blaize' and collected fresh water from the fountain that still exists today. Walking into the Museum you will see a magnificent ceramic mural of blue and white Portuguese tiles. This was created by Portuguese artist, Gilberto. It displays the mythical figure Adamastor. Luis Vasda Cameos wrote a poem about Adamastor inspired by Vasco da Gama's encounter with heavy storms that surrounded the Cape in 1497, after this the tale of this sea spirit was created. The story about Adamastor was because of his rebellion towards the Gods he was expelled from Olympus, his punishment was to be transformed into a rugged mountain at the southern tip of Africa, it was here that he guards the seas and punishes the Portuguese for their free movement along this coast by sending terrible storms. The superstition about Adamastor was said that if any sailor was to see Adamastor bad luck would fall upon them. Looking at the Vasco da Gama Exhibit which was officially opened in 1997 exactly 500 years after he was here. This exhibit shows the contact they had with the indigenous Khoi-Khoi tribe and their first trade between them. If you listen closely the Khoi's music and the Portuguese trumpets can be heard with the sound of waves breaking and seagulls. Also in the museum is a large collection of old maps. On the upper level of the museum there is interesting displays of shipwrecks. On 30 August 1888 Rosebud got shipwrecked on Diaz Beach at Mossel Bay during a strong south-east wind on route from Calcutta to London with only general cargo on boards. No lives were lost. The captain of the Rosebud was Captain J. Collie.
| Address : | 1 Market St, Mossel Bay, 6500, Garden Route, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Postal : | Private Bag X1, Mossel Bay, 6500, Western Cape, South Africa. |
| Tel : | +27(0)44 691 1067 |
| Email : | Click Here |
| Website : | Click Here |
Mon-Fri:09:00-16:45. Pub Hol:& Weekends:09:00-15:45, Closed Good Fri and Christmas.
Activity
(11)
Attraction
(25)
Auto Services
(15)
Camping
(6)
Civil Infrastructure
(4)
Emergency Services
(9)
Entertainment
(2)
Food & Drink
(33)
Land Mark
(23)
Lodging
(65)
Lodging Infrastructure
(5)
Money
(2)
Motorbike Services
(2)
Places
(16)
Protected Areas
(2)
Road Marker
(7)
Services
(2)
Shopping
(25)
Specialist Services
(1)
Tourist Information
(1)
Transportation
(10)
Follow us on
