Portugal's Renaissance: Art in the Age of Discovery

2019, 55 minutes

A 60' art history/travel documentary exploring the complex legacy of Portuguese trade, colonialism and religion on western art and architecture from the Age of Discovery to the present day.

"Portugal's Renaissance" will explore a series of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Portugal and China to investigate the complex legacy of Portuguese trade, colonialism and religion during the Age of Discovery. The documentary will look at how Christianity was a driving force behind Portuguese maritime exploration, and how churches served both as bases for missionary activity and as a record of the cross-cultural exchanges that took place between East and West. The original architecture of the churches featured in the series will be brought to life through a combination of location filming, aerial photography and exclusive interior access, while prominent historians will explain the artistic and cultural significance of their design.