Officials try to figure out how to fix 19th century statue after tourist breaks it while taking a selfie
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but one selfie in Portugal could turn out to be priceless.
Shortly before midnight on May 3, a 24-year-old man climbed up the facade of the Rossio train station in Lisbon. He wanted to take a selfie with a statue of King Sebastian created in the 19th century, but the statue fell to the ground and broke into more than a dozen places.
Now officials are trying to figure out how much it will cost to repair the damage, and the man could face criminal charges.
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The man tried to flee the scene, but was caught by police who are investigating the incident.
The statue of King Sebastian, who ruled in the 16th-century, stood about three feet tall in a niche between the front doors of the train station. Both the statue and building are classified as national monuments.
Officials at the state company responsible for the statue, Infraestruturas de Portugal, said they are looking into whether the statue can be restored, or whether a new one must be made. Once the cost is calculated, the company may bring legal charges against the man.
Rossio station, a transportation hub in the center of the city, is a tourist destination for its ornate facade, upscale hostel, Starbucks and link to Sintra (a world heritage site just outside of Lisbon).
The statue sat undisturbed outside the train station since its opening on June 11, 1890 — up until last week.
Officials have said that once the statue is restored, it will not be screwed to its pedestal. The problem, Pedro Ramos, spokesperson for Infraestruturas de Portugal, told a Portuguese news site, is "people going up to the statue," not the statue falling.
Although the statue is rarely noticed among the station's ornate facade, King Sebastian remains a revered figure in Portuguese history and symbol of hope.
He died in battle in North Africa when he was 24 years old, leaving behind neither body nor heir. His throne was passed onto Philip II of Spain. Philip promised that should Sebastian ever return, he would give the throne back.
The Portuguese still talk of legend that Sebastian will one day reappear out of a mist and retake the Portuguese throne.
Additional reporting by Associated Press.
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Cailey studied journalism at SUNY Purchase and french cinema & literature at Paris IV Sorbonne. She is a cynical optimist and Talking Heads karaoke enthusiast. Drop her a line @misscaileyanne
