Vasco da Gama Tower Vasco da Gama Tower The Vasco da Gama Tower (, ) is a lattice tower with skyscraper in the civil parish of Parque das Nações, the municipality of Lisbon, in Portugal. Built on the north bank of the Tagus river, it is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (the first European to arrive in India by sail, in 1498). The tower was built in 1998 for the Expo '98 World's Fair. At the base of the tower was a three-story building that served as the European Union Pavilion during the Expo. While they were open, the tower was
Vasco da Gama a few meters away from the tombs of the kings Manuel I and John III, whom da Gama had served. Vasco da Gama and his wife, Catarina de Ataíde, had six sons and one daughter: His male line issue became extinct in 1747, though the title went through female line. Over his numerous years serving the Portuguese crown, da Gama was rewarded with many different titles, distinctions, and offices: Vasco da Gama is one of the most famous and celebrated explorers from the Age of Discovery. As much as anyone after Henry the Navigator, he was responsible for Portugal's success