New7Wonders Monument Planned in Lisbon

Lisbon will soon boast a monument to the groundbreaking global movement that culminated here, in the city’s famed Estadio da Luz, on July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.


Zurich/Switzerland, May 14, 2008 - When The Official New 7 Wonders of the World were declared, thanks to more than 100 million votes cast from all continents, the eyes of the world were on Lisbon. Now, to mark this milestone in democracy and peaceful global dialogue, an interactive monument will be built on one of the major public spaces in the Portuguese capital.

On April 29, an agreement with the Municipality of Lisbon, represented by Mayor António Luís Santos da Costa, and New7Wonders, represented by its founder and president Bernard Weber and director Jean-Paul de la Fuente, and in the presence of the Commissionaire of the Official Declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World in Lisbon on 7 July 2007 and former Foreign Minister of Portugal, Professor Diogo Pinto de Freitas do Amaral, was signed that committed both parties to working together for the building of the Official New7Wonders Monument. Several popular and prominent public places, including squares and parks, were explored as possible locations for the high-tech monument.

Global Memory - created together, a testimony to intercultural dialogue

As explained by Bernard Weber at the signing, “The New7Wonders Monument is in honor of the millions of people around the world who voted in this first-ever global election. By joining their voices with others on all continents, of all ages, classes, races and religions, each of these global citizens shared in creating Global Memory. For the first time, the world shares 7 things that each person can appreciate and remember - that belong to humanity as a whole and celebrate our planet’s cultural diversity.”
As a country, Portugal has a long tradition of looking far beyond its borders. The New7Wonders campaign is surely the most international and ambitious project in which the Portuguese have played a major role, and it shows the importance to the country of international relations and a cross-cultural exchange.