[2] It was decided to re-use the Palácio de Cristal which had been constructed for an earlier exhibition in Porto.

[3] The exhibits came from Portugal itself (Braga, Chaves, Leixões, Matosinhos and Porto), Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea (Guinea-Bissau), India, Macao[8] (including a reproduction of the Guia lighthouse),[4] Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor (Portuguese Timor).

[8] There were reproductions of villages from different colonies[2] and of the Padrões of Dighton and Yellala,[4] along with a zoo, restaurants[2] a theatre, a cinema which showed 'The Dawn Patrol and an amusement park.

[4] The Macao pavilion included a teahouse and Chinese musicians while India was represented by a Hindu temple.

[3] The indigenous people present were also the subjects of portraits such as those by the artist Eduardo Malta which were put to use as picture postcards.