From any part of the historic center of Braga one can be view on the top of the mountain in the town of “Tenões (Santa Eulália)” and at a height of over 400 meters (over 1,312 feet) above sea level, the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, a place of pilgrimage in Portugal. Continue reading “Escadiaria do Bom Jesus – Braga, Portugal”
With its front in the Rua Sá da Bandeira and a few steps from the Ferrovial Station of São Bento in Porto, Portugal, is the Church of Saint Anthony of the Congregated. Continue reading “Church of Saint Anthony of the Congregated – Porto, Portugal”
Serving as a theatrical backdrop to the Silversmith’s Square, in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia-Spain) we find the Casa do Cabildo, or Casa de la Estrella, as it is also known.
The architect Clemente Fernandez Sarela, is responsible for its construction in the eighteenth century Baroque Compostela style. The structure has a depth of less than 4 meters and fulfills the main function of enclosing the Silversmith’s Square space. Continue reading ““Casa do Cabildo” – Santigo de Compostela, Spain”
The earthquake of 1755 definitely caused a lot of damage in the city of Lisbon, a fact that forced major reconstruction works in the capital of Portugal. The Arch of the Rua Augusta or Triumphal Arch of Lisbon, built as a bell tower in 1775, part of the emblematic works that the Marquis of Pombal entrusted as part of these reconstruction works. Continue reading “Arch of the Rua Augustus – Lisbon, Portugal”
The Hospital of the Catholic Kings in Santiago de Compostela, has 500 years of existence, and has since been converted into a hotel, it is considered the oldest in all of Spain. In 1954 it became a National “Parador” with a privileged location, facing the Obradoiro Plaza and next to the great Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Continue reading “Hospital of the Catholic Kings – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
The Chapel of the Souls is located on “Rua de Santa Catarina” with its corner on “Rua de Fernandes Tomás”, barely a block away from the “Bolhão” Market in the “Santo Ildefonso” neighborhood in Porto, Portugal. Continue reading “Chapel of the Souls – Porto, Portugal”
In our visit to Santiago de Compostela, we strolled many times through this square, without properly knowing its history. It turns out that the term or name “Plaza de Quintana” by definition is the “Plaza de la Plaza”. However, this square is actually composed of two sections, the Quintana de Abaixo or of the Dead and the Quintana de Arriba or the Plaza of the Living. Continue reading “The Quintana Square – Santigo de Compostela, Spain”
Since ancient times and all throughout the world, temples and places of reflection have been built in the highest mountains, in order to be closer to their god or their gods. In Portugal, the “Bom Jesus do Monte” is a another clear example of this practice, repeating itself in several places in Portugal. Continue reading “Bom Jesus do Monte – Braga, Portugal”
The Santa Justa Elevator is the only one of Lisbon’s elevators configured vertically. Its function as a means of transport has declined to become an important tourist attraction. And we confirm that it is, essentially for the time it took us to make the line to enter the elevator and finally climb. Continue reading “The “Santa Justa” Elevator – Lisbon, Portugal”
The “Castelo dos Mouros” or Castle of the Moors was an experience when visiting Sintra, Portugal. Although some assume the challenge of climbing on foot, we preferred to ride the bus that took us straight to the castle. Why? The Castle of the Moors rises on one of the summits of the mountain range, specifically in the parish of São Pedro de Penaferrim in the village of Sintra, Portugal. Continue reading “Castle of the Moors – Sintra, Portugal”