March 6, 2011
Sabugal- Sabugal Castle
sexta-feira, 25 de março de 2011
Sabugal - Sabugal Castle I
March 6, 2011
Sabugal- Sabugal Castle
Sortelha - Sortelha Castle I
March 6, 2011
Sortelha- Sortelha Village/Castle
The fortress stands cooled on top of a rocky hill and its fortress walls are surrounded by a stunning landscape at this elevation. Indeed, once upon a time the city was located entirely beyond the walls of Sortelha.
The castle was erected there primarily for defensive purposes and from the final construction days it plays a crucial defensive role. Sortelha Castle was built in 1228 by King Sancho II.
He chose the location very carefully, resulting that the Sortelha Castle started to be built at 760 m on a high plateau. Later the medieval defensive structure was strengthened and renovated by Kings Dinis and King Fernando.
Sortelha Castle was an important defensive structure and was maintained because of its splendid location which allowed a perfect view of the entire region, which in itself is one step ahead of the action potential enemy.
quarta-feira, 23 de março de 2011
Almourol - Castelo de Almourol II
September 11, 2010
Almourol - Almourol Castle
Description: After the Order of the Knights Templar was eradicated in 1307, and the Portuguese reconquista ended, there was no longer any need for the stronghold, and the Almourol Castle was abandoned and forgotten. In the 19th century the castle was popularized as an example of chivalric and romantic ideals of the Middle Ages. Many of the original structures were destroyed in a failed attempt to recreate the grand medieval monument, without remaining true to its heritage.
On the 16th of June 1910, by Royal Edit, the castle was classified as a national monument and, a few decades later it was adapted to be an Official Residence of the Portuguese Republic. Additional renovations took place during the 1940s and 1950s and some important events of the dictatorship period were held within its walls. It is important to note that most of these renovations which had started in the 19th century, were not respectful of the castle's original design, they were instead influenced by the 19th century romantic ideals and its conception of life in the Middle Ages, which lead to many of the castles primitive structures being sacrificed and several decorative elements added. Nowadays the castle is the property of the Portuguese Army and is currently located inside a designated military area.
References: Wikipedia - The free Encyclopedia
References: Wikipedia - The free Encyclopedia
Almourol - Castelo de Almourol I
September 11, 2010
Almourol - Almourol Castle
Description: situated in the small Almourol island, a rocky island, in the middle of the Tejo river, in Praia do Ribatejo, a parish in Vila Nova da Barquinha, Central Portugal. The castle was a Knights Templar stronghold used during the "Reconquista".
The site has been occupied since the antiquity. It is believed it was a primitive lusitanian redoubt and was populated from Roman times until the late Middle Ages. It is certain that in 1129, when Portuguese troops conquered the land, the castle already existed and was called Almorolan.
The site was given to the Knights Templar, who built a settlement between the Mondego and the Tejo rivers. At the time, they were responsible for the defence of the capital, then Coimbra. The castle has been rebuilt, but it is assumed the architectural characteristics remain largely the same today.
Through an epigraph, placed on the main gate, we know that the reconstruction ended in 1171, two years after the building of the Castle of Tomar. The two castles have several characteristics in common, both built in the same style of military Templar architecture. Both opted for a quadrangular disposal of the spaces. The high walls are protected by nine circular towers, with a jail-tower at the center of the structure.
These last characteristics constitute two of the innovative elements which the Knights Templar brought to military architecture in Portugal. The jail, which appeared first in the 11th century in Tomar, the main Templar defensive redoubt in Portugal, is unusual in pre-Romanic castles. The jail tower of the castle of Almourol had three levels and was significantly modified over time, while it still retains important features. The design of walls with equally placed towers along the walls, was brought to the western Iberian peninsula by the knights.
References: Wikipedia - The free Encyclopedia
References: Wikipedia - The free Encyclopedia
sexta-feira, 18 de março de 2011
quinta-feira, 17 de março de 2011
Covilhã - Serra da Estrela II
January 29, 2011
Covilhã - Serra da Estrela
3º Prémio na Categoria de Natureza no Concurso de fotografia "Olhares na Serra", promovido pelo Portal Serra da Estrela
3º Prémio na Categoria de Natureza no Concurso de fotografia "Olhares na Serra", promovido pelo Portal Serra da Estrela
Covilhã - Serra da Estrela I
January 29, 2011
Covilhã - Serra da Estrela
Description: Is the highest mountain range in Continental Portugal and one of the highest in the Sistema Central. This point is not a distinctive mountain summit, but rather the highest point in a plateau, being known as Torre. Torre has the unusual feature of being a summit that is accessible by paved road. The peak has a topographic prominence of 1204 m and its parent peak is Pico Almanzor, in Spain
quinta-feira, 10 de março de 2011
Sintra - National Palace III
February 13, 2010
Sintra - Palácio Nacional
Description: Most buildings around the central courtyard - called the Ala Joaninamullioned windows in Manueline and Moorish styles (called ajimezes), the conical chimneys of the kitchen that dominate the skyline of the city, and many rooms including: (John's Wing) - date from this campaign, including the main building of the façade with the entrance arches and the
kitchen that dominate the skyline of the city, and many rooms including:
kitchen that dominate the skyline of the city, and many rooms including:
- The Swann's Room (Sala dos Cisnes) in Manueline style, named so because of the swans painted on the ceiling;
- Pegas' Room (Sala das Pegas); the magpies (pegas) painted on the ceiling and the frieze hold the emblem por bem (for honour) in their beaks. This relates to the story that the king John I was caught in the act of kissing a lady-in-waiting by his queen Philippa of Lancaster. To put a stop to all the gossip, he had the room decorated with as many magpies are were women at the court;
- Arab Room (Sala dos Árabes).
Sintra - National Palace II
February 13, 2010
Sintra - Palácio Nacional
Description: The history of the Sintra Palace goes back to the times of Islamic domination, when Sintra had two different castles. One of them, located on top of a hill overlooking Sintra is the so-called Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros), which is now a romantic ruin. The other, located downhill, was the residence of the Moorish rulers of the region. It first historical reference appeared in the 10th century by the Arab geographer Al-Bacr. In the 12th century, when the village was conquered by King Afonso Henriques, the King took the residence in his possession. The mixture of Gothic, Manueline and Moorish styles in the present palace is, however, mainly the result of building campaigns in the 15th and early 16th centuries.
Nothing built during Moorish rule or during the reign of the first Portuguese kings survives. The earliest surviving part of the palace is the Royal Chapel, possibly built during the reign of King Dinis I in the early 14th century. Much of the palace dates from the times of King John I, who sponsored a major building campaign starting around 1415
Sintra - National Palace I
February 13, 2010
Sintra - Palácio Nacional
Description: also called Town Palace (Palácio da Vila Vila=Town) is located in the town of Sintra, in Portugal near Lisbon.
It is the best preserved mediaeval Royal Palace in Portugal, having been inhabited more or less continuously at least from the early 15th up to the late 19th century. It is an important tourist attraction and is part of the Cultural landscape of Sintra, designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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