1. Snap a picture of: (Everything – well, you know miss snap-happy!) Belem Tower (1515) was once a beacon used by ships returning from the Indies and New World located in the middle of the Tagus River . Now it’s in the midst of a swell of tourists. Missed a good shot so favourite & lucky snap however was of these lion faces…or is it men (with big noses)?
Man or Lion? |
2. Take a day trip to: Jeronimos Monastery and Belem to appreciate a maritime history that predates even Vasco da Gama’s voyage in 1498. The Monastery’s construction was financed by ‘pepper money’, a spice tax, and is amazingly ornamented, as all Manueline architecture was.
Gaudy Gothic...just fabulous |
3. Enjoy the walk through: Rossio. A busy town square decorated with fountains and statues. Sidewalk cafes and restaurants fill the pavements. Rossio has seen some action in its time, such as bull fights, festivals, military parades and even burning of heretics during the years of Spanish Inquisition. The National Theatre of Donna Maria II (1840) flanks the north side and the nearby Rossio Station built in Neo-Manueline style (1887) has impressive Moorish arches at its entrance.
Reconstruction after the 1755 Earthquake |
4. Scale the walls of: St George’s Castle This Moor built citadel was turned into palatial residences in 1147 by King Afonso Henriques. After the 1755 earthquake, the ruins were “reconstructed” and developed into public gardens, but not until 1938. We "scaled" them from the comfort of a Starbucks cafe.... seen here if you look closely & up through the window.
Look Up not Look Out |
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Being Restored |
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