CC BY-SA 3.0

CC BY-SA 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
Forte de São João Baptista das Berlengas‎

The Forte de São João Baptista is set on a rocky islet just off the Ilha de Berlenga, which itself is set just off the coast of Peniche. This 17th century fort was built to prevent the strategically important islands being occupied by North African pirates, or worse, the Spanish.

Related images

Ilha Deserta beach - Faro

The beautiful, sandy Praia da Conchas (Shell beach) on the Ilha Deserta (Deserted island) off the coast of Faro.

Whilst rarely completely deserted there are no permanent inhabitants of the island. The building you see is a restaurant, which is the only structure on the island.

Related images

Palacio da Bolsa interior

The fantastically ornate interior of the Arab Room in Porto's Palacio da Bolsa. The building was built in the 19th century as the city's stock exchange. Having such an extravagant interior was supposed to lend an air of credibility to the city as a European centre of investment.

Now-a-days the Palacio da Bolsa is no longer the stock market and the Rab room is used for receiving heads of states and other visiting dignitaries in Porto.

Related images

Igreja de São Vicente

The facade of the 16th century Igreja de São Vicente (Saint Vincent Church) in Braga. The baroque styled church is the oldest in Braga and the site dates back to the Visigoths in the 7th century.

As is often the case, the rather modest exterior does little to indicate the opulent interior with its exquisite carvings and azulejos.

Related images

Beja

View out over the city of Beja in the heart of the Alentejo. This is the old town from the tower of the 13th century castle (Torre de Menagem). Just beyond the castle walls is the cathedral (Se)

Related images

Marialva Castle and Village

The ruins of the once grand Marialva Castle (Castelo de Marialva). Dating back to the 11th century the castle here was built high up on the steep hillside overlooking the border country. From here you can clearly see the the pillory, keep, citadel and cistern.

Related images

Serralves Foundation

The Serralves Foundation (Fundação Serralves) is probably the most important cultural institution in Porto, if not Portugal.The foundation is set in parkland in the heart of Porto and is home to a contemporary art museum along with the Casa de Serralves, which is itself a fine example of Art Deco architecture.The house was commissioned by Carlos Alberto Cabral whose family had owned the park at Serralves since the early 19th century. It was designed by architect José Marques da Silva and completed in the mid-1940s

Related images

Soure Castle

Soure Castle is was built in the 12th century as part of a network of castles to protect Coimbra from the Moors. It has been listed as a National monument since 1949.

Related images

Penela Castle

The walls of Castle Penela Castle, built to defend Coimbra from the Moors. The existing structure dates back to the mid 12th century and is built into the very granite of the hillside overlooking the village.

Related images

Monsanto Rooftops

View out over the rooftops of the idyllic mountain village of Monsanto.

Voted the 'most Portuguese village in Portugal' in 1938 Monsanto consists of a huddle of granite cottages amongst gigantic boulders. There is a ruined castle, and next to it, the ruin of an old chapel both of which add to the ambiance of the location.

Photo:Mónica Pinheiro: http://monicasjeans.blogspot.com/

Related images

Pages