A Guest Blog from a Visit to Lisbon, Portugal
It's always fun to see photos from others taken during their vacations. Here at my farm, whenever a member of my team returns from a trip or special occasion, I encourage them to share their images on my blog.
This year, my operations manager, Matt Krack, and his two sons traveled to Lisbon, Portugal for their summer excursion. Lisbon is the vibrant capital and largest city of Portugal located on the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean. It is known for its rich history, interesting architecture, and culture. Among their many activities, Matt, Alex, and Charlie enjoyed walking tours through the city, visiting old churches, palaces, museums and monuments, and learning about the well-preserved ruins of the Carmo Convent, which remained standing after the horrific earthquake of 1755.
Here are some of Matt's photos, enjoy.
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- Matt and his sons stayed at the Residentas Arco do Bandeira in Lisbon with beautiful rooms and views of the city.
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- This is the view from the top of the Santa Justa Lift facing the Castelo de São Jorge. It was just a five minute walk from the hotel and the first stop of many during Matt’s 10-day trip. And here, Matt opted to take the stairs up rather than the elevator to beat the long lines.
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- This is what is left of the Carmo Convent. The medieval building remained standing after the devastating earthquake of 1755 that destroyed most of the city. A lot of its architecture dates back to the 1300s, but other details such as Manueline windows were added later.
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- The roof collapsed on that disastrous All Saints’ Day and was never rebuilt. The Gothic arches, however, are original and did not get damaged.
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- Portugal is famous for its azulejos, or blue wall tiles. The tiles can be found throughout the country in all kinds of structures from opulent palaces to humble homes and dates back to the 15th century. This is a modern example of Portuguese tile making located on Aveneida de Liberdade.
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- Matt has a great love for signs, especially the ones that preserve historic times. Here is an old store sign for pistols, supplies, and accessories for escrima, a martial art using weapons.
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- Matt visited the National Palace of Mafra, a monumental Baroque and Neoclassical palace and monastery just outside of Lisbon. Construction of the palace began in 1717and was not completed until 1755.
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- Matt, who arrived a few days before his children, visited many sites early in the morning to beat the crowds. This staircase is usually filled with tourists.
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- The complex is largely built of Lioz stone. It was designed by the German architect João Frederico Ludovice.
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- This is Óbidos, a walled and well-preserved medieval village. It is filled with picturesque streets, small shops and cafés.
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- Streets are charming and narrow. It is believed that Óbidos gets its name from the Latin word oppidum meaning walled city.
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- Another old and well preserved city is Évora. Here is another hand made sign that caught Matt’s eye – for clothing, decorations, and accessories.
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- Many of the buildings show the distinctive white wash.
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- The National Pantheon, also known as the Panteão Nacional, is an iconic monument in Lisbon, Portugal. Originally built as a church, it was converted to a national mausoleum in 1916.
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- This is Estremoz, a quaint city in Portugal about one hour northeast from Évora. It is known for its white marble, rich history, and peaceful atmosphere.
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- Matt climbed to the top of the Posada in Estremoz, or Pousada Castelo Estremoz – a historic hotel built in the 13th century for Queen Santa Isabel. It features a castle-like setting and gorgeous views of the Alentejo region.
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- Another stop was the Monument of the Discoveries, which is on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary in Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon. It is located along the river where ships once departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. This special monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
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- Boca de inferno or “Mouth of Hell” is a scenic cliff formation located west of Cascais, Portugal. It gets its name from the rough ocean waves which crash against the cliff face and spraying viciously from an opening above.
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- The Jerónimos Monastery is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome in Lisbon. It is a prominent example of the Gothic Manueline style of architecture made famous in Portugal. Its construction began in January 1501 and was not finished until 100 years later.
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- This is the National Palace of Queluz, the 18th century palace of the Portuguese Royal Family, as well as notable institutions such as the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.
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- Here is another side of the palace. The grounds include French formal gardens with boxwood hedges, fountains, vases and sculptures centered on the “Portico dos Cavalinhos” a Palladian garden temple.
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- In Sintra, most public buildings remain closed due fire risk and the current severe drought in the area. Local governments are trying to address the challenging conditions – hopefully the region will get rain soon.
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- But also in Sintra is this beach – Praia de Magoito, an impressive and popular beach destination with its golden sand, tall, dark cliffs, and fossil dunes.
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- Charlie, Matt, and Alex did a lot, saw a lot, and learned a lot more. If you want to visit an interesting city steeped in history, consider Lisbon. Thanks for the photos, Matt.
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