Friday, August 31, 2012

THE CEMETERY GATES

 Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. The inscription reads something like:

"May you carefully consider this place of terror
Where vanities of this deceiving world are ended"
1864

Happy weekend!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

HEXAGONAL ENCAUSTIC TILES






Private House, Coimbra

STRANGE STRUCTURE


Palácio dos Biscainhos (17th century), Braga

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

THE MEANING OF LIFE




"The meaning of life" was the expression the guide used to present me the gargoyles that are overlooking this cloyster in the Museum of the City of Faro. There are 12 gargoyles in the cloyster: one male gargoyle, one female gargoyle, nine pregnant gargoyles and another one holding a baby.

Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Museu Municipal de Faro), 16th century, Faro


Monday, August 20, 2012

TILES


Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga

Sunday, August 19, 2012

CHIMNEY



Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Museu Municipal de Faro), 16th century, Faro

Saturday, August 18, 2012

BAROQUE DOOR AND WINDOW DETAIL























Palácio do Raio, Braga. The Rocaille mixes with the the Northern Baroque of André Soares, Braga's architect of wonders.

Friday, August 17, 2012

MONSTERS














Museu Municipal de Faro (cloister). Beneath the pregnant gargoyles, these bas-relief flowers in bloom open up like a twisted mouth at their core.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

ITALIAN WINDOW


Palácio Episcopal de Faro, Architect Fancisco Xavier Fabri.
Not really full on baroque, but the two-dimensionality is made up for by the charming profiles, which could also be called neoclassical save from the pointed "chinese" pediment on top.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

CHICKEN



Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. A stone bird at a water tank's edge in the garden.

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE



Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Braga, Braga. The church came after the luscious baroque garden stairs and pavilions, hence its already "neo-classical" straightness of design. The relatively cool emotional feeling of the temple contrasts with the fireworks in stone displayed in the ascending path.

DOOR


A simple baroque door on the street. Faro.

Monday, August 13, 2012

CUPOLA







Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Museu Municipal de Faro), 16th century, Faro.
This dome is as pure as anything in Renaissance Italy, with a few charming flourishes and soft plaster flaming urns. Inside, simple ribs and palms are the only decoration.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

OSSONOBA - ANCIENT PORTUGUESE STUFF

















"Mosaico do Oceano de Ossonoba" - More info here.

Museu Municipal de Faro, Faro. This roman mosaic was found in Faro, ancient Ossonoba. The pattern is simple, but its subtle distortions hint at the solution found to adapt it to the size of the room, now long lost.



Friday, August 10, 2012

BLUE CABINS



The restaurant Estaminé is not the only structure on the "Deserta" Island in Faro. Here's some small storage cabins located in the island, made of wood boards and covered with zinc roofs.

Ilha Deserta, Faro

Thursday, August 9, 2012

TILES AND PILASTER DETAIL


Palácio do Raio, Braga

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

BLOGLOVIN

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CHAPEL



Chapel of the Last Supper, Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Braga, Braga

TILES


































Private House, Rua de Passos Manuel, Porto

Monday, August 6, 2012

OCTAGONAL DOMED FOLLY




Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. In plaster and stone, this folly is hidden in a quiet corner of the gardens, and remains cool and damp inside, great for Summer hideouts. Its interior is pure architecture - the square plan transforms into octagon dome via semi-circular arches.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

On site - Faro

There is a serious hindrance to taking photos of things under 30 degrees Celsius. Even worse when the beach is not far and we are on our measly week of vacation. Still, some good old Portuguese stuff will come next week, and we'll be sure to come back to the Algarve!